Mergers and takeovers at low level


Mergers and takeovers involving UK companies continued at much lower levels of activity than those seen before the 2008-09 economic downturn, official statistics reveal.


In the third quarter of 2015, there was a combined total of 72 completed domestic and cross-border mergers and takeovers. 


Domestic mergers and takeovers totalled 31 in the third quarter, but their value was just £0.7 billion. Comparative figures for the previous quarter were 53 takeovers worth £2.6 billion. 


There were 23 completed acquisitions of UK companies made by foreign companies, worth in total £8.8 billion, against 27 acquisitions worth £9.7 billion the previous quarter.


The only large transaction during the third quarter was the acquisition of building materials group Lafarge Tarmac Holdings by its Irish rival CRH. 


Successful takeovers by UK companies abroad totalled 18 with a value of just £1.6 billion against 32 transactions worth £11.1 billion in the previous quarter. 


www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_426516.pdf