Drop in volume and value of merger and acquisition activity in Irish firms

There were close to 100 fewer instances of merger and acquisition activity involving Irish-based firms in the first nine months of 2013 compared to the same period last year.

New data from international information services provider Experian shows significant declines in both the volume and value of Irish-focused merger and acquisition & activity between the start of January and the end of September. However, a pick-up was noted in the third quarter of the year.

A total of 149 merger and acquisition and equity capital markets transactions were carried out, by or involving Irish businesses, in the first nine months; a 37.1% decline on the 237 deals over the same period last year.