Finance Monthly November 2019 Edition

8 www.finance-monthly.com NEWS - MONTHLY ROUND-UP THE MONTHLY ROUND-UP GLOBAL M&A ACTIVITY SUBDUED IN Q319 Mergermarket recently pub- lished its Q319 report which revealed that the slowdown in dealmaking spread to the US market in Q319, causing global M&A to drop 11.4% year-to-date (YTD) on last year to USD 2.49tn (across 13,304 deals). Activity was particularly sub- dued in the difficult to inter- pret third quarter of the year, when USD 622.2bn worth of deals were struck globally, down 21.2% on Q318 (USD 789.7bn) and with 1,164 fewer deals than last year. The US market, which had so far seemed immune to the global downward trend at play since the middle of last year, is starting to be impacted. At USD 262.9bn in Q319, US M&A is down 32.1% on Q318 (USD 387.1bn). Worth USD 1.25tn YTD, US M&A is still margin- ally up on the same period last year (USD 1.23tn), just about retaining a 50% share of global M&A activity, down to dampen activity. However, London Stock Exchange’s USD 27bn acquisition of US-based financial data provider Refinitiv, the larg- est deal globally in Q319, exemplifies the strength of European outbound M&A, which at USD 187.1bn is up more than 20% on last year and at its highest YTD level since 2016. Beranger Guille, Global Editorial Analytics Direc- tor at Mergermarket com- from 52.5% in H119. Marred by the trade and tech war between Washington and Beijing and persistent politi- cal instability in Hong Kong, YTD M&A activity in Asia is down 26.5% over last year to USD 417.2bn. Despite a small recovery over the summer, European M&A remains 29.4% lower compared to the same peri- od last year, as a weakening European economy and ge- opolitical tensions continue mented: “Whether they are motivated by the desire to get more growth, or a way to secure future survival, deals are getting larger. On the back of the longest eq- uity bull market in history, and amid persistently low- interest rates, corporates have ample cash reserves and appealing debt financ- ing options at their disposal to pursue M&A. This context and the growing feeling that it will not last forever are pushing valuations up.” MASTERCARD LAUNCHES ACCELERATE TO SUPERCHARGE FINTECH SUCCESS Mastercard has launched Mastercard Accelerate, a global initiative that simpli- fies the way that Master- card works with FinTechs, giving them access to eve- rything they need to grow quickly. Offering a simple, single entry-point to the company’s wide portfolio of specialised programs, Mastercard Accelerate gives start-ups and emerg- ing brands support and as- sistance for every stage of their growth and transfor- mation, from market entry to global expansion. Accelerate will enable Fin- Techs to be onboarded to Mastercard in a matter of weeks and provide a guided experience through everything the company can offer. Programme par- ticipants are connected to relevant parts of the business, to integrate Mastercard’s proprietary technology, leverage its insights and cybersecu- rity services, engage new customers, and reach new markets and segments. In addition, Mastercard’s commitment to financial inclusion drives focused product development, help- ing co-create solutions that enable a more inclusive economy. “Mastercard Accelerate is a single doorway to the countless ways Mastercard can help FinTechs all over the world grow and scale sustainably”, said Michael Miebach, Chief Product & Innovation Officer at Mas- tercard. “FinTechs are con- tributing to the rapid digital transformation that makes lives more convenient, sim- pler, and rewarding. We’re the partner of choice for the top Fintech brands world- wide, and with Accelerate we invite the next genera- tion of global entrepreneurs to join us.” “And for our financial institution partners and customers, Mastercard Ac- celerate provides access to the next generation of innovators, with a port- folio of start-up partners and FinTechs ready to co- create and collaborate on new experiences”, added Miebach.