M&A activity in the North West of England held up better than most regions in the UK last year, according to research by Zephyr. 

M&A activity in the North West of England held up better than most regions in the UK last year, according to research by Zephyr. 



The study shows that the number of deals in the North West dropped at a lower rate compared with the country as a whole. Between the height of the market in 2007 and 2009, deal volume in the region fell by only 23 per cent. The number of deals for the UK as a whole, on the other hand, fell by 53 per cent to 654 over the same period.

In addition, companies in the North West were the second biggest acquirers after London, completing 554 deals between 2007 and 2009.

Carl Wormald, director at private equity firm LDC, says: ‘The North West has a large advisory community. A lot of private equity firms have regional offices in Manchester. It helps to originate deals.’