According to data from Zephyr AIM companies have been involved in M&A deals with a total value of €13.3bn during 2006 compared to €10.5bn in 2005.
The figures show that there were 606 M&A deals involving AIM companies in 2006, compared to 541 in 2005.
To some extent, the increase can be accounted for by the growing number of businesses trading on the market; in 2006 a further 196 companies joined AIM bringing the overall total to 1595.
UK-based companies on the market account for 92 of the deals and were acquired for a total of €4.8bn.
Following the UK is the US, Canada and Russia, with completed deal values of €594m, €291m and €165m respectively.
Lisa Wright, commercial director of Zephyr, said: “2006 has been a hectic year for M&A involving AIM companies, with deal levels rising significantly compared to the previous year.
“AIM companies are also being more acquisitive than in the past, with acquisitions by AIM companies actually exceeding those situations when they are the target.
“2006 M&A activity clearly reflects the continued growth of AIM, as well as the increasing number of international companies, such as from the US and Canada, choosing to list on AIM.”
© Crimson Business Ltd. 2007
