Irish M&A jumped 44% in 2007
CFM Capital records a hefty 44% increase in the value of Irish merger and acquisitions activity in the past 12 months
The latest annual survey of merger and acquisition by
CFM
Capital, the corporate finance arm of Mazars, describes 2007 as a bumper
year for Irish M&A activity.
The survey recorded a total of 287 transaction announcements and combined
deals worth €23bn (?17bn) – up from €16bn in 2006. In all, 228 acquisitions by
Irish companies for a combined value of €14.2bn took place – up 30% in value on
2006.
The value of Irish trade sales almost doubled, to €8.8bn as an increasing
number of foreign investors targeted Irish firms. The construction sector showed
most activity, driven mainly by
CRH, the international building
materials group, which alone made 78 acquisitions to the total value of €2.2bn.
Enda Gunnell, CFM Capital managing director, told the Irish Examiner
it was too early to predict the real impact of the global credit crunch on the
shape of M&A in Ireland in 2008.
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