HORIZONS | BDO'S GLOBAL VIEWOF MID-MARKET DEAL ACTIVITY 21
SOUTHERN EUROPE
PE LEADS THEWAYWITH SURGE IN M&A ACTIVITY | ACTIVITY REACHES PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS
Southern Europe’s mid-market M&A activity in Q3 2021 saw declines in both the volume and value of completed transactions, even though it reached pre-pandemic levels. The transactions totalled USD 14.1bn, a fall in both the number of deals (37%) and in volume (18%) compared to the previous quarter, which is usually the most active quarter of the year for deal volume. Despite the decrease in transaction volumes, the average value per deal increased from USD 97m to USD 126m. Q3 2021 saw a surge of private equity-led M&A activity, with PE accounting for a record proportion of deals (40%). PE deal- making also accounted for 43% of overall deal value, boosting average deal value to USD 133m.
KEY SECTORS Every sector bar Leisure, which maintained its deal count from the previous, experienced declines in Q3 2021, and collectively this resulted in a 37% decline in deal numbers compared to Q2 2021. However, it’s worth noting that the second quarter of the year had, until the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, been the busiest quarter in the previous five years. The sectors most impacted by the fall in M&A activity were TMT (17 deals vs 28 in 2021 Q2), Consumer Services (12 deals vs 25) and Pharma, Medical & Biotech (5 deals vs 17). Industrials & Chemicals was the top performing sector in terms of mid-market M&A deals, regaining top spot fromTMT. The quarter’s mid-market deals were heavily concentrated in the three most active sectors, with Business Services, Industrials & Chemicals and TMT accounting for 67% of all deals closed.
BIG PICTURE
• M&A reached pre-pandemic levels in Q3 2021, even with an overall decline in quarterly deal volume and value • Private equity activity surged ahead with a record-breaking 40% of all deals • Industrials & Chemicals led the way in sector activity and, together with Business Services and TMT, accounted for 67% of all deals • Strong levels of cross-border M&A activity were recorded across sectors • Outlook for the next quarter indicates the continuing recovery in deal activity.
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