So far, merger and acquisition activity in 2024 has outpaced that of 2023.

PwC Private Equity Lead & Deputy Deals Leader Kevin Desai joins Asking For A Trend to give insight into the M&A market and what could come next after a period of uncertainty.

Desai notes that dealmaking volume is starting to look more like how it did pre-pandemic. He points to a number of factors that are boosting activity, including rising executive confidence, stabilizing inflation, and a returned focus to cash flow.

Desai believes things will become a bit more clear after the elections and a potential interest rate cut: "As the Fed has made it a little bit more clear which direction of travel will be for interest rates, that is giving a little bit more certainty, specifically to financial or private equity investors, as to what the cost of capital will be, and it allows them to model around the uncertainty around interest rates. A little bit of a headwind will be potentially the election. Typically in election years, we see a little bit of softness in September and specifically October ahead of elections."

For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Asking for a Trend.

This post was written by Nicholas Jacobino