Mubasher: Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the Middle East and North Africa Region (MENA) dropped 57.6% in 2017, registering $16 billion, compared to $37.8 billion in 2016.

Top active sectors in MENA in terms of M&A deals were the financial services and industrials & chemicals sectors, which recorded $4.5 billion and $3.9 billion deals, respectively, Mergermarket revealed, as Saudi Gazette reported on Monday.

“The M&A market in MENA is showing real signs of strength in 2018, with a flurry of big-ticket deals already announced this year,” Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) research editor at Mergermarket Jonathan Klonowski commented.

Meanwhile, the worst achievers in MENA based on M&A transactions included the construction sector, whose deals’ value tumbled to $59 million last year versus $1.3 billion a year earlier.  

“Greater stability in commodity markets and a need to innovate should put corporates in a position to be active throughout 2018,” Klonowski said.