UK tops M&A market in Europe, Moore finds

Companies in the UK are the most active acquirers in Europe, accounting for 29% of all deals in M&A, according to data from Moore Global.

The report showed UK companies were involved in 70% more deals than France, and around four times as many as the other main European M&A players, Germany, Sweden and The Netherlands.

While the US is still the favoured hunting ground of British firms, Australia saw almost as much M&A activity last year, prompted by growing interest in the country’s extensive mineral resources.

Overall, North American companies remain the most active acquirers in the cross-border mid-market and are involved in more than 40% of all deals.

While they have traditionally preferred buying British companies, the UK was only 8% of the US total in this year’s Compass report with Australia well out in front, accounting for 23% of American acquisitions.

Furthermore, 35% of all mid-market M&A deals are now cross-border and cross-border transactions account for one-in-four of all M&A deals.

John Cowie, corporate finance partner at Moore Kingston Smith, said: “Despite economic challenges, global uncertainty and the complexity of cross-border transactions, the Compass report demonstrates unequivocally that the UK remains a key player in the global M&A mid-market and consistently takes the lead in Europe.”