Makrognosis

United Kingdom M&A : Outward : Number of acquisitions - direct transactions : Annual ()

AnnualNot seasonally adjustedCode UK.MANDA.A.NSA.DIRECTION-OUTBOUND.ITEM-CBBU.MEASURE-COUNT.MEASURE-DIRECT

Latest43.00 count2025
Previous48.00 count2024
Year ago48.00 count2024

United Kingdom M&A : Outward : Number of acquisitions - direct transactions : Annual () was 43.00 count in 2025, down 10.4% from 2024.

That is the lowest reading since 2023.

Over the past ten years it has ranged from 42.00 count (2023) to 244.0 count (2018), averaging 101.6 count.

United Kingdom M&A : Outward : Number of acquisitions - direct transactions : Annual () (count), 1987 – 2025020040060019901995200020052010201520202025Robomacro
United Kingdom M&A : Outward : Number of acquisitions - direct transactions : Annual () (count), 1987 – 2025. Source: UK Office for National Statistics.

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

Recent data

PeriodValue
202543.00 count
202448.00 count
202342.00 count
202280.00 count
202173.00 count
202075.00 count
201968.00 count
2018244.0 count
2017148.0 count
2016142.0 count
2015155.0 count
201479.00 count
201344.00 count
201283.00 count
2011223.0 count
2010149.0 count
200997.00 count
2008196.0 count
2007289.0 count
2006277.0 count
2005239.0 count
2004186.0 count
2003161.0 count
2002185.0 count

Last 24 observations. The full history (39 observations) is available through the API.

Get United Kingdom M&A : Outward : Number of acquisitions - direct transactions : Annual () 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.A.NSA.DIRECTION-OUTBOUND.ITEM-CBBU.MEASURE-COUNT.MEASURE-DIRECT"

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

About this series

Latest observation2025
First observation1987
Observations39
FrequencyAnnual
Unitscount
AdjustmentNot seasonally adjusted
10-year high244.0 count (2018)
10-year low42.00 count (2023)
10-year average101.6 count
Source agencyUK Office for National Statistics
Makrognosis codeUK.MANDA.A.NSA.DIRECTION-OUTBOUND.ITEM-CBBU.MEASURE-COUNT.MEASURE-DIRECT

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 ()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 ()

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 : Outward : Number of acquisitions - direct transactions : Annual () in United Kingdom?
The latest reading is 43.00 count for 2025, 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.A.NSA.DIRECTION-OUTBOUND.ITEM-CBBU.MEASURE-COUNT.MEASURE-DIRECT.

Last updated 2026-07-21. Source: UK Office for National Statistics. Original title: “M&A : Outward : Number of acquisitions - direct transactions : Annual (UK)”.