Datasite's Merlin Piscitelli: Dealmakers in 2024 are 'proceeding with caution'

2025 will be the 'exciting year'

The big question going into 2023 was whether the M&A market was going to recover following the plummet in 2022.

Tighter financing costs, a volatile market, and the long-term impact of Covid-19 curbed M&A deal activity last year. Yet, while deals on average also took longer to complete, there are opportunities for the year ahead. The number of new global deals launched on Datasite was up 6% in the second half of 2023, year-over-year. Since these are deals at their inception rather than announced, it provides a good indication of what is to come. To be sure, dealmakers are proceeding with caution. They are being more selective, focusing on quality over quantity. UK M&A activity drops 17% in...