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New figures from international accounting and business advisory group Azets show its UK Corporate Finance team has advised on 37% more completed deals in the year to 30 June 2025.
The firm revealed its team has advised on 141 disclosed transactions in total across the period – 38 more than in the last financial year.
The largest amount of these deals closed in Cardiff (30), closely followed by London (22), then Glasgow (18) and Newcastle (13).
The largest amount of deals in FY25 came from the manufacturing, professional services and construction industries, closely followed by the healthcare and technology sectors.
The most common transaction type was acquisitions (53) with disposals (47) a close second. The team also noted an increase of 29% in Employee Ownership Trust transactions and a notable increase in debt led transactions.
Lee Humble, head of Corporate Finance at Azets UK, said: “Our teams across the UK have delivered a tremendous volume of deals in what has been one of the most turbulent periods for M&A for many years. National and international political changes, fiscal realignment, ongoing global disruption and general volatility have all affected the market, but we’ve continued to advise on and close deals despite this and have managed to achieve on average 70% of funds on completion for our clients.
“We are determined to build on this momentum as we come into the final months of this calendar year – and have an exciting pipeline for this period and beyond. “Employee Ownership Trusts have been becoming increasingly popular since they were introduced 11 years ago – and this year’s figures show that popularity is continuing to rise.”
He added: “This kind of transaction provides a useful means of succession planning and allows those who have helped a business become successful to take it over and drive it forward. That’s what’s at the heart of a good deal: both parties being complementary and well-aligned so the end result is right for the business – whether that’s growth, diversification, market entry or market exit.”
