These important creators of new wealth for beneficial owners surged in value terms in the first three months of this year.

Merger and acquisition deals, which like initial public offerings can create new high net worth individuals, surged 67 per cent to a record $1.2 trillion in the first three months of this year, Thomson Reuters has reported, based on its preliminary figures.

Overall, the average volume of transactions increased, as the number of deals in the first quarter fell by ten percent to 10,338. In Europe, M&A volume doubled, in the US it climbed 67 per cent, in Asia only 11 per cent. 

The figures came out a few days after EY, the global professional services firm, reported a rise in the value of money raised globally from initial public offerings. The EY report showed that global IPO markets raised $42.8 billion in Q1, up 28 .per cent from a year ago, although the volume of offerings, at 287, fell 27 per cent, showing that average values created by IPOs rose.