The energy sector continues to attract financial investors, although their current and future involvement – for the medium term at least – will inevitably be more discriminating than in the boom years that led up to the global financial crisis in 2008.

The value of mid-market M&A; deals increased by some 29.6% until September compared with the same period last year.

There is more clarity now on Basel III capital requirements and once the economic cycle turns, banking sector M&A; is expected to resume with even extra drive.

Up to 15% of the €95bn (US$128bn) per year 1.6m-employee European postal sector could soon be targeted for acquisition, with the market being deregulated on December 31 on the basis of a 2008 European Directive.

While most of Asia’s emerging economies lack a developed LBO market, the stellar economic growth rates mean there are increasing opportunities in expansion capital and in minority investments in fast-growing companies. China and India are the key markets, but South-East Asia is also attracting interest.

Alliance Medical, a UK company that provides scanning services to hospitals, has found itself at the centre of a restructuring battle between the combined forces of its owner Dubai International Capital (DIC) and six mezzanine investors, fighting against the senior lenders.