Head Of Irwin Mitchell’s Corporate Team Comments On Latest Deal Trends

A leading M&A expert says he expects deal activity in the waste management sector to keep bucking the trend and stay strong over the next 12 months.

Chris Rawstron, partner and National Head of Corporate at Irwin Mitchell, expects the sector to remain buoyant and despite the heightened risk of a no-deal Brexit, says he is seeing encouraging signs that waste management deal flow will remain high over the next 12 months.

The most recent report by business information provider, Experian, reveals waste management was the only industry to see an increase in overall deal value when comparing M&A activity in H1 2019 with the same period in 2018. 

Despite the solid performance of the waste management sector, the report said M&A activity across all sectors in the first six months of 2019 was 6% lower than in 2018.

Chris Rawstron, partner and National Head of Corporate at Irwin Mitchell, said:

“The waste management sector is providing many M&A opportunities and we have been very active in the last 12 months advising businesses in this area. I’m not surprised the sector is driving an increase in M&A values and I expect that this will continue for at least the next 12 months.”

Last year, Irwin Mitchell advised Birmingham-based Weir Waste Services on its sale to UK leading integrated waste management and recycling business, Biffa.

In April this year, Irwin Mitchell advised Telford-based outsourced waste management services provider, Reconomy, on what was its fourth acquisition in just over 12 months with the purchase of Prismm.

Irwin Mitchell recently published its latest UK Powerhouse report which analysed the level of sustainability of 46 UK cities. It revealed a North-South divide between UK cities in terms of a number of environmental indicators including CO2 emissions per person, transport and waste recycling.

Chris added: “Our latest UK Powerhouse report highlighted huge differentials in terms of environmental sustainability and it is clear that there is a lot more that needs to be done. 

“In June, the UK announced its ambition to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, the first major economy to do so. Although this will present huge challenges for many organisations, it also offers huge opportunities which many businesses will adapt to and as they assess their strategic options, I expect further M&A activity.”