Strong growth for UK mid-market in 2014 - unquote" barometer

Greg Gille
17 April 2015

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The UK mid-market failed to disappoint in 2014 with strong growth seen across nearly all regions, according to our latest Regional Mid-market Barometer, published in association with LDC.

Last year, unquote" and LDC predicted the £5-150m market was set for significant expansion. This sentiment has been proven correct, with the more favourable investment conditions and improving economic climate driving increased activity for the mid-market.

Overall, the number of deals in the £5-150m range across the UK grew by more than 17% in 2014 to reach 266 transactions. Moreover, almost all UK regions saw growth and none saw any meaningful decline. The aggregate value of deals in this segment also grew by close to 10%.

The larger £50-150m bracket was particularly buoyant, with national dealflow up by almost a third, with a total of 50 deals recorded and almost all regions seeing sizeable gains. London saw the sharpest acceleration, with deal numbers jumping from 12 in 2013 to 22 last year.

"What we saw in 2014 was a more balanced recovery in the private equity deal market right across the UK regions, which can be a signal of a more sustainable and longer-term recovery," says Chris Hurley, co-head and chief executive of LDC. "This was reflected in our own business last year and is continuing into 2015. No one region has a monopoly on great small and mid-sized businesses, so favourable conditions for transacting drove dealflow in every patch."

For a full regional view of the UK investment environment, download the latest unquote" Regional Mid-market Barometer, in association with LDC.