Mega-deals market powers Midlands M&A in Q1
A thriving mega-deals sector saw M&A values soar in the first quarter of 2024, despite suppressed volume, according to Experian’s latest UK and Ireland review.
The mega-deals market in the Midlands included Barratt’s £2.5bn merger with Redrow, which was the eighth biggest deal of the period across the UK.
The first quarter also saw the £432m takeover of Leicester-based Mattioli Woods, the £237m deal to buy Leicestershire-based Breedon Group by BMC Enterprises, the £104m merger of Grantham-based Belvour Group with the Property Franchise Group and the £82m private equity injection into Travelperk UK in Birmingham.
In total, across the Midlands as a whole, some 207 deals were completed – down from 274 in the first quarter of 2023. However, values soared by 137% to just over £4bn over the same period.
Experian’s review points out a particularly busy time for law firms in the Midlands. The top six law firms were Harrison Clark Rickerbys, Higgs, Mills & Reeve, Thursfields, Gateley and Freeths.
The top six financial advisers in the first quarter of the year were Altius Group, Grant Thornton, K3 Capital Group, RSM, Cooper Parry and PKF Smith Cooper.
