MENA M&A transactions total $69.7 billion

DUBAI, Oct 12: Refinitiv, a London Stock Exchange Group business, has released the investment banking analysis for the Middle East and North African for the third quarter of 2022.

Investment Banking Fees

An estimated US$1.1 billion worth of investment banking fees were generated in the Middle East & North Africa during the first nine months of 2022, 5% more than the same period in 2021 and the highest first nine-month total since 2008. Almost half of this year’s fees were generated during the first three months of the year, with quarterly fees declining in the following two quarters. Fees totalled US$186.4 million during the third quarter of 2022, the lowest quarterly total in the region in six years.

Advisory fees earned from completed M&A transactions in the region reached US$339.6 million, a 26% increase from last year and the second highest first nine-month fee total since our records began in 2000. Equity capital markets underwriting fees increased 134% from last year to US$284.4 million, the highest first nine-month total in fourteen years, while syndicated lending fees reached a four-year high of US$377.7 million. Debt capital markets fees declined 78% to US$52.4 million, the lowest first nine-month total since 2008.

MENA fees account for 1.3% of investment banking fees earned globally so far during 2022, the highest share since 2008. Thirty-seven percent of all MENA fees were generated in the United Arab Emirates during the first nine months of 2022, followed by Saudi Arabia (33%) and Oman (9%). JP Morgan earned the most investment banking fees in the region during the first nine months of 2022, a total of US$84.3 million or an 8% share of the total fee pool.

Mergers & Acquisitions

The value of announced M&A transactions with any MENA involvement reached US$69.7 billion during the first nine months of 2022, 17% less than the value recorded during the same period in 2021. Despite the decline in value, the number of deal announcements in the region increased 5% from last year to the highest first nine-month total since our records began in 1980. Deals involving a MENA target totalled US$37.0 billion during the first nine months of 2022, down 38% from the same period last year and a fouryear low. The number of deals declined 1% from last year but marked the second highest first nine-month deal count of all time. Inbound deals involving a non-MENA acquiror declined 73% from last year’s all-time record to US$10.0 billion. Domestic deals increased 14% in value to US$28.0 billion, as the number of transactions exceeded 400 for the first time during any first nine-month period since our records began.

MENA outbound M&A totalled US$27.9 billion, up 70% compared to the value recorded during the same period in 2021 and a 13-year high. The financial sector was most active, with deals targeting financial companies accounting for 22% of MENA target M&A during the first nine months of 2022, followed by Industrials with 17%. The United Arab Emirates was the most targeted nation, followed by Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Citi topped the any MENA involvement announced M&A financial

Equity Capital Markets

MENA equity and equity-related issuance totalled US$15.3 billion during the first nine months of 2022, the highest first nine-month total since 2008. Proceeds raised by companies in the region increased 166% compared to the first nine months of 2021, while the number of issues increased 110%. Initial public offerings accounted for 86% of activity during the first nine months of 2022, while followon issuance accounted for 14%.

A total of 29 initial public offerings were recorded during the first nine months of 2022, 21 more than last year at this time and the highest level since 2008. They raised a combined US$13.2 billion, setting a first nine-month record in the region. Dubai Electricity & Water Authority raised US$6.1 billion in its stock market debut in April. The state utility’s initial public offering is the 3rd largest IPO globally so far this year and the second largest MENA IPO of all time. HSBC took first place in the MENA ECM underwriting league table during the first nine months of 2022 with an 18.5% market share, followed by Saudi National Bank SJSC.