MEA posts $60bln MA deals in first half – ZAWYA

MEA posts $60bln MA deals in first half – ZAWYA

State of the deal: MEA posts $60bln worth of M&A transactions in first half | ZAWYA MENA Edition HomeMarketsEquitiesArticleState of the deal: MEA posts $60bln worth of M&A transactions in first half Across the GCC, M&A activities are expected to increase amid the Covid-19 pandemic    An investor uses his mobile phone at the Dubai Financial Market. With 130 deals valued at $59.8 billion, M&A activity in the Middle East and Africa has largely been shielded from the global downturn in the opening half of 2020.According to Mergermarket's "1H20 Global Report," the first-half deals include nine valued over the $1 billion mark, including two above $10 billion in the second quarter. The first half M&A performance has the second highest year to-date value on Mergermarket record, behind last year's $119.5 billion worth of transaction driven by the $70 billion Saudi Aramco/Sabic tie-up.However, outbound M&A, dipped to its lowest year to date value since the global financial crisis over a decade ago to just $6.6 billion so far this year. This included investments into India-based Jio Platforms by Mubadala ($1.2 billion) and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority ($752 million) as well as the $1 billion acquisition of the Ritz Hotel in London.According