M&A transactions involving European banks in 2022 slumped to their lowest level in five years, S&P Global Market Intelligence data shows.
There were just 103 deals involving banks in Europe in 2022, down from 123 deals the year before and less than half the 224 deals struck in 2019. Deal-making in the second half of 2022 was particularly slow, with only 45 transactions reached, compared to 65 in the same period in 2021.
Central banks across Europe last year moved to hike their benchmark interest rates in response to surging inflation. In turn, the cost of borrowing increased, making it difficult for companies to find financing for deals.
The European Central Bank's main interest rate is currently 2.5%, while that of the Bank of England is 3.5%, a 14-year high. Inflation remains above most central banks' targets so more hikes are expected in the near term.
The slump in deal-making was not exclusive to Europe or to the banking industry. M&A activity in North America also declined in 2022, down 21.2% year over year to 20,965 transactions, Market Intelligence previously reported.
Three deals in the Nordic region were also among the biggest deals by value in the sector. Jyske Bank A/S bought the Danish business of Sweden-based Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) for about $4.59 billion, while Norwegian lender DNB Bank ASA took full control of Sbanken ASA for $105.1 million. Meanwhile, a smaller $26.8 million deal involved Sparebanken Vest buying Etne Sparebank.
Greece-based Eurobank SA bought stakes in Hellenic Bank PCL in Cyprus in two transactions totaling some $72.2 million, and Slovenia-based Nova Ljubljanska Banka dd acquired the remaining 9.8% stake in Serbia-based Komercijalna banka a.d.