UK M&A falls as Russia-Ukraine depresses sentiment

40% fall year-on-year

Elliot Gulliver-Needham
clock • 1 min read

The number of M&A transactions at the start of 2022 decreased sharply compared to previous quarters, as the Russia-Ukraine conflict led to a worsening outlook and delayed decisions.

There were 371 completed M&A transactions in Q1 2022, compared to 570 in Q4 2021 and 610 in Q1 2021. Perhaps most strikingly, the total value of deals made by foreign firms acquiring UK companies dropped by a third from £16.3bn in Q4 2021 to just £11.2bn last quarter. Just two acquisitions accounted for half this figure, both by American companies: API Group Corporation acquiring Chubb Limited and ICU Medical Inc acquiring Smiths Medical 2020 Ltd. As well as value, there was also a drop in the overall number of UK companies acquired by foreign companies, with 145 acquisitions last ...

To continue reading this article...

Join Investment Week for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, analysis and opinion from the investment industry, including the Sustainable Hub covering fund news from the ESG space
  • Get ahead of regulatory and technological changes affecting fund management
  • Important and breaking news stories selected by the editors delivered straight to your inbox each day
  • Weekly members-only newsletter with exclusive opinion pieces from leading industry experts
  • Be the first to hear about our extensive events schedule and awards programmes

Join now

 

Already an Investment Week
member?

Login

More on Companies

Maven Renovar VCT tug of war continues as board warns off requisition

Maven Renovar VCT tug of war continues as board warns off requisition

'Poor performance' stated as reason

Patrick Brusnahan
clock 10 July 2025 • 2 min read
Jupiter Fund Management agrees to take over CCLA for £100m

Jupiter Fund Management agrees to take over CCLA for £100m

Takeover expected before end of 2025

Sorin Dojan
clock 10 July 2025 • 2 min read
Monzo fined £21m by FCA for failings in financial crime controls

Monzo fined £21m by FCA for failings in financial crime controls

Around 34,000 high-risk clients onboarded

Linus Uhlig
clock 08 July 2025 • 2 min read
Trustpilot