The number of mergers, acquisitions, private equity and venture financing deals in Europe was down 8.8% in the period from January to November 2024, compared to the previous year, new data from GlobalData has found.
According to GlobalData, a number of key European markets saw a decline in deal volume in the year to date, with deals in Germany down 12.1%, France down 21%, Italy down 6.8%, the Netherlands down 13.8%, Spain down 14.2% and Sweden down 9.7%.
Global deals decline
On a global level, a total of 45,921 deals were announced between January and November, which was an 8.7% compared to the same period in 2023, when 50,308 deals were announced.
The number of deals in North America was down 12.5% on the previous year, however the region accounted for more overall deals (38.7%) than in the same period in 2023 (37.2%). In the US, deal volume fell by 11.7%, while in Canada, it was down 18.9%.
Venture financing
“Even though all deal types experienced a decline, the overall setback was primarily driven by a massive fall in number of venture financing deals,” commented Aurojyoti Bose, lead analyst at GlobalData.
“Similarly, all the regions saw a decline in deal activity, with the most significant drop occurring in North America. As the largest market, accounting for approximately 40% of global deal announcements, its double-digit decline was the primary driver of the overall decrease.”
Other regions to see a decline in deal volume included Asia-Pacific (down 3.6%), Middle East and Africa (down 5%), and South and Central America (down 17.5%), GlobalData noted. In China, deal volumes fell by more than a fifth (21.9%). Read more here.
