2014 Financial Services M&A Predictions

Looking back, 2013 was a busy year for M&A in the Financial Services sector. Activity increased, especially in the second half of the year, and a number of significant transactions completed or are awaiting regulatory approval. However, teasing apart the details, while the insurance sector enjoyed a strong year (with a good deal of corporate and private equity interest) banking was much quieter, aside from headline-grabbing deals such as the LBG and RBS branch divestments. This report from Deloitte UK considers the reasons for this and the knock-on impact on 2014 M&A activity in more detail in the report.

It is expected that 2014 will sustain the increased activity experienced at the end of 2013, with the interesting added dimension of an IPO market that seems to be warming up. There are expected to be specific hot areas but the industry as a whole is likely to see a greater number of successful transactions – something which will benefit both buyers and sellers.