Merger and acquisitions have stalled, according to a study by KPMG International. The conclusion is from the bi-annual report on global financial technolgoy investment, the Global fintech investment in 2019 was $150.4 billion, while the worldwide total for the half ended June 30 was $25.6 billion.
M&A comprised only $4 billion in such investment during the half, including the $1.3 billion reverse merger of Open Lending. That compares to $85.7 billion in the second half of 2019. “The stalled M&A reflects both a general slowdown in deal activity and investors pressing pause on major deals in order to re-consider valuations and risk appetite given COVID-19,” the firm said in his announcement.
Spending in the Americas was $12.9 billion for the half, more than half the total for the year.
However, venture capital investment remained strong around the world. During the first half of 2020, VC investment in fintech totaled $20 billion, including $9.3 billion in the Americas.
VC spending in both the Americas an EMEA are on track for a new annual high. America’s VC investment for the half was $9.3 billion with $6.7 billion for Asia an $4 billion for EMEA.
