A total 78 deals were completed in the three months until end of June, with an aggregate value of $73.3bn, a 12.3% and 12.4% decline on the previous year respectively. In the same period last year 89 deals worth $83.6bn were recorded.
The decline is evidence of continued low confidence in the region, and the much-cited renewal of excitement in the market is yet to have an impact on mergers and acquisitions.
While deal flow in the region did fall, Europe’s share of the M&A market did increase marginally, from 29% in Q2 2012 to 32% this year.
M&A activity in the US showed a greater drop than in Europe, with volume and value falling 20.4% and 22.7% respectively.
Asia Pacific ex Japan was the only region to register an increase in activity, as 61 deals worth an aggregate $58bn were finalised, representing an increase of more than 40% in terms of both value and volume.
Global deal volume fell 14% year on year, but deal value increased 5.1% in comparison to Q1 2013.
Private equity picture
The aggregate value of European private equity deals was $27bn in Q2 2013, a substantial increase on the $8bn seen in Q1.
Asia-based deals dropped to their lowest level since Q3 2009, recording an aggregate value of just $2bn.
