Neptune's Cassell: UK M&A set for 'uptick' despite Brexit uncertainties

FTSE 100 deals already higher than in recent years

The UK stockmarket is set to see an uptick in M&A activity across the market-cap spectrum, writes Neptune's Holly Cassell.

In spite of a turbulent start to the year, UK stockmarket multiples remain high compared to their historical range. We believe that the prospect of increased M&A activity in 2016 and beyond will be a crucial support to these valuations. Using UK mid caps as an example, in 2015 companies constituting 4.7% of the FTSE 250 index were taken over, in comparison to an average of 4.2% per annum over the last 15 years. Consolidation game: Is wealth M&A set to accelerate further? In contrast, there were no FTSE 100 deals completed last year versus a long-term average of 1.9% of the index ma...