Mergermarket | UK Dealmakers Stress Pre-Auctions Prep
Aug 2024
Originally posted by Mergermarket on July 31, 2024.
In the UK market, advisors are intensifying pre-auction preparations amid lower transaction volumes.
Alex Masters, Managing Director and co-head of Lincoln’s European Consumer Group, said sellers are employing a more strategic approach, consulting multiple advisors to identify optimal market timing.
Vendors frequently hire advisors not to immediately enter the market, but to start grasping market sentiment. Advisors assist companies in crafting a persuasive business narrative and further enhancing their business, Alex explained.
Advisors frequently gather feedback from investors and corporations to develop the most appealing package. Many transactions require a comprehensive strategic review, which can take up to 18 months, Alex noted.
Despite the extended lead times, UK mergers and acquisitions (M&A) have increased this year, according to Mergermarket figures. Year-to-date data show GBP 108 billion (EUR 128 billion) volumes across 1,729 deals, nearing the full-year (FY) 2023 total of GBP 115 billion over 2,698 transactions.
However, FY23 recorded the lowest figures of the past decade. The peak was in 2015, with GBP 286 billion across 2,644 deals, and the previous low was in 2016, with GBP 141 billion across 3,745 transactions.
Summary
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Lincoln International’s Alex Masters explains how UK sellers are taking a more strategic approach in deal processes.
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