Middle East M&A activity begins recovery - FT.com

The deals may not be of the multibillion-dollar variety that excite international investment banks but merger and acquisition activity shows signs of life after a period of lacklustre growth.

In a report this week, Ernst and Young said M&A deal volumes rose 36 per cent in the first half of 2011 year on year while values were up 8 per cent. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were the most active markets.

A survey last month by Zawya, a data provider, found that M&A deals in the Middle East and North Africa increased 33 per cent in the first half compared with the same period last year. The total value of such deals in the first half rose 30 per cent to $21.2bn from $16.3bn in the first six months of last year.

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