Private equity deal activity stabilised in Q2 2025, after suffering a drop off in the previous quarter, with UK PE buyouts rising 3% from 317 in Q1 2025 to 327 in Q2 2025, according to an analysis of PitchBook data by audit, tax and consulting firm RSM UK.
However, buyouts on the whole were down 16% from 391 in the same quarter last year.
After dipping across all industries in Q1 2025 (down 32%), the technology and media industry appears to be the first to bounce back, with PE buyouts up 34% from 56 to 75 in Q2 2025. The consumer industry was also up 13% from 47 to 51 in the same period.
Buyout activity was driven by a rise in add-ons, increasing 54% from 41 in Q1 2025 to 63 in Q2 2025 for the technology and media industry, and up 40% from 25 to 35 in the consumer sector.
UK corporate M&A deals rose from 601 in Q1 2025 to 620 in Q2 2025, with the biggest increases in the technology and media industry (up 19% from 96 to 114) and the consumer industry (up 17% from 154 to 180). However, the total number of venture capital deals dropped a further 27% from 461 to 337 in the same period.
