What can we expect from the South East M&A market in 2024?

The last few years have seen numerous impactful macroeconomic events affect our lives and, consequently, M&A activity. Businesses have learnt how to be resilient and to adapt to the ever-changing world we live in. Businesses crave certainty and predictability. It follows that uncertainty on a macroeconomic level (whether that be interest rates, inflation, supply chains, political or red tape) has a direct effect on consumer, business and transaction confidence. As a result, high growth startups and scaleups (being the subject of this report) will need to be patient, as will investors. Cash rich acquirers (including private equity) are looking to transact, but valuation expectations between buyer and sellers are not aligned and, coupled with the tougher economic conditions, deals have not fallen off a cliff edge, but they are taking longer to put together and to execute. 2024 will hold new and familiar challenges for high growth businesses with important elections in the UK and the US this year. Business owners will be watching and waiting to see how the political landscape unfolds.