Companies

Ireland’s M&A pipeline: experts predict a rebound in 2024

Despite the headwinds last year, activity in the Irish market remained strong and five people involved forecast another buoyant year

Tony Smurfit, chief executive of Smurfit Kappa: the company’s planned €19 billion merger with US rival WestRock was one of last year’s stand-out deals. Picture: Fergal Phillips

It may not seem like it for many entrepreneurs, but 2023 wasn’t as bad a year as the mood music might suggest.

Despite a depressed fundraising environment and a sharp recalibration of valuations, the Irish tech sector found some momentum in the second half of 2023 and a lot of deals were completed.

Some of the standout transactions included Terry Clune’s sale of Immedis, the global payroll provider, for around €600 million in the summer, ...