Key Takeaways:
- The UK’s tax environment, especially the ‘frozen tax world’, is prompting businesses to consider relocating.
- Significant decline in UK M&A activities in 2023, with interest rates peaking at 5.25%.
- Expert Claire Trachet advocates for interest rate cuts to revitalize dealmaking and support UK’s economic recovery.
The Tax Exodus: UK Businesses Looking Abroad
The United Kingdom’s current tax landscape has been creating ripples of concern across the business world. With Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s recent tax changes, including a reduction in National Insurance (NI) taxes counterbalanced by frozen income tax thresholds, businesses are feeling the pinch. The static Inheritance Tax (IHT) nil rate bands, widely unpopular according to a YouGov survey, have contributed to a growing interest among British businesses to relocate. Countries like Portugal, Spain, and Italy are emerging as attractive destinations, offering more favorable tax systems.
2023: A Tough Year for UK Dealmaking
The year 2023 proved challenging for the UK’s mergers and acquisitions (M&A) ecosystem. A report from the London Stock Exchange Group’s Deals Intelligence Team highlighted a 33% drop in the total value of M&A involving UK firms. This decline is an extension of the post-pandemic downturn in 2021, exacerbated by continuous hikes in the base rate of interest, which peaked at 5.25% in August 2023. These economic conditions have led to a tightening of capital in the dealmaking arena and a notable decrease in new UK investment funds, reaching a 20-year low.
Claire Trachet’s Perspective on Economic Recovery
Claire Trachet, CEO and Founder of Trachet, a business advisory firm, is vocal about the need for macroeconomic policy adjustments. “Many voices from across the investor landscape are calling on the Bank of England to urgently reassess their macroeconomic priorities in the new year,” says Trachet. She believes that with inflation anticipated to continue its rapid fall and signs of a looming recession, it’s crucial for policymakers to focus on kickstarting the UK’s economic recovery. Trachet argues that a reduction in interest rates would be pivotal in facilitating access to capital for scale-ups and SMEs, thereby laying the foundation for a resurgence in M&A activities, particularly in mid-sized mergers.
The Mid-Sized Merger: A New Dominant Force
Trachet predicts that mid-sized mergers will become a dominant feature in the M&A landscape, with many overseas investors eyeing undervalued UK-based startups. An interest rate cut by the Bank of England, she asserts, would enable domestic investors to claim a larger stake in the UK’s projected M&A recovery. This shift would refocus attention on high-growth ventures, essential for the nation’s economic revival.
About Trachet
Founded in 2016, Trachet has carved a niche in accelerating business growth, particularly notable for being one of the few female-led teams in the sector. With a people-first approach, Trachet specializes in matching the right buyers for their clients, ensuring deals align with the company’s growth goals and mission. Their expertise spans various sub-sectors including Tech (CleanTech, DeepTech, TravelTech, FinTech, SaaS, marketplaces) and other areas like Chemicals, Infrastructure, Healthcare, and Natural Resources.
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