M&A in the EMEA region barely paused for breath in 2021, matching a deal frenzy that was seen the world over. Vaccine rollouts and the reopening of economies pushed M&A volume to highs never previously seen in Western Europe and value to levels last reached in 2007.
The start of the new year, however, saw activity ease off significantly, to levels more in line with historic precedent. Stock markets moved into negative territory in the first weeks of the year, with investors conscious of stalling growth, the prospects of runaway inflation, and imminent policy measures to curb spiraling prices. And then came Russia‘s invasion of Ukraine, weighing further on already dampened risk sentiment. This has clearly reduced M&A appetite.
Deal volume fell by 31% to 2,007 transactions and value by 27% to a total of €223bn year-on-year in Q1 this year. Private equity has been more resilient but has lost momentum all the same. There were 654 PE transactions worth a total of €89.6bn, a 25% and 31% decrease, respectively, compared with Q1 2021.
Published in association with Datasite, Deal Drivers EMEA provides an in-depth review of M&A activity in 2022, as well as an outlook for the year ahead.
The report is also available on datasite.com.
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