Germany - M&A Statistics
M&A Information about Germany. In this section, we provide you some information about M&A with regards to national transactions within Germany and cross-border M&A from and to Germany. The IMAA Insitute offers full individual and corporate members additional prepared research covering a broad range of topics.
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M&A Germany – Mergers & Acquisitions Germany
In this section of the M&A statistics, we collect and regularly update information on national deals as well as cross-border transactions from (outbound) and into (inbound) Germany. As a free user or paying member of our Institute, you have full access and can also download this M&A data (please see our Membership section to sign in or to register).
Announced M&A Germany by Numbers & Value by Years
Since 1991, more than 49’900 mergers & acquisitions transactions have been announced with a known value of almost 2’900 bil. EUR. In 1999, a new record has been broken in terms of transaction value with 484 bil. EUR. The record of number of deals took place in 2000 where more than 3’000 transactions had been announced.
Valuation of Companies in Germany
The transaction multiple of equity value to EBIT of M&A Germany since 1991 is 15.3 (Median). This year, the multiple has been slightly above this level at: 15.6 (as of December 15, 2016).
The transaction multiple of completed Mergers & Acquisitions in Germany as equity value to sales since 1991 is 0.8 (Median). This year, the multiple has been higher at 0.92 (as of December 15, 2016).
Announced Monthly M&A in Germany
In February 2016, 169 transactions with a value of 19.36 bil. EUR have been announced. Compared with February last year, this represents a decrease of -3% in terms of numbers and a increase of +142% in value. The month with the highest number of deals was March 2000 with 352 deals and the month with the highest value was November 1999 with a value of 217.58 bil. EUR.
The month with the highest frequency of deals is December with 5’008 deals which represents 10.6% of all M&A. February is the month with the lowest frequency with 3721 transactions which are 7.3% of the deals.
The month with the highest value of deals is November with 417 bil. EUR of deals which represents 14.3% of all M&A transactions. And January is the month with the lowest value with transactions worth 120 bil. EUR which are 4.1% of all deals.
Announced Quarterly M&A in Germany
Announced M&A in Germany by Industries (2000-2016)
The industry with the largest M&A activity in terms of transaction value has been the industrial sector – representing 14.6% of all deals with a total value of 297 bil. EUR. Second most important industry by value is the financial sector with 300 bil. EUR worth of transactions. The Materials industry reached the third rank with 280 bil. EUR of deals.
The industry with the largest number of transactions has been Industrials– representing 19.2% with a total number of over 6700 transactions. The second most active acquirers are companies from High Technology with more than 5434 deals accounting for 15.6% of transactions. Consumer Products companies are the third most frequent industry in terms of consolidation with 9.7% of all deals.
Largest M&A Deals Germany
| Rank | Date | Acquiror | Nation | Target | Nation | Value (in bil. USD) | Value (in bil. EUR) | Value (in bil. GBP) | Status |
| 1 | 11.14.1999 | Vodafone AirTouch PLC | United Kingdom | Mannesmann AG | Germany | 202.79 | 204.79 | 126.95 | Completed |
| 2 | 05.18.2016 | Bayer AG | Germany | Monsanto Co | United States | 56.60 | 49.75 | 39.19 | Pending |
| 3 | 05.06.1998 | Daimler-Benz AG | Germany | Chrysler Corp | United States | 40.47 | 36.28 | 24.33 | Completed |
| 4 | 08.16.2016 | Praxair Inc | United States | Linde AG | Germany | 35.16 | 33.80 | 28.38 | Pending |
| 5 | 10.21.1999 | Mannesmann AG | Germany | Orange PLC | United Kingdom | 32.59 | 30.24 | 19.55 | Completed |
| 6 | 07.24.2000 | Deutsche Telekom AG | Germany | VoiceStream Wireless Corp | United States | 29.40 | 30.78 | 19.43 | Completed |
| 7 | 05.17.1999 | Rhone-Poulenc SA | France | Hoechst AG | Germany | 21.92 | 20.55 | 13.55 | Completed |
| 8 | 03.23.2006 | Bayer AG | Germany | Schering AG | Germany | 21.40 | 16.98 | 11.62 | Completed |
| 9 | 04.01.2001 | Allianz AG | Germany | Dresdner Bank AG | Germany | 19.66 | 22.48 | 13.88 | Completed |
| 10 | 05.30.2005 | Unicredito Italiano SpA | Italy | Bayerische Hypo- und Vereins | Germany | 18.26 | 15.07 | 10.08 | Completed |
Largest M&A Deals Germany
In 2016, German companies have announced almost 435 acquisitions worth 106.7 bil. EUR. Compared with the year before the numbers have decreased by -1.6% and their value has increased by +428%.
Germany Acquisitions Abroad by Target Nation (2000-2016)
Below you will find a map of the number and value of transactions by German companies abroad. German companies acquire most companies in the US, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and France. Italy ranks 7th in terms of frequency of deals while China ranks 16th.
Germany M&A Abroad by Numbers
Germany M&A Abroad by Value (in bil. EUR)
M&A by Foreign Acquirers into Germany (Inbound)
In 2016, 708 deals by foreign companies into Germany have been announced. Compared with the year before the numbers have increased by +20.2% and their value has increased by +45.3%.
Acquisitions by Foreign Companies into Germany by Acquirer Nation (2000-2015)
Below you will find maps of the numbers and value of transactions from foreign companies in Germany. Most frequent acquirers into Germany come from the US, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and France. China ranks 17th in terms of frequency of deals lower than Canada which ranks 14th.
Map of Foreign M&A into Germany by Numbers
Map of Foreign M&A into Germany by Value (in bil. EUR)
Announced M&A from Germany into the US
Since 1991, German companies have announced more than 1388 acquisitions in the US with a total value of over 340 bil. EUR. Last year 79 deals had been announced which is a increase of +19.7% compared to 2015.
Announced M&A from the US into Germany
Since 1991, companies fromthe US have announced more than 3’100 acquisitions with a total value of over 237 bil. EUR. So US companies have made more transactions in Germany than German companies in the US.
Announced M&A from Germany into China and Hong Kong
Since 1991, German companies have announced more than 200 acquisitions in China and Hong Kong with a total value of more than 4.2 bil.EUR.
Announced M&A from China and Hong Kong into Germany
Since 1991, companies from China and Hong Kong announced 228 acquisitions in Germany with a total value of more than 9.4 bil. EUR. The record of number of deals took place this year with 46 announced deals and a total value of 4.4 bil. EUR.
Announced M&A from Germany into Austria
Since 1991, German companies have announced more than 765 acquisitions in Austria with a total value of over 24.69 bil. EUR. Last year 28 deals had been announced which is a decrease of -12.5% compared to 2015.
Announced M&A from Austria into Germany
Since 1991, companies from Austria have announced more than 731 acquisitions in Germany with a total value of more than 10.89 bil. EUR. Last year 36 deals had been announced which is an increase of +38.5% compared to 2015.
Announced M&A from Germany into Switzerland
Since 1991, German companies have announced more than 908 acquisitions in Switzerland with a total value of more than 42.6 bil. EUR. Last year 22 deals hat been announced which is a decrease of -40.5% compared to 2015.
Announced M&A from Switzerland into Germany
Since 1989, companies from Switzerland have announced more than 1134 acquisitions in Germany with a total value of 26.12 bil. EUR.
Unless otherwise stated source for all statistics is: Thomson Financial, Institute for Mergers, Acquisitions and Alliances (IMAA) analysis.
