Mergers and acquisitions often fall into two categories. In the first, which Bain calls “scope deals,” companies seek new capabilities, access to new markets or other complementary services. In the second, which the consulting firm terms “scale deals,” companies aim to increase their market share in a certain industry.

Favorable capital conditions are expected to keep the volume of scope deals steady or growing in the near term, according to Les Baird, a partner with Bain & Company. Scale deals tend to result in more-immediate cost savings, which become particularly attractive in a tight economic environment, he said.