Lazard's Custis: Could M&A activity entice investors back to the UK market?

UK M&A activity in Q1 strongest for a decade

Deal activity in Q1 suggests that corporates globally are eager to capitalise on the valuation opportunity in the UK, in a sign of confidence that could potentially entice institutional investors back to the market.

The underperformance of UK equities versus global peers deepened further following the sharp sell-off at the start of the year, tempting overseas buyers.  M&A activity in the UK during the first three months of the year was the strongest for a decade and inbound deals - where UK companies were the target - accounted for a significant proportion of the activity.  The gap has widened between the performance of UK stocks relative to other markets, as institutional investors have snubbed the UK on worries over Brexit and other domestic concerns. Lazard AM's Custis reverses bearish outl...