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M&A fees surge in Europe — but big deals dry up

Bankers worry that upswing in populism and trade wars might put companies off doing deals

A BP gas station stands empty in Long Beach, Mississippi, US. The firm's $10.5bn acquisition of BHP Billiton's US oil and gas division in July may prove a high water mark for mega-deals in 2018, bankers fear
A BP gas station stands empty in Long Beach, Mississippi, US. The firm's $10.5bn acquisition of BHP Billiton's US oil and gas division in July may prove a high water mark for mega-deals in 2018, bankers fear Photo: Getty Images

A 15% increase in revenues for City banks advising on mergers and acquisitions work has pulled in more than $5bn of fees so far in 2018, but the flurry of mega-deals could soon come to an end.

M&A fees have helped offset a decline in equity advisory work so far this year, but bankers caution that the surge in deals of over $10bn that emerged in the first half of 2018 in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, could be replaced by smaller and mid-sized deals for the rest of this year and into 2019.

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