M&A Momentum Accelerates Further

Financial Services on a Roll: M&A Surges into 2025

According to the latest EY analysis, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the UK financial services sector have kicked into high gear in 2024, and the momentum isn’t stopping anytime soon. Corporate lawyer Ed Foulkes sums it up: “It’s a wild, wild West of deals right now.”

Deal Numbers that Pop

Deal volume jumped 26 % year‑on‑year.
2024’s tally is the biggest since 2012.
Wealth & asset managers are the star players.

Wealth & Asset Management: The Hot Spot

Deals rose from 107 in 2023 to 122 in 2024.
Publicly disclosed deal value climbed from £2.1 bn to £9.3 bn.

Our friend Ed, a partner at Clarke Willmott LLP, calls this the “pivotal period for deal‑making.” He swears that the boom isn’t just a fluke—it’s the result of a few key forces.

What’s Fueling the Surge?

Ed is particular about a recently introduced Consumer Duty regulation. “It’s one of the most far‑reaching rules in decades,” he says, pointing out that it’s pushing companies to act with more fairness and transparency. Little‑ton firms are especially feeling its pull.

“They’re stepping up because they know the market is alive,” Ed adds. “Smaller firms that were once on the sidelines are now front‑and‑center, making deals that were once a mere fantasy.”

Competition Keeps Growing Steady

High‑quality assets remain hot commodity.
Some buyers may have overpaid in past waves—now they’re being more strategic.
Conglomerates are catching up and consolidating like never before.

Clarke Willmott’s M&A team wields a professional edge, advising everything from public companies to private individuals and institutional investors. Ed thinks the growth is a mix of:

Robust funding streams from multiple sources.
Buyers focusing on sustainability, resilience, and long‑term goals.
An overall resilient market that’s undeterred by ambiguous economic forecasts.

Looking Ahead

Ed predicts that both deal count and deal value will keep climbing into 2025. “We’re seeing fierce competition but also remarkable resilience,” he says. “Companies are still on the hunt for growth, and we expect that appetite to remain strong.”