M&A Advisory Services Companies in the UK: A Practical Overview
AC
Acumon Chartered Accountants·11 min read
This guide offers a straightforward look at M&A advisory services companies operating in the UK, focusing on how they support buyers, sellers, and management teams through transactions. It's not a formal ranking or endorsement, but rather a neutral context to understand the landscape. Companies in this space range from those with broad, integrated capabilities across multiple deal types to others with deep focus on specific areas like due diligence or succession planning. They serve everyone from mid-market businesses to larger corporates and private equity groups, bringing expertise in valuations, financial modelling, and risk assessment. The aim here is simple: equip you with the basics to compare approaches, spot strengths that align with your needs, and move forward with clearer perspective on potential partners.
Acumon
Acumon is a UK-based accountancy company founded in London. It serves clients across the UK, including businesses in areas like Birmingham, as well as some international groups. The company focuses on specialist advisory, particularly in M&A-related services such as due diligence, valuations, buying or selling businesses, MBO/MBI, succession planning, and company demergers.
Its advisory work connects to UK market dynamics and regulatory expectations, especially in active transaction environments across cities like London and Birmingham. The company prioritises practical support that aligns with business needs for smoother deals and better outcomes in a regulated landscape.
The service emphasises spotting potential weaknesses early through detailed due diligence. It helps strengthen internal processes and decision-making. Teams use modelling and reviews to build confidence in transaction risks and opportunities.
Key Highlights:
UK-based team with real-world transaction experience
Serves businesses across London, Birmingham, and wider UK
Expertise in due diligence across financial, commercial aspects
Focus on valuations for acquisitions and disposals
Support for management buy-outs and buy-ins
Practical approach to succession and demerger scenarios
Emphasis on risk identification and negotiation support
Services:
M&A advisory services
Due diligence (financial, commercial, vendor-side)
Address: 1-2 Craven Road, Ealing, London, W5 2UA, UK
AlixPartners
AlixPartners offers M&A consulting and transaction advisory with a presence in the UK, including London-based leadership for EMEA M&A work. It supports companies and investors across various industries during deals. The company covers the full deal lifecycle from strategy through to integration and value realisation.
Services include outside-in due diligence using AI-enabled tools for target assessment. Commercial and operations due diligence looks at growth potential and optimisation. Technology due diligence checks digital maturity and risks. Carve-outs and divestitures get guidance on asset separation and value creation. Integration support handles antitrust issues, business continuity, and synergy realisation. Corporate finance advice covers acquisitions, divestitures, and capital options.
Address: 6 New Street Square, London, EC4A 3BF, United Kingdom
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/alixpartners
Instagram: www.instagram.com/alixpartnersllp
BDO
BDO provides corporate finance and deal advisory services in the UK. It works with businesses on mergers, acquisitions, and related transactions. The company offers support tailored to UK market needs.
Services cover mergers and acquisitions advisory. Deal advisory includes buy-side and sell-side guidance. Corporate finance handles transaction structuring and support. The approach focuses on practical steps through the deal process.
Cavendish Corporate Finance specialises in private M&A for mid-market companies in the UK. It advises on sales and acquisitions of private businesses. The company concentrates on tactical support during transaction processes.
Services include sell-side advisory for company sales. Buy-side advice helps during sale processes or acquisitions. The focus stays on private company transactions in the mid-market space. It provides guidance through the deal journey.
Clairfield International handles mid-market mergers and acquisitions with an international scope and UK involvement. It serves corporations, financial investors, and family businesses, including founder exits. The company manages transactions in the midcap range.
Services cover buy-side advisory for acquisition strategy and execution. Sell-side advisory finds buyers and manages divestitures. It includes LBO and MBO advisory for management teams. Valuations and fairness opinions form part of the offering. Due diligence and negotiation support run through deals. Mergers and joint ventures get advisory too.
Deloitte offers M&A advisory in the UK through its transaction services. It supports clients on acquisitions, disposals, and funding raises. The company works with large corporates and owner-managed businesses.
Services include due diligence and transaction services. The team draws on sector specialists and a broader network. Advice covers execution stages of deals. It focuses on practical guidance through the process.
Key Highlights:
UK M&A advisory presence
Supports acquisitions and disposals
Due diligence expertise
Transaction services focus
Sector-specialist approach
Services:
M&A advisory
Due diligence
Transaction services
Acquisitions support
Disposals advisory
Contact Information:
Website: www.deloitte.com
Phone: +44 (0)121 632 6000
Address: Four Brindleyplace Birmingham, B1 2HZ United Kingdom
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/deloitte
Facebook: www.facebook.com/deloitteuk
Twitter: x.com/deloitteuk
Instagram: www.instagram.com/deloitte_uk
EY
EY provides strategy and transactions services in the UK. It assists with evaluating growth opportunities and executing deals. The company supports CEOs and business leaders on portfolio optimisation.
Services cover buy-side M&A advisory for mergers and joint ventures. Due diligence includes financial, commercial, and operational aspects. Valuation work involves modelling and economics. Integration consulting helps preserve value post-deal. Divestment strategy covers carve-outs and separations. Fairness opinions support various transaction types.
Key Highlights:
UK strategy-transactions focus
Buy-side and integration expertise
Due diligence across multiple areas
Valuation and modelling support
Divestment and carve-out advisory
Services:
M&A advisory
Buy-side advisory
Due diligence
Valuation
Integration consulting
Divestment strategy
Fairness opinions
Contact Information:
Website: www.ey.com
Phone: +44 121 535 2000
Address: One Colmore Square, Birmingham B4 6HQ
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/ernstandyoung
Facebook: www.facebook.com/EY
Twitter: x.com/EYnews
FRP Advisory
FRP Advisory handles corporate finance and M&A advisory in the UK. It provides advice on selling or acquiring businesses. The company guides clients through the full M&A process.
Services include M&A advisory for tailored deal support. Transaction services cover debt solutions in UK markets. Advice aligns with strategic business goals. It applies to various sectors and mid-market deals.
GP Bullhound advises on M&A and capital raising in the technology sector. It focuses on business software, AI, consumer tech, and digital services. The company operates with a strong European and UK presence.
Services cover buy-side and sell-side M&A. It handles mergers, acquisitions, and investments. Capital raising includes growth financing rounds. The approach targets tech-specific deals.
Address: 78 ST JAMES’S STREET, LONDON SW1A 1JB, UNITED KINGDOM
Goldman Sachs
Goldman Sachs offers investment banking M&A advisory. It supports mergers, acquisitions, and strategic transactions. The company advises on evaluating deal alternatives.
Services include cross-border M&A guidance. It covers activism defense and structured transactions like joint ventures. Advice extends to financial sponsors on leveraged buyouts. The focus stays on complex strategic deals.
Key Highlights:
Investment banking M&A
Cross-border transaction expertise
Strategic M&A advice
Structured deal support
Services:
Mergers & acquisitions
Strategic M&A advisory
Cross-border M&A
Joint ventures advisory
Leveraged buyouts
Activism defense
Contact Information:
Website: www.goldmansachs.com
Phone: (020) 7774 1000
Address: Plumtree Court, 25 Shoe Lane, London EC4A 4AU
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/goldman-sachs
Twitter: x.com/goldmansachs
Instagram: www.instagram.com/goldmansachs
Grant Thornton
Grant Thornton delivers corporate finance advisory across the UK. It guides clients through mergers, acquisitions, and other transactions. The company applies practical support in deal processes.
Services cover transaction advisory in active UK markets. It includes guidance on mergers and acquisitions. The approach stays focused on execution stages. Advice suits various business needs during deals.
Houlihan Lokey handles M&A advisory with offices in the UK as part of its EMEA operations. It assists on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and leveraged deals. The company covers multiple sectors through dedicated industry groups.
Services include buyside advisory for identifying and executing acquisitions. Sellside support manages sales processes. Divestitures get structuring and execution help. Leveraged transactions receive interdisciplinary guidance. Sector knowledge drives advice in areas like healthcare, technology, and consumer. The focus includes private equity portfolio companies.
Key Highlights:
UK and EMEA M&A presence
Buyside advisory expertise
Sellside transaction support
Divestitures handling
Sector-specific groups
Leveraged deal focus
Services:
Mergers & acquisitions
Buyside advisory
Sellside advisory
Divestitures
Leveraged transactions
Transaction structuring
Contact Information:
Website: hl.com
Phone: +44 20 7839 3355
Address: One Curzon Street, London, W1J 5HD, United Kingdom
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/houlihan-lokey
Investec Advisory
Investec Advisory offers M&A and corporate finance services in the UK. It concentrates on sell-side processes for business sales. Buy-side support covers acquisitions and buyouts.
Services extend to divestments and carve-outs. The company works across sectors such as business services, consumer, energy, healthcare, and financial services. Advice aligns with mid-market and larger UK deals. It provides practical guidance through transaction stages.
Address: 30 Gresham Street, EC2V 7QP, United Kingdom
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/investec
Facebook: www.facebook.com/InvestecBank
Twitter: x.com/Investec
Instagram: www.instagram.com/investec
Opus Strategic Advisors
Opus Strategic Advisors provides M&A advisory in the UK with international connections. It supports buy-side acquisitions for growth. The company also handles sell-side processes.
Services include strategic sourcing to find suitable targets. Target identification draws on market knowledge. Due diligence coordination runs alongside other steps. Negotiation and offer structuring get attention. Post-deal integration follows through. The approach suits corporates, entrepreneurs, and private equity in cross-border scenarios.
PwC runs deal advisory services in the UK with a focus on M&A and transactions. It helps clients create, realise, and protect value through deals like buying or selling businesses. The company uses a mix of human insight and tech tools in its approach.
Services cover lead advisory for end-to-end deal support. Transaction services include financial due diligence to spot risks and opportunities. Buy-side and sell-side advice guides purchases or sales. Deal analytics applies data and machine learning for better decisions. Value creation mindset runs through mergers, disposals, and restructurings. ESG factors get woven into investment and divestment processes.
Key Highlights:
UK deal advisory focus
Tech-powered due diligence
Lead advisory for deals
Transaction services expertise
Value creation approach
ESG integration in deals
Services:
Transaction services
Due diligence
Lead advisory
M&A advisory
Buy-side support
Sell-side advisory
Deal analytics
Contact Information:
Website: www.pwc.co.uk
Phone: +44 (0)117 955 7779
Address: 2 Glass Wharf, Bristol BS2 0FR
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/pwc-uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PwCUK
Instagram: www.instagram.com/pwc_uk
Rothschild & Co
Rothschild & Co acts as an independent M&A adviser with global reach and UK presence. It supports public and private deals across mergers and acquisitions. Arrowpoint Advisory handles mid-market work in the UK.
Services include mergers and acquisitions advisory. Strategic advisory aligns with client goals in transactions. Divestitures form part of the deal support. The company provides tailored advice for various transaction roles. Sector expertise guides public and private market deals.
Key Highlights:
Independent M&A advisory
Public and private deals
Mid-market via Arrowpoint
Strategic transaction support
UK presence
Services:
Mergers & acquisitions
Strategic advisory
Divestitures advisory
M&A advisory
Contact Information:
Website: www.rothschildandco.com
Phone: +44 20 7484 4700
Address: 15 Adam Street, London WC2N 6RJ, United Kingdom
Saffery offers transaction services in the UK for buying, selling, and exiting businesses. It supports owner-managed and SME clients through deal processes. The company provides partner-led advice on transactions.
Services include financial due diligence to check business performance. Tax due diligence identifies risks and opportunities. Vendor due diligence prepares reports for smoother sales. Bid support handles competitive processes. Vendor assistance organises financial information for buyers. The approach suits UK and international clients with UK interests.
Address: St Catherine's Court, Berkeley Place, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1BQ, UK
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/saffery
Instagram: www.instagram.com/saffery_uk
Conclusion
The choice of an M&A advisory services company often hinges on factors like your business size, industry sector, process maturity, and any specific regulatory considerations. Some companies take an integrated approach covering the full transaction lifecycle, while others concentrate on narrower specialisations such as due diligence or valuations. The right partner delivers independent assurance and practical steps to reduce risks and support resilience. This guide is designed to provide neutral context for comparing options and finding the right fit-ultimately leaving the decision in your hands based on what matches your situation best.
AC
Written by the Acumon team
Acumon is an ICAEW-registered firm of chartered accountants and registered auditors
based in London, with offices in Pitstone, Aylesbury and Bournemouth. Need advice on
anything covered here? Talk to us.
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