Mergermarket and William Fry LLP are pleased to present the Ireland M&A Review | 2021. This report provides a comprehensive overview of developments in the Irish M&A market during 2021 and offers insight into the outlook for the year ahead. Highlights include:
- Irish M&A activity soars. The number of transactions increased by 33% year-on-year, to a total of 240 significant transactions, the highest on Mergermarket record. Meanwhile, the total value of M&A activity in Ireland came to €24.6bn, a 185% increase year-on-year. There were 10 deals each worth €500m or more in 2021, more than triple the total number of transactions at that value in the whole of 2020.
- International interest continues. In 2021, there were 172 inbound M&A transactions worth a total of €19.2bn. That was a 33% increase in volume terms and a 132% increase by value on the previous year – a significant contribution to the overall rise in Irish M&A activity seen over the past year.
- TMT sector sets the pace. The TMT sector accounted for 28% of all Irish M&A by deal volume last year (up from 23% in 2020) and for 19% by value. And although the latter figure was slightly down on 2020’s 23% share of value – reflecting a number of very large financial services sector deals in 2020 – Irish TMT transactions totalled €4.6bn in 2021, more than twice the figure recorded in the previous 12 months.
