M&A: Basics

M&A has many different names, but takeovers are the major activity. The history of takeovers shows waves of deals, often sparked by company and industry events, such as new technology or a change in management. But external factors can often be more important than the fortunes of a specific business. Changes in government and the availability of deal finance also have an impact. Here we explore the origins of M&A activity and the different waves of takeover activity to date.