East Midlands PE deals hit record high

The value of private equity-backed deals in the East Midlands reached record heights last year, new figures reveal.

According to data from CMBOR and Equistone Partners Europe, 21 deals were completed in 2022 with a combined value of £1.9bn – up from £1.5bn in 2021 and higher than the previous peak of £1.6bn in 2015.

While the number of deals in the East Midlands increased from the 13 completed in 2021, the average deal size reduced from £114m (2021) to £90m (2022). However, this was still considerably higher than the 10-year average of £60m.

Will Copeland, from Equistone’s Midlands office, said: “Both in the East Midlands and nationally, 2022 continued the trend of 2021 with significant amounts of private equity capital invested. It is a reflection of the current quality of management teams and businesses in the East Midlands region that there has been a huge amount of investment from private equity in the region at more than double the 10-year average of private equity capital invested.

“For the year ahead, despite the continued economic uncertainty, there continues to be several interesting opportunities emerging in the Midlands.”