Published by
Reuters UK
Reuters UK
By Anirban Sen, Pamela Barbaglia and Kane Wu LONDON/HONG KONG (Reuters) – Global merger and acquisition (M&A) activity shattered all-time records in 2021, comfortably erasing the high-water mark that was set nearly 15 years ago, as an abundance of capital and sky-high valuations fuelled frenetic levels of dealmaking. The value of M&A globally topped $5 trillion for the first time ever, with volumes rising 63% to $5.63 trillion by Dec. 16, according to Dealogic data, easily surpassing the pre-financial-crisis record of $4.42 trillion in 2007. “Corporate balance sheets are incredibly healthy, si…