42% YOY increase in deal completions in H1 2026 for Azets’ UK Corporate Finance team
The UK Corporate Finance team at international accountancy and business advisory group Azets has reported a 42% year-on-year increase in completed transactions for the first half of 2026.
The team recorded 84 completed transactions across the UK in H1 2026 – up from 59 in H1 2025, with Q2 2026’s figures 15% higher than Q1’s.
Newcastle, London, and Cardiff were the locations where the most deals were completed, and Industrials, Business Services, Consumer and Retail, Technology, and Healthcare were the sectors in which the most transactions took place.
More than half (51%) of deals saw the total proceeds paid on completion, and the average payment to sellers on completion was 80% of the total agreed – up from 60% in the first half of last year.
Lee Humble, UK head of Corporate Finance at Azets, said: “Despite a challenging marketplace, our team has continued to close deals in greater numbers than a year ago as there is still demand and opportunities for great businesses.
“Congratulations to our team – our combination of great people, a balance of buy and sell-side work, and a presence right across the UK that is built on deep local knowledge and a willingness to support businesses of all shapes, sizes and sectors is continuing to prove successful for us and our clients.”
Azets’ UK Corporate Finance team was named second most active advisor in the UK by Experian for the first quarter of 2026, and most active advisor in the North East, Yorkshire & Humber, and Wales for the same period.
Lee Humble said: “Our recognition by Experian is a tribute to all the work we’ve put in, and the work we have done to build a genuinely national corporate finance team, built around exceptional people operating in local markets across the UK.
“That strategy is delivering – and we’re determined to maintain momentum in the face of increased demand for our support and advice.”