Makrognosis

United Kingdom M&A : Inward : Number of acquisitions ()

QuarterlyNot seasonally adjustedCode UK.MANDA.Q.NSA.DIRECTION-INBOUND.ITEM-CBAU.MEASURE-COUNT

Latest (y/y)−20.2%Q2 2026
Previous (y/y)−3.7%Q1 2026
Level162.0 countQ2 2026

United Kingdom M&A : Inward : Number of acquisitions () was down 20.2% year on year in Q2 2026, compared with −3.7% in Q1 2026.

The level stood at 162.0 count.

That is the lowest reading since Q3 2023.

Over the past ten years it has ranged from −50.9% (Q2 2020) to 211.4% (Q4 2018), averaging 25.6%.

United Kingdom M&A : Inward : Number of acquisitions (), annual % change, Q1 1987 – Q2 2026−100%0%100%200%19901995200020052010201520202025Robomacro
United Kingdom M&A : Inward : Number of acquisitions (), annual % change, Q1 1987 – Q2 2026. Source: UK Office for National Statistics.
United Kingdom M&A : Inward : Number of acquisitions (), level (count)05010015020025019901995200020052010201520202025Robomacro
United Kingdom M&A : Inward : Number of acquisitions (), level (count).

Showing the full history (downsampled for display). Open the interactive chart to zoom and switch transforms.

Recent data

PeriodValueY/Y %
Q2 2026162.0 count−20.2
Q1 2026183.0 count−3.7
Q4 2025244.0 count29.1
Q3 2025170.0 count−20.2
Q2 2025203.0 count15.3
Q1 2025190.0 count6.1
Q4 2024189.0 count10.5
Q3 2024213.0 count43.0
Q2 2024176.0 count−1.1
Q1 2024179.0 count−2.7
Q4 2023171.0 count−7.6
Q3 2023149.0 count−28.0
Q2 2023178.0 count−10.1
Q1 2023184.0 count−16.4
Q4 2022185.0 count−5.6
Q3 2022207.0 count3.5
Q2 2022198.0 count15.1
Q1 2022220.0 count−0.5
Q4 2021196.0 count21.0
Q3 2021200.0 count106.2
Q2 2021172.0 count112.3
Q1 2021221.0 count45.4
Q4 2020162.0 count8.7
Q3 202097.00 count−39.8

Last 24 observations. The full history (162 observations) is available through the API.

Get United Kingdom M&A : Inward : Number of acquisitions () in your code or spreadsheet

One guessable code, agency-direct, updated on release. Free tier available.

curl -H "X-API-Key: $MAKROGNOSIS_KEY" \
  "https://makrognosis.robomacro.com/v1/series/UK.MANDA.Q.NSA.DIRECTION-INBOUND.ITEM-CBAU.MEASURE-COUNT"

# Python
import requests
r = requests.get("https://makrognosis.robomacro.com/v1/series/UK.MANDA.Q.NSA.DIRECTION-INBOUND.ITEM-CBAU.MEASURE-COUNT",
                 headers={"X-API-Key": KEY})
obs = r.json()["observations"]
Get a free API key → · API docs

About this series

Latest observationQ2 2026
First observationQ1 1986
Observations162
FrequencyQuarterly
Unitscount
AdjustmentNot seasonally adjusted
10-year high211.4% (Q4 2018)
10-year low−50.9% (Q2 2020)
10-year average25.6%
Source agencyUK Office for National Statistics
Makrognosis codeUK.MANDA.Q.NSA.DIRECTION-INBOUND.ITEM-CBAU.MEASURE-COUNT

More United Kingdom MANDA series

United Kingdom M&A : Domestic : Cash expenditure on M&A of independent companies : £m ()United Kingdom M&A : Domestic : Cash expenditure on M&A of subsidiaries : £m ()United Kingdom M&A : Domestic : M&A of independents : Total payments : £m ()United Kingdom M&A : Domestic : M&A of independents : number acquired ()United Kingdom M&A : Domestic : Number of companies acquired ()United Kingdom M&A : Domestic : Value of ordinary shares : £m (ended 2019) ()United Kingdom M&A : Domestic : Value of preference & loan stock : £m (ended 2019) ()United Kingdom M&A : Inward : Number of acquisitions - direct transactions : Annual ()United Kingdom M&A : Inward : Number of acquisitions in EU : Annual ()United Kingdom M&A : Inward : Number of acquisitions in USA : Annual ()United Kingdom M&A : Inward : Number of disposals ()United Kingdom M&A : Inward : Number of disposals - direct transactions : Annual ()United Kingdom M&A : Inward : Number of disposals in EU : Annual ()United Kingdom M&A : Inward : Number of disposals in USA : Annual ()United Kingdom M&A : Inward : Value of acquisitions - direct transactions : Annual : £m ()United Kingdom M&A : Inward : Value of acquisitions : £m ()United Kingdom M&A : Inward : Value of acquisitions in EU : Annual : £m ()United Kingdom M&A : Inward : Value of acquisitions in USA : Annual : £m ()United Kingdom M&A : Inward : Value of disposals - direct transactions : Annual : £m ()United Kingdom M&A : Inward : Value of disposals : £m ()

Other United Kingdom indicators

United Kingdom GDP (Gross Domestic Product)United Kingdom Nominal GDP (current prices)United Kingdom Inflation Rate (CPI)United Kingdom Core Inflation RateUnited Kingdom Unemployment RateUnited Kingdom Credit Rating & Sovereign Risk ScoreUnited Kingdom Industrial ProductionUnited Kingdom Production Industries - Total (Index 1dp): CVM SAUnited Kingdom Retail SalesUnited Kingdom Producer Price Inflation (PPI)United Kingdom BoP Current Account Balance SAUnited Kingdom Trade Balance: Goods & ServicesUnited Kingdom Total Trade (TT): WW: Exports: BOP: CP: SA (goods + services)United Kingdom Total Trade: World: Exports: BOP: CVM SAUnited Kingdom Total Trade (TT): WW: Imports: BOP: CP: SA (goods + services)United Kingdom Total Trade: World: Imports: BOP: CVM SA

FAQ

What is the current m&A : Inward : Number of acquisitions () in United Kingdom?
The latest reading is −20.2% year on year for Q2 2026, published by UK Office for National Statistics.
Where does this data come from?
It is collected directly from UK Office for National Statistics and is available through the Makrognosis API under the code UK.MANDA.Q.NSA.DIRECTION-INBOUND.ITEM-CBAU.MEASURE-COUNT.

Last updated 2026-10-15. Source: UK Office for National Statistics. Original title: “M&A : Inward : Number of acquisitions (UK)”.