Number of UK M&A deals drops in Q1 2023

Impact of war in Ukraine

The first three months of 2023 registered lower M&A activity compared to the previous quarter, according to data from the Office for National Statistics.

Between January and March, the total number of cross-border and domestic M&As involving a change in majority ownership with a value of at least £1m was 356, with 141 in January, 100 in February and 115 in March 2023. By comparison, in 2022, each month throughout the year had over 150 M&A deals, the ONS said. M&A activity in wealth management sector set for significant rise The value of inward M&A (where foreign companies acquire UK firms) for the first quarter of 2023 was £12.7bn, a £6.9bn increase from Q4 2022, but still £4.1bn lower than the first three months of 2022. The tot...