Mergers and acquisitions

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

£ 11,057 m

2020 Q4

Release date:

9 March 2021

Next release:

8 June 2021

Mergers and acquisitions involving UK companies: October to December 2020

What's in the bulletin?

• In Quarter 4 (Oct to Dec) 2020 cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A) involving a change in majority share ownership all saw notable increases in both value and number, while domestic M&A recorded sizeable decreases. 
• In Quarter 4 2020 estimates for the total value of inward M&A (foreign companies abroad acquiring UK companies) were £4.3 billion, which was higher than Quarter 3 (July to Sept) 2020 (£3.2 billion).
• The value of outward M&A (UK companies acquiring foreign companies abroad) was £4.5 billion in Quarter 4 2020, an increase of £3.1 billion on the value recorded in the previous quarter (£1.4 billion).