Goldman Sachs Expects Near Record M&A Volumes in 2026
Goldman Sachs president John Waldron reports that corporate dealmaking activity remains strong and could potentially breach the bank's 2021 record. The firm is also constructive on the IPO market following its lead role in the SpaceX listing.
Goldman Sachs Group Inc is on track to approach or exceed its 2021 record for merger and acquisition volumes. President John Waldron confirmed during a conference in New York that corporate-led activity is driving strong deal backlogs. The rebound signals a recovery in global dealmaking after a sharp slump following the start of the Iran war briefly slowed transaction flows earlier this year.
### Corporate Activity Drives Dealmaking Recovery Global M&A value exceeded $1.2 trillion in the first quarter despite market swings and conflict in Iran. Waldron noted that current activity remains robust, with the market shifting toward corporate-led transactions rather than private equity. Goldman Sachs has maintained its position as the top global M&A adviser for more than 20 years.
