Our corporate / commercial team has delivered a record-breaking year for dealmaking, with the year ahead already looking promising.
Over the course of 2024, the team advised on around 60 M&A transactions with a cumulative value of almost £650 million, doubling 2023’s equivalent.
Gerallt Jones, Partner and Head of the Corporate / Commercial team said:
“2024 was another record-breaking year for our team. The lead up to the Budget in October was the busiest period the team has ever experienced, as a result of a huge rush for deals to complete before anticipated tax changes. More generally though, there was a constant stream throughout the year of M&A and investment deals both within and outside Wales.”
Our specialist corporate / commercial lawyers provide high quality, commercially astute and proactive advice to a wide range of organisations, from start-ups to multi-national corporations and public sector bodies. The team draw on a vast range of experiences in various sectors including hospitality and leisure, gaming, sport, healthcare and media, and regularly instruct on high profile and complex corporate deals, both domestic and cross-border.
Notable deals we advised on during 2024 include:
- Advised Port of Milford Haven on its purchase of the luxury St Brides Spa Hotel.
- Advised multinational manufacturer Rockwool on the acquisition of Wetherby Building Systems.
- Advised Cardiff Rugby on its takeover by Helford Capital.
- Advised Club 3000 Bingo (one of the UK’s largest bingo operators) on the acquisition of Buzz Bingo, Washington.
- Advised Double Diamond (Rainbow Casino) on the disposal of its Aberdeen Casino.
- Advised 888 Africa on its acquisition of BetLion, a regulated and licensed gaming operator in Kenya and Zambia.
Gerallt adds:
“We are also really pleased to have supported two new entrants into the Welsh investment market, namely, advising The Cardiff Capital Region fund, IIC, on its multimillion-pound investment in the online accountancy company, Mazuma, and advising venture capital firm, Waterspring Ventures, on a number of investments.”
Reflecting on another successful year, Corporate, M&A and Commercial Partner, Aled Walters, commented on the current trends impacting the dealmaking market:
“After the hive of activity in the run up to the Budget, the market flattened at the tail end of 2024 as companies and investors considered their responses to the measures introduced by the Chancellor. Looking ahead, more than in recent years, deal activity in 2025 is likely to be dependent on the broader economic and political landscape, both within the UK and more generally. There are a number of potential headwinds including the impact of a new president in the US and the performance of the UK economy, which could have a significant impact on the market. However, we remain positive for the year ahead. The outlook for 2025 is already promising with increased levels of interest already evident.”
