With 133 deals worth €30.9bn announced, M&A targeting Ireland reached its highest annual deal count on Mergermarket record, with value increasing 90.2% compared to 2015 (125 deals, €16.2bn). Activity continued to be driven by inbound deals, with 84 deals conducted by foreign acquirers, representing 63.2% of Irish M&A. The U.S. remains the most active investor, with 35 deals worth €23.0bn representing a 256.2% value increase compared to 2015 (35 deals, €6.4bn, to reach the second highest annual figure on record, following 2014 (€39.2bn).

Top Deals 

Tyco International  Plc sells to Johnson Controls Inc.

Easily a top deal in Ireland, this €14.9bn deal would be a top deal in many European regions, save maybe the UK, Germany, and France.  Tyco International, a security systems company, was acquired by American conglomerate Johnson Controls.  Citi, Goldman Sachs, and Lazard advised Tyco on the deal. Barclays and Centerview Partners advised the buying side.  The deal was announced January 25^th, 2016.

Johnson Controls  Inc. sells Adient Plc to its Shareholders

Johnson Controls, and American auto parts and building HVAC producer, sold its interest in the Irish car seat manufacturer Adient Plc to its own shareholders.  This deal reached a value of €3.9bn.  Johnson Controls were advised by Centerview Partners, Goldman Sachs, and JP Morgan.

Dundrum Town  Centre Management Limited, Dundrum Village Centre Limited, and Dundrum R&O  Park Management Limited purchased by Hammerson Plc and Allianz Real Estate  Germany GmbH

This relatively complicated deal involving real estate ownership, was announced in July of 2016 and was worth €2.4bn.  Neither side sought any financial advising on the deal.

Verizon  Communications buys FleetMatics Group Plc from Institutional Venture Partners

Maintaining the trend of U.S. involvement in Irish M&A, this €1.9bn technology deal lands at fourth in value.  Announced in August of 2016, financial advisors for the sellers were Morgan Stanley, while the buyers were advised by PJT Partners and Wells Fargo Securities.

Green Property Ltd  sold Blanchardstown Centre to Blackstone Group LP

In another real estate deal, Blanchardstown Centre gets acquired by Blackstone Group for €950m.  Announced in June of 2016, Blanchardstown Centre was sold by Green Property.  There were no financial advisors for either side on this deal.

League Tables

Goldman Sachs topped the tables in Irish M&A in 2016, building on a fourth place ranking in 2015.  Their deals accounted for €54.3bn.  Barclays came in second again, with €50.2bn in deals advised.  Lots of collaboration at the top of the table resulted in very high deal values for many advisors.