We’ve entered 2022 as busy, if not busier, than we ended 2021.  It’s an incredibly buoyant market, with demand for M&A and Corporate Development resources in the PE market significantly higher than it has ever been. We finished 2021 105% up year-on-year, having placed a range of M&A and Corporate Development professionals to within various PE and VC-backed businesses. Last year we successfully placed within the portfolios of the likes of Livingbridge, Bridgepoint, Waterland, TA Associates, Marlin Equity Partners, CBPE, HgCapital, Advent International, ECI Partners, August Equity, and Greyhound Capital.
As a result of this success and increased demand for M&A and Corporate Development talent, we have launched a dedicated M&A and Corporate Development Practice. It’s well publicised that 2021 was a record year for Global M&A transactions with over $5 trillion of investments for the first time ever. PE backed investments breached the $1 trillion mark for the first time, over double the amount achieved in 2020.

With so much deal activity and opportunity out there, we have noticed a growing trend amongst PE Funds to now fully delegate the responsibility for M&A and Corporate Development activities to the portfolio companies, including origination work, strategy development, integrations, and organisational change. To match these trends in the market, we have seen the appetite for Corporate Development professionals increase year-on-year, with the demand for these roles doubling over the last year. We have listened to our clients want and have created an experienced team that will solely focus on this space.  

All indications are that 2022 will continue in the same vein, so if you are a candidate with Corporate Development, M&A, Investment Banking, or Transaction Services experience, or simply want an update on the market, please do not hesitate to reach out to Nick Hague, Head of M&A and Corporate Development Practice.