Global M&A activity is up almost 50% on 2003 figures while the UK is experiencing its biggest M&A upsurge since the end of 2000, according to KMPG's corporate finance team.
The global analysis, based on figures provided by Dealogic, shows the value of closed deals to date in 2004 is $1,536 billion ? a 47% percent increase on the $1,047 billion recorded over the same period in 2003. The top month for M&A was July, which recorded the highest monthly value of deal activity ($301 billion) since the M&A peak in December 2000.
The analysis for global bid numbers shows 18,481 deals completed so far this year - a 10% on 16,808 completions during the same period last year - suggesting a considerable rise in the average individual deal value.
In the UK, 2,444 deals closed with a combined value of $214 billion, a 45% percent increase on the $148 billion recorded over the same period for 2003. Deal numbers remained constant.
Stephen Barrett, International Chairman of KPMG's corporate finance practice, comments: ?We are at a turning point in global M&A. After the much-heralded return of the market at the start of 2004, we are now finally in a position to call a recovery ? albeit a modest rise by bid numbers.