M&A deal value nears record highs despite market volatility

Global dealmaking activity is approaching historic highs as corporate leaders navigate a complex landscape defined by trade tariffs, geopolitical conflicts, and the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence. At the annual Tulane University Corporate Law Institute conference in New Orleans, nearly 1,000 investment bankers and legal experts gathered to discuss whether market volatility has become a permanent fixture of the global financial environment.

Stephan Feldgoise, co-head of global M&A at The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., opened the event by highlighting the unusual resilience of the market. Despite significant economic headwinds, the value of transactions has surged even as the total volume of deals has decreased. In the United States and international markets, announced deals have exceeded $1 trillion so far this year, representing a 27% increase over the same period in 2025.