Deal Drivers EMEA: 2018 Full-Year Edition

Mergermarket is pleased to present Deal Drivers EMEA, published in association with Merrill Corporation.      

This report provides an in-depth review of M&A in the EMEA region, offering insights on notable deals, sector performance and trends that impacted dealmaking in 2018.

Highlights of the report include:

• 2018 saw uneven progress for M&A, with a number of large deals in H1 followed by the worst H2 deal value since 2013. Nevertheless, annual total deal value was up 12% year-on-year to €837.9bn.
• The TMT sector led the way last year, with total deal value jumping 175% year-on-year to €169.2bn. This was driven by significant transactions, with four of the top 20 largest European deals of the year being TMT deals.
• Private equity continued to thrive in 2018, with record-high levels of dry powder driving activity. Europe saw buyout deal value reach its highest point this decade, at €170bn.
• Challenges for the coming year reflect those of 2018, including increasing protectionism, US-China trade wars and tariffs and uncertainty surrounding Brexit.