04/05/2020 - News

Clearwater International reflects on deal activity amidst market uncertainty

Company meeting

Data produced by MergerMarket and Refinitiv for mid-market M&A in the first quarter of 2020 placed Clearwater International firmly in the top 20 Pan-European financial advisors league tables.

Clearwater also ranked in second place on the PE advisory Europe exits MergerMarket league table alongside some notable league table positions within specific countries.

Whilst impressive first quarter results reflect strong growth across the business, the recent COVID-19 crisis has put a pause on deal activity across the globe as business owners and investors reflect on strategic plans.

Across Clearwater, we have completed 13 deals since lockdown began

With some countries now emerging from lockdown, Michael Reeves, CEO reflects on activity and plans for the future: “This unprecedented period that we have entered into as a result of the COVID-19 crisis has put many organisations on the backfoot with numerous businesses closing their doors during the lockdown. Strategic plans are being reconsidered and short-term stability has been at the forefront of everyone’s minds. However, from conversations with clients and investors and notwithstanding the difficulties faced in the deals market, we are confident that deals will still continue and complete. Across Clearwater, we have completed 13 deals since lockdown began with businesses still attracting healthy valuations.

Reeves continued: “With some of our teams and businesses now emerging from lockdown we will begin to see what the road ahead holds. As our only comparison to date, the downturn in 2008 saw investors and well-positioned businesses opportunistically make strategic moves that drove fast and strong growth and we hope that with this hindsight we will see investors and businesses looking to mirror that activity as we emerge from this crisis.”

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