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Mergermarket
Mergermarket is the M&A intelligence platform tracking over 120,000 deals annually across 150+ sectors, led by CEO Brian McDonnell.
Mergermarket
Mergermarket was founded in 1999 by a team of journalists and data specialists to fill a gap in M&A transparency. The firm built a network of reporters who source deal information directly from intermediaries, giving subscribers early visibility into transactions before they hit public filings. In 2014, it was acquired by Acuris (now part of BC Partners' portfolio of data companies), and later rebranded under that umbrella before reverting to the Mergermarket brand. Wealth origin is not applicable; the firm is a commercial data provider, not a family office. The strategy centers on collecting and distributing M&A intelligence across all stages of the deal lifecycle. Mergermarket tracks announced and rumored deals, league tables, and advisor rankings across sectors including technology, healthcare, financial services, energy, and industrials. Coverage spans over 150 sectors and nearly every region globally, with particular depth in Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific. The firm operates on a subscription basis, selling access to its terminal-style platform and custom research reports to banks, law firms, corporations, and private equity funds. Mergermarket employs over 500 journalists and analysts across 20+ offices worldwide. Key locations include New York, London, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Sydney, with additional hubs in Frankfurt, Paris, Mumbai, and São Paulo. In 2022, the firm launched a partnership with Microsoft to integrate AI-powered deal screening tools into its platform (per Mergermarket, October 2022). The firm does not manage third-party capital or have an investment division. Mergermarket's structural differentiator is its journalist-led sourcing model. Unlike traditional financial data vendors that rely on regulatory filings, Mergermarket's reporters maintain direct relationships with M&A advisors, giving the platform a lead-time advantage on deal announcements. This model creates a unique competitive moat in an industry increasingly dependent on speed of information.
General information
Firm type
other
Year founded
1999
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
New York
Corporate office
New York, NY, United States
Additional offices
London, United Kingdom · Hong Kong · Singapore · Sydney, Australia · Tokyo, Japan · Mumbai, India · Dubai, United Arab Emirates · Frankfurt, Germany · Paris, France · Madrid, Spain · Milan, Italy · Stockholm, Sweden · São Paulo, Brazil · San Francisco, CA, United States · Chicago, IL, United States · Boston, MA, United States
Principals
Brian McDonnell
CEO
Roland Rechtsteiner
Chief Product Officer
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
How does Mergermarket source its deal data?
Mergermarket employs a dedicated network of journalists who collect deal information directly from intermediaries—investment bankers, lawyers, and corporate development teams. This gives subscribers early visibility into transactions before public filings. The platform also aggregates data from regulatory sources and news feeds.
What sectors does Mergermarket cover?
The platform tracks M&A activity across over 150 sectors, including technology, healthcare, financial services, energy, industrials, consumer goods, and real estate. It also provides sector-specific league tables and trend analysis. Coverage is updated daily.
Is Mergermarket a financial data vendor or a media company?
It operates as both. The core business is proprietary M&A data, league tables, and analytics sold to financial institutions. But it also publishes curated news and analysis through its editorial team, functioning similarly to a specialized financial newswire. The revenue model is subscription-based.
Who owns Mergermarket?
Mergermarket has been part of Acuris, a data and intelligence group, since 2014. Acuris was majority-owned by BC Partners from 2019 to 2023, then sold to private equity firm Hg in 2023 (per Financial Times, May 2023). The brand now operates under the Acuris umbrella alongside other compliance and risk data assets.
Does Mergermarket provide league tables?
Yes. Mergermarket produces global, regional, and sector-specific M&A league tables ranked by deal value and volume. These are widely used by investment banks and law firms in pitch books and competitive analysis. League table methodology is transparent and based on announced deal data.
How does Mergermarket differentiate from competitors like Bloomberg or Refinitiv?
Mergermarket's key differentiation is its journalist-led sourcing model, which provides early-stage M&A intelligence that competitors relying on regulatory filings may miss. The platform also offers granular deal screening tools and custom research. However, it does not include the broader financial data sets (market data, analytics) that terminals like Bloomberg provide.
What is the typical pricing for Mergermarket subscriptions?
Pricing is not publicly disclosed and varies by organization size, number of users, and modules accessed. Large investment banks typically pay six-figure annual fees for multi-user licenses. The firm does not offer individual consumer subscriptions.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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