UK market update

Is this the “new normal”? After months of fluctuations everything appears to be reaching a natural level.

Business confidence, as reported by the Bank of England, continues to remain high, interest rates remain low (at least for the time being) and the lockdowns and restrictions we started the year with now appear to behind us.

After months of volatile volumes of corporate transactions, private market intelligence firm MarktoMarket recorded 431, 418 and 385 corporate transactions in the UK in the months of July, August and September respectively. Whilst these volumes are still in excess of the 2019 monthly average of 350, the consistent level of deals suggests this increased activity is here to stay.

The national picture is mirrored in the East. Advisors across the region are reporting high activity with strong demand across most sectors. It is important to consider that whilst plenty of successful transactions are being reported, the average time to complete a sales process has extended with many acquirers taking longer to evaluate their options before committing to the deal.

If you want to find out more about the UK market and what it means for you and your business you can get in touch with your usual Larking Gowen contact. You can find contact details on the Our People section of our website. Alternatively, call 0330 024 0888 or email corporatetransactions@larking-gowen.co.uk.