Amidst a Broader Slowdown in Global M&A Activity, Q1 2023 Private Equity M&A Volume Declined 17% from Q4 2022 Volumes

Private equity deal volume declined 17% from $218.7 billion in Q4 2022 to $181.8 billion in Q1 2023. This recent decline in private equity deal volume coincides with a broader slowdown in global M&A transaction activity. Q1 2023 saw global deal volume drop to $559 billion, marking the third lowest global quarterly M&A deal volume in the last decade. The only two quarters during the aforementioned time period with lower quarterly deal volumes were Q1 2013 ($502 billion) and Q2 2020 ($442 billion).