Welcome to the December 2025 edition of Deal Dispatch, our regular deal round-up.
Market overview
The Midlands continues to demonstrate robust M&A activity, driven by resilient mid-market businesses, sectoral innovation, and increasing investor appetite. Despite macroeconomic headwinds, we have sustained deal flow across key verticals including self-storage, technology, F&B, professional services and industrial services, and we have now embedded our transaction services offering.
- Private equity interest: PE firms remain active, targeting scalable platforms with recurring revenue and operational leverage
- Strategic consolidation: Owner-managed businesses are exploring exit routes, while corporates pursue bolt-on acquisitions to drive growth
- Valuation discipline: Multiples have held steady in resilient sectors, with tech and infrastructure commanding premiums.
Leading the charge
We have continued to deliver in the current economic environment.
Recognition and influence:
- Darren Hodson nominated for Dealmaker of the Year at the Insider’s Midlands Dealmakers’ Awards, and David Crump nominated for Rainmaker of the Year at the East Midlands Rainmaker Awards, reflecting strategic impact and deal execution excellence
- The firm’s growing influence is underscored by its presence across high-profile transactions and advisory mandates such as the acquisition of Côte Brasserie
Team expansion:
- Recruitment of Max Newby, along with promotions in the team, strengthens the firm’s execution capability
Notable transactions:
- Completion of the Millenium, Côte Brasserie and TBAT transactions showcases the team’s ability to navigate complex deal structures and deliver value for stakeholders
- Appointed on numerous self-storage mandates, leveraging deep sector insight and operational benchmarking to drive investor confidence.
Sector spotlight: Technology and innovation
- Digital transformation: Businesses are investing in automation, data analytics, and cloud migration – creating opportunities for strategic acquirers
- Scale and synergy: Buyers seek platforms with scalable tech stacks and cross-sell potential, particularly in B2B services and logistics tech
- Talent and IP: Acquirers are increasingly valuing proprietary IP and technical talent, influencing valuation and deal structuring.
Deal round-up
Read our latest edition of Deal Dispatch, our regular deal round-up, on the button below. If you’d like further information regarding the contents of this document, or you’d like to find out more about how we can help you and your business, please get in touch with our team.
