RiskBrexitGlobal M&A activity likely to remain subdued

Global M&A activity likely to remain subdued

A survey of 1,000 merger and acquisition dealmakers finds that seven in 10 expect Brexit uncertainty to limit the number of deals.

Post-Brexit uncertainties are limiting global appetite for merger and acquisition (M&A) deals, which will revive once the UK clarifies when and how it will negotiate an end to its membership of the European Union (EU), according to a survey of dealmakers by Intralinks.

The enterprise platform and technology provider canvassed opinion from 1,001 M&A professionals around the world and found that 70% believe the number of deals will remain subdued until Brexit worries subside. Two in three cent believe that the UK leaving the EU will have a negative effect on global deal volumes for the second half of 2016.

“M&A levels are very sensitive to any uncertainty in the market,” said Philip Whitchelo, vice president of strategy and product marketing at Intralinks. “Unprecedented political upheaval in the UK is a cause for concern for dealmakers at the moment.” However, the survey was conducted in early July before Japan’s SoftBank agreed a £24.3bn takeover deal for UK chip maker Arm Holdings.

“It’s interesting to see the survey dispel rumours suggesting UK dealmakers are likely to be relocated to other financial centres in the EU, like Frankfurt or Paris,” added Whitchelo. “If we see more political stability as time goes on, the impact to dealmakers may not be as cataclysmic as originally anticipated.”

M&A activity in Europe has already slowed from the high levels of the past two years, according to data from media group Mergermarket. The first half of 2016 saw 3,110 deals worth US$342.8bn, the lowest H1 deal value and count since 2013 when 2,784 deals worth US$335.1bn were completed.

The decline was even more marked in Q2, with total deal value of US$160.9bn, the lowest figure since 2010 ($114.9bn) and a 38% reduction in value from H1 2015. The UK suffered more than other countries in H1 2016, with only 638 deals worth $58.2bn; the lowest deal value since 2010, which saw US$56.3bn from 504 deals.

The Intralinks survey found that 82% of UK dealmakers expect the Brexit vote to have a negative economic impact on Britain, while 66% of those surveyed across the world expect there to be a decrease in demand for UK assets over the next six months.

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