Main seller drivers on European M&A market 2024

According to a survey conducted among merger and acquisiiton (M&A) experts in Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific, non-core asset sales from larger companies was indicated as the biggest sell-side driver of European M&A activity in the next 12 months. This garnered by far the largest share of first choice votes, with 22 percent, closely followed by private equity (PE) divestments with 18 percent. Distress driven M&A also emerged as a top sell-side rationale, with 29 percent of first and second-choice votes combined. In addition, succession issues ranked highly, also cited by 29 percent in first and second place.

Greatest sell-side drivers of M&A activity in Europe according to M&A experts in 2024 and 2025

Characteristic	Rank 1	Rank 2
Non-core asset sales from larger companies	22%	14%
Private equity divestments	18%	9%
Distress-driven M&A	15%	14%
Capital raising for expansion in faster growing areas	13%	13%
A pick-up in valuations	11%	5%
Succession issues	11%	18%
Regulatory changes	7%	10%
ESG-related investments	3%	17%

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Release date

September 2024

More information

Region

Europe

Survey time period

Q2 2024

Number of respondents

330 respondents

Special properties

Senior executives from 240 corporates and 90 PE firms based in Europe, in the Americas and in Asia-Pacific

Supplementary notes

Respondents could select up to two answer categories.

The source surveyed senior executives from 240 corporates and 90 PE firms based in Europe, the Americas and APAC regions about their expectations for the European M&A market in the year ahead.

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