Forward East Anglia Market Monitor – Q1 2019

Uncertainty surrounding Brexit appears to have impacted deals in the region this quarter, with deal volumes falling significantly by 43% versus quarter 1 last year. In total we recorded 31 deals, down from 54 for Q1 2018.

Cambridgeshire led the way with 29% of deals, followed by Hertfordshire with 23% and Essex and Suffolk both on 16%.

The type of transactions reported were led by fundraising with 11 deals (down from 16 deals in the same quarter of 2018), closely followed by 10 companies making acquisitions (down from 13). There were just 8 business sales reported, down 65% from the 23 sales in the same quarter of 2018, suggesting that business owners are sitting out the uncertainty before making decisions on the future of their business.

Transactions were spread across various sectors, with 8 deals in the technology sector, bucking the downward trend with an increase from 4 deals in the same quarter of 2018. Healthcare reported 4 transactions, the same number as in quarter 1 of 2018, whilst business support services also reported 4 deals, a 50% fall from the 8 transactions in quarter 1 of 2018. Manufacturing & construction deals fell by 78% to 2 deals in this quarter, and consumer & retail, food & drink and financial services all saw a fall in deals of 60% or higher compared to the same quarter in 2018.

If we’ve missed your deal, or you would like to discuss a transaction for your business please do get in touch. Click below for the full analysis:

East Anglia Market Monitor Mar 19

Fiona Smink