Conal O Connor’s Post

💼📈 Private equity firms are increasingly targeting professional partnerships like accounting and talent agencies for acquisitions. This trend reflects a shift towards expanding services and consolidating stable businesses, offering growth opportunities for both sides. These deals are reshaping the landscape and opening new avenues for investment. Expect more deals to come in this sector in the future! #PrivateEquity #ProfessionalServices #Accounting #Consulting #InvestmentOpportunities #Deals #M&A https://lnkd.in/dbD7hsM4

In a bid to boost ease of doing business, the government on March 8 announced to raise the threshold for smaller business deals, including mergers and acquisitions, to happen without prior approval of the Competition Commission Of India (CCI). Our Managing Partner, Mr. Rohit Jain shares his views with moneycontrol.com in an article titled, "MCA raises exemption limit for M&A without prior CCI approval." Read more at :- https://lnkd.in/dCK7ZDQU #knowledgesharing #lawfirm #legaladvice #legalupdates #cci #mca #competitionlaw #lawfirm #singhania

The UK financial services authorities, the PRA and the FCA, recently set out their final policy on the assessment of acquisitions and increases in control of PRA and FCA authorised firms. This replaces the well-known Joint ESA Guidelines in the aftermath of Brexit. The new guidelines are of particular interest to #PE firms as it includes new guidance on LP structures to help proposed acquirers indentify qualifying shareholders within PE acquisition structures. https://lnkd.in/e6ShcmjY

The Managed Service Provider sector is facing an M&A surge, driven by tax changes and private equity strategies, raising concerns about integration challenges. Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/gX6UpuCd #MSP #CGT #privateequity

British M&A Activity: Poised for Growth in 2025 The landscape of British Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) is expected to shift positively as we head into 2025, according to City advisers. The recent Budget has instilled a sense of certainty among dealmakers, paving the way for a potential rebound led by international corporates and private equity firms. This shift comes after a period marked by heightened economic and political uncertainties. Recent Trends and Data The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics highlight the challenges faced earlier this year, with M&A activity reaching a four-year low in June due to persisting uncertainties. October saw a continuation of this trend, with only 27 publicly listed companies in a takeover offer period, marking the lowest number since January. Bids Overview: Of the bids during this period, 13 were recommended offers, and 14 were possible offers, with only one formal offer announced. Quarterly Recovery: There was a slight recovery in the third quarter, with deal value increasing by nearly 20% year-on-year to £46.5 billion. However, the total deal count decreased by 1.5% to 967.   Challenges and Opportunities A quiet spell in M&A activity followed a busy first half of 2024. This lull was largely driven by uncertainties surrounding interest rate directions. Despite this, some tax hikes landed at the lower end of expectations, although they did lead to a selloff in government debt due to plans for increased borrowing. Business groups have expressed concerns over rising costs and a potential hiring slowdown attributed to employer tax increases. Looking ahead, with greater clarity in the political landscape and ongoing challenges in UK capital markets, there is optimism for a sustained increase in UK M&A activity. This environment could foster new opportunities for growth and expansion in the coming year.

British M&A Activity: Poised for Growth in 2025 The landscape of British Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) is expected to shift positively as we head into 2025, according to City advisers. The recent Budget has instilled a sense of certainty among dealmakers, paving the way for a potential rebound led by international corporates and private equity firms. This shift comes after a period marked by heightened economic and political uncertainties. Recent Trends and Data The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics highlight the challenges faced earlier this year, with M&A activity reaching a four-year low in June due to persisting uncertainties. October saw a continuation of this trend, with only 27 publicly listed companies in a takeover offer period, marking the lowest number since January. Bids Overview: Of the bids during this period, 13 were recommended offers, and 14 were possible offers, with only one formal offer announced. Quarterly Recovery: There was a slight recovery in the third quarter, with deal value increasing by nearly 20% year-on-year to £46.5 billion. However, the total deal count decreased by 1.5% to 967.   Challenges and Opportunities A quiet spell in M&A activity followed a busy first half of 2024. This lull was largely driven by uncertainties surrounding interest rate directions. Despite this, some tax hikes landed at the lower end of expectations, although they did lead to a selloff in government debt due to plans for increased borrowing. Business groups have expressed concerns over rising costs and a potential hiring slowdown attributed to employer tax increases. Looking ahead, with greater clarity in the political landscape and ongoing challenges in UK capital markets, there is optimism for a sustained increase in UK M&A activity. This environment could foster new opportunities for growth and expansion in the coming year.

British M&A Activity: Poised for Growth in 2025 The landscape of British mergers and acquisitions (M&A) is expected to shift positively as we head into 2025, according to City advisers. The recent Budget has instilled a sense of certainty among dealmakers, paving the way for a potential rebound led by international corporates and private equity firms. This shift comes after a period marked by heightened economic and political uncertainties. Recent Trends and Data The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics highlight the challenges faced earlier this year, with M&A activity reaching a four-year low in June due to persisting uncertainties. October saw a continuation of this trend, with only 27 publicly listed companies in a takeover offer period, marking the lowest number since January. • Bids Overview: Of the bids during this period, 13 were recommended offers, and 14 were possible offers, with only one formal offer announced. • Quarterly Recovery: There was a slight recovery in the third quarter, with deal value increasing by nearly 20% year-on-year to £46.5 billion. However, the total deal count decreased by 1.5% to 967. Challenges and Opportunities A quiet spell in M&A activity followed a busy first half of 2024. This lull was largely driven by uncertainties surrounding interest rate directions. Despite this, some tax hikes landed at the lower end of expectations, although they did lead to a selloff in government debt due to plans for increased borrowing. Business groups have expressed concerns over rising costs and a potential hiring slowdown attributed to employer tax increases. Looking ahead, with greater clarity in the political landscape and ongoing challenges in UK capital markets, there is optimism for a sustained increase in UK M&A activity. This environment could foster new opportunities for growth and expansion in the coming year.

"The U.S. mergers-and-acquisitions market is expected to have another banner year in 2025, with the overall number of deals worth at least $100 million projected to rise 10% from this year’s level, according to the newly released EY-Parthenon Deal Barometer. The private equity market is expected to be particularly hot next year, with 16% more transactions than in 2024. Corporate M&A activity is anticipated to grow by 8%." Personally, I am a big fan of unbridled optimism. But, this does feel different this time. https://lnkd.in/gw7RCeUb

Amidst expectations for falling interest rates and receding recession fears, a recent survey has cast a spotlight on a strong wave of optimism among M&A professionals. An impressive 81% of respondents anticipate an increase in deal volume over the next six months. This buoyant outlook is anchored in a confluence of factors: positive economic indicators, rapid technological advancements, and an abundance of private equity funds primed for deployment. As these elements converge, they paint a promising picture for the future of mergers and acquisitions. #mergersandacquisitions #MA #PrivateEquity #EconomicOutlook #business #interestrates #economicgrowth

Mergers and acquisitions (or "M&A" for short) are probably the most common way to expand your business next to financings (either public or private). But both M&A and financings have become trickier over the years, partly because the rules against anti-competitive behaviour have been expanded. That is a global phenomennon, which we see all at the time at Dentons as our clients move from one jurisdiction to another. In fact, it's one of the things we spend a lot of time talking about when we do get together - how are different regimes handling competition issues. Think of issues like offering of cheaper electric vehicles. Most jurisdictions have specific competition laws and regulations. In Canada, we have a robust set of laws that are frequently refined. On June 20, Bill C-59, the Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act, received royal assent, initiating a third wave of amendments that are part of the Government's project to modernize the Competition Act. In short, Bill C-59 will: - Make substantial changes to the pre-merger notification and substantive merger review regimes; - Make it easier for private litigants to bring cases to the Competition Tribunal (the Tribunal) to seek remedies for non-criminal conduct, including abuse of dominance; - Establish new remedies available to such private litigants at the Tribunal, including monetary disgorgement; - Broaden the types of anti-competitive collaborations that can be challenged civilly; and - Expand the Act’s reach over greenwashing.   My Dentons colleagues Adam S. Goodman, Sandy Walker, Barry Zalmanowitz, KC, Margot Patterson, Simon Kupi and Camila Maldi outline key amendments from Bill C-59, which will require Canadian businesses to review their practices, compliance programs and the way they assess competition risks in M&A transactions. These are important changes that may impact your business here in Canada.   Read more: https://ow.ly/Phs730sEE4V  #BillC59 #CompetitionAct #CompetitionLaw