Mergers and acquisitions down in third quarter

Merger and acquisition activity in Ireland in the third quarter of 2008 was down 37% on the corresponding period in 2007, the latest M&A survey by CFM Capital, the corporate finance division of Mazars, has revealed.

According to the survey, the number of third quarter deals fell from 67 in 2007 to 42 in 2008, while the value of third-quarter acquisitions by Irish companies fell from €5.2 billion in 42 deals in third quarter 2007 to a mere €664 million in 23 deals in third quarter 2008.