The 2024 M&A Review, compiled by Experian MarketIQ, was released at the end of February and detailed UK merger & acquisition activity during 2024. As in previous years, we've extracted the data and fed it into our long-term review. This helps us to get a broader picture of M&A activity, to identify growing or contracting sectors, and to see the impact of geopolitical and global events on M&A, here in the UK. We can now review and compare 6 years of deal volumes and values. Originally, we planned to monitor the figures each year to see if a return to pre-Covid levels was evident. However, we've also had to factor in the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza and the impact that has had on global economies and subsequently, UK M&A. First up, we take a look at the volume of deals for 2024 and as far back as 2019... UK DEALS BY VOLUME - LAST 6 YEARS

La Salle are delighted to have advised Bedfordshire-based specialist care provider Vivre Care on the sale of the company to Elysium Healthcare, part of the global Ramsay Health Care Group, listed on the Australian stock exchange (ASX). Overview: Leading mental health service provider Elysium Healthcare has expanded its provision of specialist eating disorder services with the acquisition of residential care provider Vivre Care. Established in 2007, Vivre Care provides specialist support for people with severe eating disorders. Its services align with the NHS strategy of prioritising community-based treatment. Vivre Care also complements the existing specialist eating disorder pathways within the Elysium group for adults and young people across England and Wales. Joy Chamberlain, Chief Executive Offices at Elysium said: “I am delighted that Asha Mootoosamy and Vivre Care will be joining the Elysium family. I have been impressed by the quality of care and the delivery of successful outcomes enabling people to access the right care, in the right place at the right time." Vivre Care Director, Asha Mootoosamy, said: "Elysium Healthcare are synonymous with specialist eating disorder care and I am confident that they will support the services to go from strength to strength. I am also delighted to be joining the Elysium team to further develop the model of care.” La Salle Corporate were instructed as Vivre Care’s Corporate Finance advisor. Matt Dillon, Partner, La Salle Corporate added: “It was a pleasure to advise Asha on the sale of her company. It’s a fantastic business that provides a wonderful service to those in need. I’m sure the business will flourish under Elysium’s stewardship”. Company Profiles: Elysium Healthcare – Head Office: Borehamwood, Hertfordshire UK Elysium Healthcare, launched in November 2016, operates over 95 sites across England and Wales. It offers services for learning disabilities, neurological care and specialist mental health support, including secure services, CAMHS, rehabilitation, acute care and psychiatric intensive care. Elysium is part of Ramsay Health Care Vivre Care – Luton, Bedfordshire, UK Since 2007, Vivre Care has operated as a leading supplier g specialist supportive clinical management (RSSCM) of severe eating disorders. A well-trained team of 45 employees are deployed across 3 freehold care homes in Luton. Read more about this deal around the web: (La Salle have no control over media on external links) Elysium Website  Insider Media

How has M&A fared in the Specialist Healthcare sector in recent months?

UK regulators have overhauled their rules for companies looking to debut on the London Stock Exchange.

How has M&A fared in the Manufacturing sector in recent months?

The annual M&A Review, compiled by Experian MarketIQ, was released last week detailing UK M&A activity for 2023. As usual, we take a deeper look at the numbers and pick out the positive highlights that will help to navigate the M&A landscape for the coming months. To compare year-on-year figures for deal volumes and values isn’t going to produce anything we don’t already know. Nearly all sectors felt the pinch in 2023 and witnessed a decline in activity in some form. Where we believe the figures get interesting is when we look back a little further, comparing pre & post pandemic. This provides a much broader view of how each sector has grown or contracted which can help when looking forward or making plans to sell at the right time. With these latest figures we can compare a full five year period, so let’s get started… UK DEALS BY VOLUME - LAST 5 YEARS

The M&A industry trades in data and insight. So, there's an element of irony in that general opinion is summized by a limited amount of available information. Reading many articles in 2023 about the state of play in the M&A industry, and you will hear that high interest rates have made borrowing expensive, subsequently slowing the post-Covid surge in deal volumes and values. While the picture painted isn't all doom and gloom, the information used in this reporting is often limited to knowledge of the biggest deals at the top end of the market. What about the rest of the M&A markets? In a recent white paper offered by Finquest titled " The Next M&A Frontier: Navigating the Untapped Potential of the Lower Middle Market " there is a deeper dive into what is happening from both the purchasers and sellers perspective. The lower mid market (£5M-£150M revenues) accounts for around 30 times more companies than the top end (£150M+ revenues). Given the economic reasons impacting investments and borrowing, the focus for many purchasers and fund managers is to now look beyond the top 3 players in a sector and instead adopt a systematic 'buy-and-build' M&A strategy. Within the white-paper a survey was carried out detailing buyer interest (number of approaches made), and a separate survey of seller interest (willingness to have a conversation with an acquirer). When overlaying the results, the companies with the highest number of approaches ($50-100M revenue range), were the least willing to engage in conversation. Instead it was the $20-50M revenue bracket of companies that were more open to entertaining the idea.

The latest Experian Market IQ Report was published recently, detailing UK M&A activity for H1-2023. At first glance, the reporting doesn't look too encouraging but the lack of 'mega deals' (worth £5bn+) is a huge contributing factor. Let's look at the numbers... With inflation and rising interest rates hitting the headlines on a daily basis, it's no surprise the impact this would have on the UK M&A market as a whole. At the larger end of the market there have been significantly fewer transactions and lower deal values being achieved during H1. Let's look at Volume and Value by industry below: