Recession creates deal backlog
The recession has created a "backlog" of business sales where owners have avoided cashing in while they wait for an upturn, according to a Yorkshire deals expert.
Ian Marwood, head of lead advisory for Yorkshire and the North East at Grant Thornton, said the outlook for mergers and acquisitions for the rest of this year and in 2011 was encouraging.
"A backlog has developed of good quality businesses where owners who would normally have exited over the last two years have held off waiting for the market to recover. Many of these owners will start the disposal process this autumn or in early 2011 and purchasers will be out there, but it is only the very best businesses which achieve premium pricing and the expectations of vendors will need to be managed carefully."
Despite the downturn, Grant Thornton has advised on a series of significant deals including the sale of Card Factory.