Global Dealmakers Extending Timelines in Historic Election Year, Datasite Survey Finds

• Global trade, supply chains seen as top M&A disruptors in the next 12 month
• AI in M&A tools are top area of operational focus next year

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – October 9, 2024 – Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) professionals are extending transaction timelines in response to concerns over potential regulatory changes stemming from global elections, according to the results of a new survey by Datasite, a leading SaaS platform used by enterprises globally to execute complex, strategic projects.   

Other key findings from the survey include:   

• 80% of global dealmakers said they were very or somewhat concerned about the impact national elections could have on global trade and supply chains in the next 12 months. This was most pronounced among dealmakers in the US (89%) followed the UK and France (81%) and Germany (56%).  
• 35% of dealmakers said increased trade tensions and global interdependent supply chains will be the top factor most likely to disrupt M&A activity in the next 12 months. This was most pronounced among dealmakers in the UK (41%), followed by France (40%), Germany (39%) and the US (28%). 
• 35% of global dealmakers said valuation analysis and negotiation will be the most important component in getting deals over the finish line in the next 12 months, followed by local market knowledge and connections (24%) and creative deal structures (23%). 
• 46% of dealmakers worldwide cited unrealistic expectations around resourcing and bandwidth as the top reason for why a deal fell apart in the last two years, followed by over-confidence in market knowledge and ego clashes (34%). 
• 66% of dealmakers across the globe said exploring the use of new AI tools is their top area of operational focus next year, followed by talent recruitment, development and retention (56%) and new research and data tools (53%).

Dealmakers in more than 180 countries make their deals on Datasite, including 74 of the top 100 legal firms and all the top 20 global financial advisory firms. In 2023, Datasite facilitated more than a third of the top 100 global deals, including six of the top 10.