Tariff war to impact global M&A flow

Better domestic growth prospects ensured that Indian cos are inward-focused, limiting global diversification

- Sneha Shah, Ranjani Raghavan

The global tariff war will likely impact merger and acquisition (M&A) activity adversely, said Akeel Sachak, partner and global head of consumer at Rothschild & Co., adding that US President Donald Trump's aggressive stance on tariffs has sparked a broader concern among economies, and it is already reflecting in the way markets have moved.

"Most certainly, I expect the Trump effect to adversely impact M&A as it has made it very difficult for companies to read what the economic prospects might hold and how their own businesses will be affected by the range of different tariff war possibilities we are facing," Sachak said.

According to him, corporates tend to pursue more M&A when they feel secure about the prospects of their businesses.