Outset ends the year with a record number of deals

Outset has seen a considerable 42% increase in the number of mergers & acquisitions taking place in the UK since 2017, having advised on a record number of 112 deals in 2018.

The number of completed transactions from the group alone has a deal value in excess of £400m and all but one involved UK firms buying other UK firms, proving the domestic market for business sales remains buoyant, despite the uncertainty of Brexit.

According to EY, in Q1 this year the UK saw the strongest M&A activity for a first quarter in a decade. The overall value of UK M&A reached levels similar to those last seen in 2007, which remains the high watermark for deals activity.

M&A is proven to be a quick and effective means for a company to achieve desired growth, acquire new capabilities and gain a competitive advantage. Capital from private equity firms is also playing a pivotal role in the market, with a number of buy-outs in the UK hitting record levels.

Sean Gorman, Head of Corporate at Outset UK Group says “This year we have completed more deals and higher values than ever before. Despite uncertainty in the market, activity has been constant as businesses look to capture synergies through acquisition. The volume of work has seen us grow significantly – the level of deals we have completed, over 100, is remarkable, a statistic which is likely unrivalled for regional advisors of equivalent size. We’ve kept up with the flow of deals through continuing to develop our integrated approach. The majority of transactions were completed within 10 weeks of signing heads of terms. We’re very positive about 2019 and are aiming for a third successive record-breaking year.”

Outset’s transactions in 2018 have spanned the Veterinary, Dental, Pharmacy, Construction and Leisure sectors with individual deal values of up to £120m.