Forward East Anglia Market Monitor – Q3 2019

Deal volumes continue to increase as 2019 progresses, with 52 deals recorded in East Anglia in Quarter 3, up from 47 in Q2 and 31 deals in Q1. However, deals are still down from the 60 recorded in quarter 3 of 2018, suggesting the uncertainty surrounding Brexit continues to hold back transactions.

This quarter saw business support deals lead the way with ten transactions, followed by nine manufacturing and construction transactions. The technology sector, which so far in 2019 has remained resilient, saw a fall in deals to six in this quarter from 14 in the same quarter in 2018.

Looking at the overall region, Cambridgeshire led the way with 16 deals, primarily in technology and manufacturing and construction, whilst Essex took second spot with 13 deals spread across a range of sectors, including our client Horizon Capital’s investment to buyout EES for Schools from Essex County Council. Deals in Hertfordshire fell by 50% from 14 in quarter of 2018 to seven in this quarter, with a fall in technology transactions driving this drop.

Types of deals were dominated by fundraising with 18 transactions. Notably business sales saw a fall in transactions to 17 in this quarter from 27 in quarter 3 of 2018, and there were also just two MBOs this quarter, compared to seven in the same quarter in 2018.

Click here to see the full analysis East Anglia Market Monitor Sep 19.

If we’ve missed your deal, or you would like to discuss a transaction for your business please get in touch.

Fiona Smink

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