As we enter 2012 and as the U.S. economy continues to stabilize, there appears to be a growing sense of optimism about further recovery in the M&A market. During the first half of 2011, the M&A market continued a resurgence that began in the latter part of 2010, with higher aggregate deal value than had been seen since before the financial crisis. Though worldwide M&A activity declined in the second half of 2011, reflecting uncertainties regarding the volatile global financial climate, it has continued at a relatively strong pace, and a number of significant transactions have recently been announced, including Kinder Morgan’s $38 billion acquisition of El Paso, United Technologies’ $18 billion acquisition of Goodrich, and Gilead’s $11 billion acquisition of Pharmasset.
Editor's Note: Adam Emmerich is a partner in the corporate department at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz focusing primarily on mergers and acquisitions and securities law matters. This post is based on a Wachtell Lipton firm memorandum.
