Goldman Tops $1 Trillion in M&A Deals, Fastest to Reach the Mark

Summary

Bloomberg's interview with Goldman Sachs' head of global M&A, Stephan Feldgoise, after the bank advised on $1 trillion in deals this year, the fastest ever. He discusses the drivers: large corporate transactions, AI-driven strategic repositioning, and boards thinking in decades. Private equity has been subdued but pressure to return capital may fuel future activity. Feldgoise expects M&A dialogues to remain at high levels in the second half.

• Goldman Sachs became the fastest bank to advise on $1 trillion of M&A in a year.
• Record M&A volume was driven by mega corporate deals, not private equity sponsors.
• AI disruption is a core driver, forcing boards to pursue scale and strategic repositioning.
• Private equity activity has been muted but monetization pressure is building.
• Corporate M&A dialogues remain robust, suggesting sustained strength ahead.
• Feldgoise emphasizes decades-long client relationships over short-term fees.
• Speed and certainty matter in the current dealmaking environment.