The number of deals announced in the global retail sector grew by 24.1% during the week ended April 26, 2020 compared to the previous week, according to GlobalData’s deals database.

Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “This is the second consecutive week of growth in deal activity amid uncertainty and volatile market conditions due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Deal activity increased in key markets such as the UK, Japan and France during the week ended April 26, 2020 compared to the previous week, but declined in the US.”

Venture financing and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deals announcements increased by 40% and 50%, respectively, during the week ended April 26, 2020 compared to the previous week, while debt offerings and private equity deal volume declined. There were no equity offering deals announced in the previous week; however, in the week ended April 26, six equity offering deals were announced.