Global Acquirer Trends Report, Q2 2019
Globally, mid-market M&&A deal volumes rose in the second quarter in every major market except the Brexit-laden UK. Overall global deal tally stood at 2,574, up from 2,379 in Q1, a nearly 8.25% increase. In North America, M&A activity rose to 1,488 from 1,338 in Q1, a nearly 11% gain. In Europe, deal volume increased 6.7%, with activity rising to 985 in Q2, up from 923 in Q1.
Transaction volume decreased slightly in the UK and Ireland (UK&&I), with 292 in Q2 down from 320 in Q1, a decline of about 9.5%. Given the risk of macroeconomic dislocation that could result should the UK leave the European Union on October 31 without an exit agreement, the results were actually a testament to investors' enduring confidence in for British businesses.
Elsewhere in Europe, M&A activity in the DACH region (Germany-Austria-Switzerland) stayed strong, rising to 272 deals in Q2 from 264 in the first quarter, an increase of 3%. The Nordic market grew more markedly, with deal activity increasing to 298 in Q2 from 256 in the prior quarter, a climb of 16.4%. But the star performers in Europe in Q1 was Iberia, where deal volume jumped from 83 to 123, a rise of more than 48%. Further east, Asia-Pacific volumes fell from 118 in Q1 to 101 this quarter, a decline of 14.5%, perhaps a reflection of trade war concerns.
The Global Acquirer Trends is a quarterly report focusing on M&A activity across key international markets.