Article
Great Lakes regional M&A update: H2 2021
March 17, 2022
M&A activity in the Great Lakes spikes after a stagnant first half
Although the first half of 2021 had a slow start with a modest 53 closed transactions, M&A activity saw a healthy recovery in the second half of the year, with 89 closed transactions. For many, it has been a relief to see deal flow returning to pre-pandemic numbers in the third and fourth quarters after a stagnant start in the first half of the year.
Additionally, deal value for H2 2021 saw a significant improvement, up $18.1 billion from $8.1 billion in H1 2021. This is a 151% year-over-year increase from the aggregated disclosed deal value of $7.2 billion in H2 2020.
Great Lakes middle market M&A transactions / Number of closed transactions (1)
Source: S&P Capital IQ.
(1) Includes only transactions with disclosed enterprise value between $10 million and $1 billion.
Strategic buyers continue to drive M&A activity
The Great Lakes region continues to see strategic buyers as the most active buyer type, accounting for 100% of transactions in 2021.
Industrials accounted for 23% of all M&A transactions closed, making it the most active sector in H2 2021. Information technology is not far behind with 19%; it is the reverse of the first half, when information technology led over industrials.
H2 2021 Great Lakes middle market M&A transactions / Number of transactions by industry sector (1) (2)
Source: S&P Capital IQ
