LONDON, England (Reuters) — The current boom in mergers and acquisitions is set to extend through 2006, fueled by low interest rates, cheap debt and cash-rich chief executives eager to expand after years of restructuring, senior bankers said on Monday.
So far this year there has been $1.97 trillion worth of deals globally, up 41 percent from a year ago, according to figures from financial data provider Dealogic.
Volumes in Europe have overtaken the United States — traditionally the more active M&A market — for the first time in two and half years with $281.2 billion worth of deals in the third quarter versus $190.5 billion in the United States.
