KPMG has taken first place in an influential list of the most active financial advisors by value in the Northern Ireland mergers and acquisitions market.
Experian’s M&A Review for 2021 showed KPMG completed 14 Northern Ireland deals amounting to over £924 million in value, including some of the biggest M&A transactions to have taken place during the year.
The firm was also ranked first in the list of financial advisors by the volume of deals in the Republic of Ireland, notching up 29 deals in total.
Commenting on the results Russell Smyth, Partner and Head of Deal Advisory at KPMG in Northern Ireland, said: “2021 was another strong year for deal making in the local market and we are delighted to have advised on a number of major transactions. The spread of deals across diverse sectors, including energy, agri-food and technology, is indicative of an active M&A market which has attracted a broad mix of funders, including private equity firms, debt providers and infrastructure funds.”
“The level of activity is encouraging and reflects an active market backed by strong levels of funding. In line with KPMG’s recent M&A Outlook report, we expect an increased level of activity in the year ahead with a strong pipeline of deals already in place.”
Johnny Hanna, Partner in Charge of KPMG in Northern Ireland, said: “Our Deal Advisory team is the go-to advisor in the local market. The strong performance of both it and of the wider M&A market is reflective of the confidence investors have in the Northern Ireland economy.”
Some of the transactions KPMG’s Deal Advisory team were involved in include: the purchase of Euro Auctions Group by Ritchie Brothers for £775 million; the purchase of Kerry Group’s consumer food business by Pilgrim’s Pride for over £700 million; the disposal by Cancom SE of their subsidiaries in Northern Ireland (formerly Novosco) and in Great Britain to Telefónica Tech for over £330 million; the purchase of Tully Biogas Plant by RGT Holdings Limited and the purchase of TCMM Shutter Group, Tropical Blinds and Make My Blinds by Mzuri Group.
Additionally, KPMG advised on the most merger and acquisition deals across the island of Ireland during 2021, according to the latest Mergermarket Global and Regional M&A report. This is the third consecutive year KPMG has topped the table as leading Financial Advisor on Irish M&A transactions by deal volume.
