Mergers and acquisitions

M&A : Outward : Value of disposals : £m

£ 2,683 m

2021 Q1

Release date:

8 June 2021

Next release:

7 September 2021

Mergers and acquisitions involving UK companies: January to March 2021

What's in the bulletin?

• In Quarter 1 (Jan to Mar) 2021, inward mergers and acquisitions (M&A) involving a change in majority share ownership saw a small increase in value, while domestic and outward M&A recorded sizeable decreases.
• The total number of monthly deals fell to a low of 58 in May 2020 as the amount of M&A activity was affected by the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, though activity has since increased and, in March 2021 (153), was the highest since March 2020 (196).
• In Quarter 1 2021, the total value of inward M&A (foreign companies abroad acquiring UK companies) was £6.1 billion, £0.1 billion higher than Quarter 4 (Oct to Dec) 2020 (£6.0 billion).