Merger and acquisition activity grows 17.6%

Merger and acquisition activity grew by 17.6% during the second quarter of 2012, according to the latest NCB Corporate Finance M&A Tracker Survey.

In volume terms, this was the second busiest quarter — after the final three months of 2011 — since the end of 2008. The survey reported 60 deals completed in the quarter, which including 16 by CRH, and represents a 30% increase on the 46 deals completed in the same period last year.

The total value of the deals surveyed in the second quarter was €540m, a 43% increase on the €378m recorded in the same period last year but a decrease on the €792m recorded in the first quarter of 2012.