UK M&A Activity Expected to Increase in 2026
UK M&A Activity Expected to Increase in 2026
UK merger and acquisition activity held up better than many expected last year, despite economic uncertainty and geopolitical pressure. Data referenced by White & Case’s M&A Explorer points to close to 3,200 deals in the UK public markets, and adviser sentiment suggests dealmaking could strengthen further through 2026.
A survey referenced by PKF Francis Clark indicates that two-thirds of advisers expect M&A activity to rise this year. For many leadership teams, acquisitions remain one of the quickest routes to scaling once a business reaches a certain size, whether that means expanding a customer base, filling capability gaps, entering new markets, or acquiring specialist talent.
From a finance perspective, the more important point is that deal volume does not automatically translate into deal success. Long-run research cited from New York University’s Stern School of Business, based on analysis of more than 40,000 deals over several decades, suggests that 70%–75% of transactions fail to deliver the value initially expected.
That’s why CFOs and finance teams are typically central to both the decision and the outcome. Beyond evaluating the strategic case and assessing risk, finance leaders are often responsible for ensuring there is early visibility on funding options and that the business has a practical plan for what happens after completion. In many organisations, the value is won or lost in the first months post-deal, when reporting, systems, controls and ways of working need to be stabilised and aligned.
As M&A activity picks up, the differentiator is likely to be execution discipline: clear rationale, robust diligence, funding confidence, and an integration plan that translates the deal thesis into measurable outcomes.
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