MILANO (AIMnews.it) – According to IR Top’s AIM Italia Osservatorio, between 2017 and the first 6 months of 2018, 50 AIM companies have carried out at least one extraordinary operation (acquisitions, mergers, sales, JV, acquisitions/rentals of business branches, reverse takeovers) for a total of 170 transactions (125 in 2017 and 45 in 2018). Overall, they recorded a value of 316 million euros, of which 53 million euros in 2018. The most active companies in terms of M & A during the period considered, with more than 5 transactions carried out are: GPI (17), Bomi Italia (14) , DHH (9), Assiteca, Ecosuntek and Prismi (7). According to Mergermarket research, presented during the eleventh edition of the Mergermarket M & A and Private Equity Forum, Italian M & A and Private Equity businesses reached a value in the first 3 quarters of the year of € 32.2 billion compared to the € 38.2 billion in 2017. Private equity buyout operations have been a key factor for Italian businesses this year reaching record levels, with a value of € 15.8 billion compared to € 8.2 billion in 2017. Giovanni Amodeo, Global Head of Research and Editorial Analytics at Acuris commented: “Private equity continues to be vital for dealmaking in Italy and with liquidity and favourable conditions for, we can expect Italy to maintain these high levels in coming months.” IR Top was one of the main strategic partners of the initiative, together with Studio Chiomenti, PWC, AIG, Aon, Banca IMI, Fineurop Soditic, Leonardo & Co, Goetzpartners, Kroll, Merril Corporation, Nomura and Unicredit.