M&A in France: The New State of Play

This was supposed to be a buoyant year for French M&A activity but, as elsewhere, the past few months have seen a disquieting proportion of deals being put on hold in the context of unprecedented COVID-19 lock down measures. Although the French government has taken strong actions to support companies and workers, injecting record level of stimulus into the economy, recent estimates predict that France’s GDP will contract by 8% this year. At the same time, the crisis is likely to offer unique opportunities for consolidation and, potentially, for a more efficient and resilient M&A modus operandi.

• As restrictions are lifted and the economy reopens, how soon will we see an M&A rebound?
• What will French M&A look like as markets recover and confidence returns?
• Which sectors will become more attractive in the coming months?
• What role will private equity play in providing capital and in the recovery more broadly?

What shifts can be expected in M&A transactions and negotiations now that remote and virtual approaches have become the new normal?

This FT Dialogue, organised in partnership with Datasite, will discuss the state of play of M&A in France, how the market is responding now, and what the outlook might be for a post-COVID-19 world.