Investors are gaining confidence. Hostile takeovers are at a 14-year high , while Wall Street’s “fear gauge” is at a seven-year low
The pickup comes as companies become more optimistic about their futures and are increasingly looking at deals as a way to bolster their business instead of more conservative moves such as share buybacks or dividend payouts.
“The factors for a wave like this have been there for a while – cheap debt, high corporate cash balances and an improving economy – but now shareholders are also pushing for sensible deals and rewarding those companies that do them.”