• Home
  •  
    Regions
    • Europe
    • UK & Ireland
    • DACH
    • Nordic
    • France
    • Southern Europe
    • Benelux
    • CEE
    • Asia
  •  
    Deals
    • Buyouts
    • Venture
    • Exits
    • Refinancings
    • Build-up
    • Turnaround
    • Secondaries
    • Advanced deals search
  •  
    Funds
    • Buyout
    • Venture
    • Mezzanine
    • Debt
    • Funds-of-funds
    • Secondaries
    • Fundraising pipelines
    • Advanced funds search
  •  
    GPs & LPs
    • GP profiles
    • LP profiles
    • GP news
    • LP news
    • Sponsors search
    • LPs search
  •  
    Secondaries
    • Deals
    • Funds
    • News
    • Analysis
  •  
    People
    • People moves
    • Analysis
    • In Profile
    • Q&A
    • Videos
    • Comment
  •  
    Analysis
    • In Profile
    • Fundraising
    • Q&A
    • Comment
    • Videos
    • Podcast
    • Reports
    • Data Snapshots
  •  
    Unquote Data
    • Deals search
    • Exits search
    • Funds search
    • Sponsors search
    • Advisers search
    • LPs search
    • League tables
    • Reports
  • Sign in
  • Sign in
    • You are currently accessing unquote.com via your Enterprise account.

      If you already have an account please use the link below to sign in.

      If you have any problems with your access or would like to request an individual access account please contact our customer service team.

      Phone: +44 (0)203 741 1137

      Email: Georgina.Lawson@acuris.com

      • Sign in
     
      • Newsletters
      • Account details
      • Contact support
      • Sign out
     
  • Follow us
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn
  • Free Trial
  • Subscribe
Unquote
Unquote
  • Home
  • Regions
  • Deals
  • Funds
  • GPs & LPs
  • Secondaries
  • People
  • Analysis
  • Unquote Data
  • You are currently accessing unquote.com via your Enterprise account.

    If you already have an account please use the link below to sign in.

    If you have any problems with your access or would like to request an individual access account please contact our customer service team.

    Phone: +44 (0)203 741 1137

    Email: Georgina.Lawson@acuris.com

    • Sign in
 
    • Newsletters
    • Account details
    • Contact support
    • Sign out
 
Unquote
  • Buyouts

The return of the mega-buyout

  • John Bakie
  • 11 August 2010
  • Tweet  
  • Facebook  
  • LinkedIn  
  • Google plus  
  • Send to  

Mega-buyouts of over €1bn are on their way back following a drought of activity during the global financial crisis, according to unquote” research. Signs of life are starting to appear at the very top-end of private equity investing, but Europe’s buyout market is mirroring its depressed economies. John Bakie gives an overview.

With a spate of large buyouts in recent weeks, activity in this highly visible end of the market seems to be picking up. Figures from unquote" research suggest activity is already well ahead of last year, in both volume and value.

So far, 2010 has seen a total of seven buyouts valued at over €1bn, with a total value of almost €12bn. This compares favourably with 2009, when there were just four large buyouts, with a combined value of €7bn. With other large buyouts rumoured to be in the pipeline, 2010 could see more than double the activity of 2009 by year end.

Volume and value of European buyouts worth  EUR 1bn or more

These figures have been helped by a number of high-profile, high-value buyouts in recent weeks, including the £2bn acquisition of RBS's Global Merchant Services, better known as WorldPay, and the €1.5bn buyout of Picard Surgelés, a French frozen food retailer. The UK & Ireland region has remained a focal-point for large buyouts, accounting for five of this year's seven €1bn plus buyouts.

However, volume and value of deals worth over €1bn are still well below those seen in the boom years. Volume peaked at 46 in 2007, while value hit a high of €108bn a year earlier, in 2006. Even compared to 2008, when the US sub-prime mortgage crisis was in full swing, today's mega-buyout market is depressed.

With the Bank of England's governor, Mervyn King, today announcing a downgrade in growth forecasts, it is perhaps unsurprising that major M&A activity has also only seen a modest recovery. Europe's economies are still reeling from one of the worst recessions in living memory, and it will be some years before growth returns to pre-crash levels. Investors and banks will also remain cautious, all of which will have an effect on this top end market for many years to come.

  • Tweet  
  • Facebook  
  • LinkedIn  
  • Google plus  
  • Send to  
  • Topics
  • Buyouts
  • UK / Ireland
  • Benelux
  • France
  • Nordics
  • DACH
  • Southern Europe

More on Buyouts

Clinical trials and biotechnology
Permira to take Ergomed private for GBP 703m

Sponsor deploys Permira VIII to ride new wave of take-privates; Blackstone commits GBP 200m in financing for UK-based CRO

  • Buyouts
  • 04 September 2023
EMEA Public to Private M&A
Change of mind: Sponsors take to de-listing their own assets

EQT and Cinven seen as bellweather for funds to reassess options for listed assets trading underwater

  • Investments
  • 04 September 2023
HR software solutions providers
Main Capital’s Assessio to be sold to Pollen Street

Recruitment software company tripled in revenue under Main Capital’s ownership

  • Buyouts
  • 25 August 2023
Ice cream
Exponent divests ‘significant' stake in Meadow to Canadian investor

Since 2018, GP has diversified food ingredients company's focus beyond commodity dairy

  • Exits
  • 22 August 2023

Latest News

Fund closes in US dollars
  • Funds
Stonehage Fleming raises USD 130m for largest fund to date, eyes 2024 programme

Multi-family office has seen strong appetite, with investor base growing since 2016 to more than 90 family offices, Meiping Yap told Unquote

  • 05 September 2023
Clinical trials and biotechnology
  • Buyouts
Permira to take Ergomed private for GBP 703m

Sponsor deploys Permira VIII to ride new wave of take-privates; Blackstone commits GBP 200m in financing for UK-based CRO

  • 04 September 2023
Public sector software
  • Exits
Partners Group to release IMs for Civica sale in mid-September

Sponsor acquired the public software group in July 2017 via the same-year vintage Partners Group Global Value 2017

  • 04 September 2023
EMEA Public to Private M&A
  • Investments
Change of mind: Sponsors take to de-listing their own assets

EQT and Cinven seen as bellweather for funds to reassess options for listed assets trading underwater

  • 04 September 2023
Back to Top
  • About Unquote
  • Advertise
  • Contacts
  • About Acuris
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Group Disclaimer
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

© Merger Market

© Mergermarket Limited, 10 Queen Street Place, London EC4R 1BE - Company registration number 03879547

Digital publisher of the year 2010 & 2013

Digital publisher of the year 2010 & 2013