This year was expected to be another exceptional year for M&A activity in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region due to a strong post-Covid economic recovery, an abundance of capital and low borrowing costs. Companies across all industries badly need technology, spurring M&A activity. However, a number of factors are now weighing on the market: the Ukraine crisis, soaring oil and gas prices, and rising interest rates. 

Already some deals are being pulled and it is not clear if companies and investors from the region will want to continue with transactions in this environment or enter a 'wait and see' mode. The pandemic transformed consumer behaviour, with a strong push towards technology and digitalisation. A strategic shift by corporates to digital, innovative and new disruptive business models has been driving M&A decision-making. Intense competition between corporates, private equity (PE) and special purpose acquisition companies (Spacs) has also generated high valuations. 

Environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) concerns have started to top corporate agendas. The pandemic also led to a much greater emphasis on geographic borders, prompting regulators in the UK and the EU to adopt stricter foreign investment screening. 

The Financial Times – in partnership with Datasite – provided a key forward-looking market outlook for the EMEA M&A market and explored the risks and opportunities that this new deal making environment poses. 

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