Investor sentiment in Europe is plagued by growing political uncertainty and disappointing growth figures coming out of some of its biggest economies. Mergers and acquisition (M&A) deal value in Europe fell to $122.9bn, the lowest tally for any quarter since the third quarter of 2012.
The biggest deal announced on the continent was ZF Friedrichshafen’s $7.2bn acquisition of Swiss brake technology manufacturer Wabco. The proposed merger between Siemens and French rail transport company Alstom was blocked by the European Commission over anti-trust concerns, further denting confidence. Inbound M&A from foreign buyers has dropped as well and is likely to be hampered further by the EU’s announcement of a new foreign direct investment screening framework.
