Goldman Sachs hits highest EMEA M&A market share since 2018

Goldman Sachs The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. ↘ 1.11% captured 44% of mergers and acquisitions advisory work by deal value in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa during the first half of 2026, its largest share for the January-June period since 2018, according to LSEG data reported by Reuters on Thursday.money.usnews

A Record-Setting First Half

The Wall Street bank advised on 111 deals in the region, up from a 42% share in the same period a year earlier. EMEA dealmaking totaled $676 billion during the first six months of 2026, more than double 2025 levels and a 19-year high, reflecting what advisers described as a backdrop of looser regulatory constraints.wmbdradio+2

JPMorgan Chase ↘ 0.51%, the second-largest adviser in the EMEA market, slightly narrowed Goldman's lead during the half, though Goldman maintained its top position. Globally, the firm holds a 38% market share and ranks as the leading M&A adviser worldwide, a title it also held in 2025.money.usnews+1

Trillion-Dollar Pace Fueled by Mega-Deals

Goldman's EMEA dominance sits within a broader surge. The bank surpassed $1 trillion in announced global M&A for 2026 by mid-June, a record pace for any investment bank within a six-month period, according to Dealogic data the firm cited on LinkedIn. Global M&A reached a record $2.8 trillion in the first half, up 48% year-on-year and the highest half-year total since LSEG records began in 1980. Mega-deals valued above $10 billion accounted for nearly half of all global deal value.finance-commerce+3

AI and Regulation Drive the Boom

Technology remained the largest sector for dealmaking globally, with $649 billion in announced transactions, as artificial intelligence investments reshaped corporate strategy. Goldman Sachs's own 2026 outlook identified AI as a driver of an "innovation supercycle" broadening the aperture for strategic transactions. A more permissive regulatory environment under the Trump administration has also been cited by dealmakers as a catalyst for the surge. PwC projects global deal value is on track to reach $4 trillion for the full year, which would make 2026 the strongest year since 2021.businesstimes+4