Mergermarket data shows that the German-speaking region ended the first half of 2020 in terms of M&A better off  than the rest of the continent. 

At the half-year stage, US dealflow was down sharply whilst China was least impacted. Megadeals declined although mid-market showed resiliency. Meanwhile, private equity's global M&A market share reached record level.

European M&A looks set to remain at historically low levels through 2020 with a recovery unlikely until mid-2021, as the world continues to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic and its economic consequences. 

• Transactions need more time online
• Scenario-based due diligence to become the norm
• VDD to start earlier in the exit process

The German economy is set to shrink by 10% in the three months to June as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the DACH region is yet to see the effect of the pandemic on M&A value following several large transactions announced prior to the outbreak.

• Deal value down by 18.8% YTD, Q4 numbers plummet
• Nestle Skin Health, Bayer Animal Health carve-outs dominate top deals
• Private equity exits expected to rise in 2020

The DACH region saw a softer start to the year, experiencing a dip in deal making, yet still outpacing a subdued M&A market across Europe, according to Mergermarket's 1H19 DACH Trend Summary.

During Mergermarket's annual Germany Forum, panellists and conference attendees were eager to discuss how the country's often feted Mittlestand could become victim to domestic under-investment and neglect.

Watch what the speakers had to say on the sidelines of the conference. 

Report of 100 German dealmakers shows continued confidence.

New survey highlights private equity trends in Europe. 

Mergermarket, the leading provider of M&A data and intelligence, has today published research showing €101bn was spent on German assets in 2018, the second successive year over EUR 100bn. 

Equip yourself with five key figures on how the year has started in German M&A.

Private equity take-privates double over 12-month period