![Blair Effron, co-founder and partner at Centerview Partners](https://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/FN-AJ361_FN_BLA_M_20200102023659.jpg)
This year was a big one for mergers and acquisitions, but it could have been even better.
The value of deals announced globally reached $3.8tn through December 27, making 2019 the fourth-best year on record for M&A. The combined value of deals fell just 4% short of last year’s total, according to Dealogic, as the appetite for megamergers reached a new high.