James Bowles
Company & Commercial
M&A Market Trends 2025: What Should SMEs Expect?
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) remain an important strategic tool for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), whether you’re looking to sell, grow through acquisition, or attract investment.
But in 2025, market conditions have shifted, and the environment for deals is more complex than in previous years.
In this blog, we explore the key trends shaping the M&A market right now — and what they mean for UK SMEs planning a transaction in the months ahead.
1. Deal Volumes Are Down — But Quality Still Wins
While overall deal volumes have fallen, the market is far from stagnant. Buyers are more selective and focused on strategic acquisitions rather than volume. For SMEs, this means:
- You need a compelling value proposition — a clear growth story, solid financials, and low-risk operations.
- A high-quality, well-prepared business can still attract strong interest — particularly in growth sectors like technology, AI, sustainability, and digital infrastructure.
SME Tip: Get ahead by preparing a “sale-ready” business — clean accounts, contracts in order, and strong governance.
2. Financing Is Still a Challenge
One of the biggest hurdles for SMEs remains access to affordable finance. High interest rates and tighter lending criteria have made leveraged buyouts and debt-funded growth deals harder to execute.
This impacts both buyers and sellers:
- Acquirers may delay or downsize bids.
- Sellers may find valuations lower than expected due to cost of capital pressures.
SME Tip: Be open to alternative deal structures such as earn-outs, deferred consideration, or minority investments to bridge valuation gaps.
3. Valuation Gaps Are a Real Issue
One of the defining features of the current M&A market is the mismatch between buyer and seller expectations.
- Sellers still expect valuations based on pre-pandemic-era multiples.
- Buyers are more cautious and are discounting for risk, market uncertainty, and rising costs.
This can stall deals — or force negotiations to get creative.
SME Tip: Be realistic. Benchmark your valuation and understand what buyers are really paying for in your sector.
4. Private Capital Is on the Move Again
After a quieter 2022–2023, private equity and other private capital investors are returning to the SME space, particularly in:
- Business services
- Tech / AI
- Niche manufacturing
- Healthcare and care services
These investors are often looking for bolt-on acquisitions or platform businesses to scale.
SME Tip: If you’re open to investment rather than full exit, private capital may offer flexible options, including partial sales, earn-ins, or growth funding.
5. ESG and Risk Management Are Gaining Importance
Today’s buyers — especially institutional investors — are factoring environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks into their decision-making. SMEs without clear ESG policies or risk management frameworks may struggle to pass due diligence.
SME Tip: Address ESG early. Even simple policies (e.g. sustainability, staff welfare, data protection) can improve buyer confidence.
James Bowles, an Associate Solicitor in the Corporate and Commercial team at Mullis & Peake, said:
“While the current M&A market presents challenges, it also offers opportunity — especially for well-prepared, growth-focused businesses. Whether you’re seeking investment, succession planning, or considering a strategic acquisition, success in this market will depend on your readiness, realism, and resilience.
At Mullis & Peake LLP we support SMEs at every stage of the M&A process — from early planning and structuring to negotiation, documentation, and completion. If you’re considering a transaction in the next 6–18 months, now is the time to start preparing.”