While private equity has dominated the M&A skyline for a number of years, corporate players are re-emerging. Far from being subordinated, the private equity industry has stepped up its ambitions.

We have seen a number of key changes in the M&A market recently, notably a return to confidence in the corporate market and the development of alternative investors in the traditional private equity arena. Huge levels of liquidity, as have never been seen before, have provided the fuel to the M&A fire and, with private equity looking to invest vast sums, the corporate market has become more confident and resistant to private equity’s advances. At the same time, with private equity houses making plays on the big, listed companies, it is now conceivable that a group of private equity investors could buy a FTSE 100 company.

Research by Deloitte into debt identifies that the private equity industry has enough firepower to acquire 43% of the FTSE 100. While it is unlikely that the global private equity market would focus all its attention on the FTSE 100, this figure shows the power behind the industry.

As private equity and trade buyers look to find the ‘angle’ on a deal, competitive differentiation is hugely important. At Deloitte, our M&A capability is defined by our ability to deliver an integrated team of specialists focused on deal execution with proven expertise. Our functional specialists, coupled with industry specialist teams provide a centrally co-ordinated, multidisciplinary team which delivers real value to the transaction process. We leverage this expertise across Deloitte’s global network to provide independent, objective and focused advice and analysis to assist in both buy-side and sell-side M&A roles. Our services include:

• Post merger integration
• Commercial transaction services
• M&A tax
• Operational due diligence
• Sale and purchase agreements 
• Debt advisory services

The M&A market continues apace across the country and, with the huge levels of liquidity in the market, is not expected to abate in the near term.