Mergers and takeovers at record low

In 2014, merger and acquisition activity involving UK companies fell to lower levels than experienced during the depth of the 2008-09 economic downturn and was at its lowest level since 1987, when ONS first published overall merger and acquisition data.

There were a total of 376 domestic and cross border acquisitions which were completed during 2014 compared with 437 in 2013, a reduction of 61.

Last year, the total number of takeovers in the UK by foreign companies fell by almost a third (30.5%) from 141 in 2013 to 98. The value of these takeovers plummeted by 57.1% from £31.8 billion to £13.7 billion.

Mergers and takeovers of UK companies by other UK firms also fell in number — by 27.3% — from 238 to 173. However, the value of such activity rose by 4.5% from £7.7 billion to just over £8 billion.

The number of takeovers abroad by UK companies increased by 81% to 105 from 58, but comparisons on value could not be made as no figure was disclosed for 2013. The value of such takeovers in 2014 was £20.3 billion.

www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_397409.pdf