Megadeals Go Missing From M&A Rebound as Companies Avoid Risk

This year’s rebound in mergers and acquisitions has one conspicuously large absence: the megadeal.

Announced takeovers of more than $25 billion are set to make up the smallest percentage of total deal volume in any year since 2002, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. BHP Billiton Ltd.’s offer for Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc. is the only bid this year valued at more than $30 billion, and there have been only two others valued at more than $25 billion, including net debt.