header-logo header-logo

Home Login E-newsletter About us
20 January 2010
Categories: Legal News , Profession , Commercial
printer mail-detail

M&A results show optimism for 2010

© Copyright LexisNexis 2026. All Rights Reserved.

Global merger and acquisition (M&A) activity picked up in the fourth quarter of 2009, with Asian deals recording their highest ever level.

Mergermarket’s league tables for the end of 2009 showed rising activity in the market, signalling that the recession is coming to an end. In terms of value, deals rose by 36% on the same period in 2008, and by 90% on the previous quarter. Asian deals accounted for £107.2bn, the biggest ever and 24% more than its previous high in 2006.

Insolvency transactions fared well as opportunistic buyers seized the chance to take advantage of distressed companies, giving rise to a 370% increase in the value of insolvency deals since 2008.

Global law firms Jones Day, Freshfields and Linklaters dominated the tables for mid-market deals, each with over 200 deals in the final quarter of 2009.
Robert Profusek, leader of Jones Day’s M&A practice, says: “Our sense is that the level of transactional activity will be extraordinarily high and diverse in 2010.”
 

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Read All
Sponsored by
Haynes Boone—Jeremy Cross

Haynes Boone—Jeremy Cross

Firm strengthens global fund finance practice with London partner hire.

DWF—Stephen Webb

DWF—Stephen Webb

Partner and head of national planning team appointed

mfg Solicitors—Nick Little

mfg Solicitors—Nick Little

Corporate team expands in Birmingham with partner hire

NEWS
Read All
NLJ this week: When post-breach events rewrite damages claims
Contract damages are usually assessed at the date of breach—but not always. Writing in NLJ this week, Ian Gascoigne, knowledge lawyer at LexisNexis, examines the growing body of cases where courts have allowed later events to reshape compensation
NLJ this week: Supreme Court redraws unfair prejudice rules
The Supreme Court has restored ‘doctrinal coherence’ to unfair prejudice litigation, writes Natalie Quinlivan, partner at Fieldfisher LLP, in this week' NLJ
NLJ this week: ‘Joe Donor’ ruling exposes dangers of unregulated conception
The High Court’s refusal to recognise a prolific sperm donor as a child’s legal parent has highlighted the risks of informal conception arrangements, according to Liam Hurren, associate at Kingsley Napley, in NLJ this week
NLJ this week: CILEX warns Mazur ruling must spark reform
The Court of Appeal’s decision in Mazur may have settled questions around litigation supervision, but the profession should not simply ‘move on’, argues Jennifer Coupland, CEO of CILEX, in this week's NLJ
NLJ this week: Conditional job offers carry hidden risks for employers
A simple phrase like ‘subject to references’ may not protect employers as much as they think. Writing in NLJ this week, Ian Smith, barrister and emeritus professor of employment law at UEA, analyses recent employment cases showing how conditional job offers can still create binding contracts
Copyright © 2026 LexisNexis
back-to-top-scroll