With downstream impact to the domestic and international moving and relocation industry companies are moving forward with corporate mergers and investments.
According to LSEG data, large corporate transactions had their best quarter ever in 2026 with 22 transactions valued at US$10 billion announced globally, surpassing the fourth quarter of 2015, when 21 such deals were announced. Examples of announcements in the first quarter include Unilever’s bid to combine its food business with spice maker McCormick, Estée Lauder’s discussions to acquire Spanish Puig Brands, and talks between Pernod Ricard and Jack Daniel’s maker Brown Forman.
While the total value of all deals announced globally jumped roughly 29%, the actual number of transactions is down more than 17% as smaller-deal activity slowed. “If we get a bit of stability in the markets and the economy, the floodgates could open to a phenomenal M&A year where companies are doing $100 million deals and $2 billion deals, all the while the $50- and $100-billion deals continue,” said Frank Aquila, Senior M&A Partner at Sullivan & Cromwell.
Source: The Wall Street Journal