Research & Data

Watch Mergermarket’s Virtual Event on the Nordic market  outlook and the impact of Covid-19 here.

As uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic began to hit corporates, the Nordic region fell short in attracting sizable deals in 1Q20 but instead witnessed a growing focus on start-ups and medium enterprises, a trend that is likely to continue. 

Central and Eastern Europe remains attractive to dealmakers as 89% of survey respondents say they would invest in the region again.

•  US activity dips in 2H19 but retains 47.2% of global M&A on the back of domestic consolidation
•  China and Hong Kong M&A global share shrinks to 8.8%, with deal value down 27.7%
•  Boom in take-private deals totals USD 158.3bn in 2019
•  Average deal size at USD 389m, the second highest on Mergermarket record

• Public deals compensate for lack of large cap transactions in Sweden
• Small to mid-size market deals dominate Norway’s pipeline driven by inbound interest

• Dealmakers eagerly await Suez's sale of Spanish water business Agbar, slated for mid-2020
• Inconclusive Spanish election and minority government in Portugal do not deter investors 
• Iberian YTD deal value lowest in five years

• Regional dealmakers cautiously optimistic despite fears of global downturn
• TMT, mining and resources among active fields
• Polish mBank’s sale, Orlen-Lotos merger and Innogy’s Czech retail business sale among sizable upcoming deals

• AME, Van Der Hoeven, Acture, Sonnen, Showbird among MBO candidates
• Barge Master, European Candy Group, Normec tipped for exits
• Forbon, Dümmen Orange to feature in agtech consolidation
• Medipartner on acquisition trail as Belgian buyouts bubble

• EDF, Sanofi and Vivendi among large corporations expected to carry out multi-billion deals next year
• PE pipeline above EUR 1bn fuelled by quick asset rotation, corporate carve-outs
• Tech, healthcare and education attract large crowd and big checks
• Positive M&A environment lures new banks, boutiques and funds in Paris

The Italian M&A market is likely to continue to struggle in 2020, although some signs of improvement could surface from 2021 onwards, according to deal makers polled by Mergermarket.

• 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

• Tech, healthcare, fintech M&A seen sustained into 2020
• Sponsors likely to continue take-private spree
• Cash rich private equity bides its time

Cyber security in M&A deals and value creation strategies were just some of the topics discussed at the Italian M&A and Private Equity Forum. 

We've put together all the insights from the 2019 Swiss M&A and Private Equity Forum in case you missed the event. Presentations include the macro-outlook for corporates and lessons learnt in M&A.

The course of true love never did run smooth, and neither has the on-again, off-again interest of private equity in the renewable energy space.