Brian Bollen's Blog

Buy & Build In H2 2011 Slump

Buy & Build activity in Europe was significantly weaker in the second half of 2011, according to research by Silverfleet Capital, in conjunction with mergermarket. The jointly published 2011 Buy & Build Monitor shows that whill overall 2011 saw Buy & Build activity increase both in volume and value terms, the number of add-on transactions decreased considerably during the second half of the year slumping to levels last seen at the end of 2009.

2011 saw the highest number of add-ons undertaken by private equity-backed portfolio companies since 2008, at 364 (versus 335 in 2010). However, despite a strong start to the year, with 210 add-ons undertaken in H1, the second half of the year saw activity levels decline significantly, with only 154 add-ons undertaken in H2. 

Who Am I?

I am a globally renowned award-winning freelance journalist (2010 Journalist of the Year - Investor Services Technology - Online/Wires State Street Press Awards). I specialise in international, institutional finance, writing about everything from mergers and acquisitions, private equity and hedge funds, to securities services and many other arcane topics, including property (commercial and residential), management and recruitment (both in the public and private sectors), and sport (football, athletics and skiing have all featured in my assignment diary at different times).

I am rare amongst financial journalists in that I have a banking background, having benefitted from the graduate training programme at the late, lamented Midland Bank International Division from 1979-84. I believe I might be unique amongst financial journalists in being a Fellow of the ifs School of Finance (FIFS).