Irish merger and acquisition (M&A) activity rose 4% in the first half of 2025 compared to last year, bucking European and global trends. The total value of transactions, however, fell by over half due to a slowdown in large-cap and transformational deals worth more than €500 million. Irish merger and acquisition (M&A) activity continued to defy European and global trends in the first half of 2025, with a 4% increase in the number of deals compared to the same period last year. The total value of transactions announced in the Republic this year was €8.8 billion, down 51% from the first half of 2024. At the macroeconomic level, the slower pace of global economic growth forecast by the International Monetary Fund is also a headwind for Irish M&A activity.

Source: The Irish Times July 21, 2025 13:06 UTC