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JPMorgan Eyes 2026 M&A Boom: Europe Hiring Spree
16 Jan
Summary
- JPMorgan Chase anticipates a significant surge in M&A activity in 2026.
- The bank is actively expanding its dealmaking team across Europe.
- Favorable conditions like low interest rates are expected to fuel M&A.
JPMorgan Chase is strategically expanding its European dealmaking operations in anticipation of a robust merger and acquisition (M&A) market in 2026. The bank's co-head of global banking, Filippo Gori, indicated that hiring is underway across the region, supported by available capital ready for deployment. Client sentiment in Europe has been notably optimistic during early-year meetings, with particular confidence observed in Southern Europe due to improving economic growth.
Gori expressed enthusiasm for the projected M&A landscape, suggesting 2026 could be a standout year globally and within Europe. Key factors driving this optimism include easing interest rate pressures, tight credit spreads, and readily available financing, which are crucial for bridging valuation gaps between buyers and sellers. Despite a recent dip in JPMorgan's investment banking revenue, attributed partly to transactions shifting to 2026, Europe's deal volume reached approximately $903 billion last year, an increase from 2024 but still below pre-pandemic levels.
