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56% of global CEOs expect to pursue M&A in 2025

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Survey of 1,200 CEOs conducted after Trump's election

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Global deal volumes expected to rise this year

By Divya Chowdhury and Lisa Pauline Mattackal

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Global chief

executives see much more corporate dealmaking in 2025, with an

increased number expecting to pursue mergers and acquisitions

after U.S. President Donald Trump was elected to a second term

in November, a survey showed.

Some 56% of CEOs expect to actively pursue M&A activity in

2025, compared with just 37% in September, according to an

EY-Parthenon CEO Outlook Survey in November and December.

The deal appetite was the largest in nearly two years, with

60% of global CEO respondents expecting an increase in

transactions worth more than $10 billion, the consultancy's

survey released on Tuesday showed.

The figures suggest M&A activity will continue to recover

after a slump in 2023, with easing U.S. borrowing costs and

expectations for more business-friendly policies under Trump,

who was inaugurated on Monday. Bankers, for example, expect

global deal volumes to surpass $4 trillion this year.

Confidence in growth also increased after the Nov. 5

election, to 73.5% from 70.5% in September, the survey showed.

"Many of our clients are very upbeat and they see bright

spots into the future," said Jad Shimaly, global managing

partner for client service at EY, on the sidelines of the World

Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

"They expect steady growth, and with steady, the business

community gets a bit more eager to think longer term, to invest

and transact, which drives a lot of momentum in the global

economy."

Around 48% of CEOs surveyed were planning a divestment or

carve-out, while 96% expected to pursue transactions or initial

public offerings, joint ventures or strategic alliances.

Real estate, technology and consumer products are expected

to be among the most active M&A sectors.

Canada, the U.S., Mexico, the United Kingdom and Germany

were the top countries seen attracting investments in 2025, the

survey showed.

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