Macron election raises expectations of favourable M&A environment and new state disposals

08 May 2017 – The election of independent centrist and pro-EU candidate Emmanuel Macron as French President should be positive for M&A activity in France and could shake up the country’s traditional state-shareholdings policy, according to dealmakers.

Macron, 39, was an M&A partner at investment bank Rothschild.

Prior to the election outcome and during the last weeks of the presidential race, companies were holding fire and M&A was very subdued, one of the bankers said. The election of Macron should restore trust in the market and could allow ongoing deals to proceed swiftly, several bankers said.

As an advocate of a dynamic management of state-owned companies during his time as Minister of the Economy, Macron could engage in a round of public assets sales, according to several bankers.

Sign in for full article..