The Thames Valley has remained an undisputed economic powerhouse over recent years, holding special appeal for domestic and international investors and corporates alike, particularly as it is part of the fastest-growing UK region outside of London.

Significant M&A Activity

The region has seen significant Mergers and Acquisitions activity over the last 18 months, despite economic headwinds.

This deal activity includes active trade buyers and the strong presence of institutional investors, such as Private Equity firms, with appetite for the most successful companies in the region.

The six months to May 31^st 2022 has seen over 120 transactions in the region, across a range of deal sizes and types. The largest transacting party during this time was a multinational packaging and paper group, with an annual turnover of £6.48bn.

The smallest transacting party was a provider of label management services in the Life Sciences sector, who reported a turnover of £11.1m, which sold to a global organisation in the same sector.

Demand across Sectors

The demand for Thames Valley businesses for the first half of the year is evident across a diverse range of sectors. The strongest deal demand has been seen in the IT and B2B Services sectors, followed closely by Engineering and Manufacturing sectors (as shown by the above chart, compiled from ONS Data).

It follows that owners and shareholders of companies in the region should feel particularly encouraged and that, despite economic headwinds and adverse market forces, the Thames Valley is still receiving significant Mergers and Acquisitions interest, both from domestic and international trade acquirers and financial investors.

With a typical sale cycle taking around a year, business owners considering a future sale would be well advised to start preparations at least a year ahead of appointing an advisory team. Understanding what preparatory measures can be implemented will ensure that the owners specific requirements for both the business going forward and their own personal goals can be achieved.

Considering a sale of your business?

As a long-established premium provider of business sale advisory services to UK businesses, EvolutionCBS offers business owners a complimentary and confidential discussion on how their specific objectives could be met and provide pragmatic, practical advice on how to begin preparing both themselves and their businesses for a future sale.

EvolutionCBS works with owners of UK businesses in any sector, finding buyers from around the world through highly targeted research and supporting clients with dedicated Director-led teams, at every stage of their journey to a successful sale.

If you are an owner or shareholder of a business located in the Thames Valley and would like a no obligation consultation on the sale of your business, please email:  info@evolutioncbs.co.uk or contact us on Tel: 0118 959 8224.

About the Author

Nolan John is Marketing and Research Manager at EvolutionCBS. A graduate from Nottingham Law School and Leicester University, he is an experienced Mergers and Acquisitions professional and Content Marketer, with nearly 20 years’ experience of deal making in the UK, including cross border transactions.