Using data from Experian Corpfin, it has revealed that manufacturers in the UK were the target of 199 deals during the first three months of 2015. "This represents a 9% increase compared to the same period last year (183) and a 3% rise compared to the final quarter of 2014," it said.
Irwin Mitchell added that the number of deals that completed during the period represents the highest Q1 performance since 2008 (266).
In the first three months of 2015, 27% of manufacturing deals involving UK firms were PE-backed, compared with 21.8% during the whole of 2014.
South East-based manufacturers were the subject of 30% of all M&A activity across England, according to Irwin Mitchell. However, it added, this was the lowest proportion in the seven years covered in its report.
It added: "The West Midlands performed well with 27 manufacturing deals completing in the period - 10 more than the same period in 2014. One third of the deals were backed by private equity.
"Another region which experienced a big rise in manufacturing deal activity was the North East."
Chris Rawstron, partner and head of corporate and commercial at Irwin Mitchell, said: "Once again we are seeing the manufacturing sector generating significant levels of M&A activity. The sector performed well during the second half of 2014, both in terms of deal volumes and private equity and I'm pleased to say that this confidence has continued into the first three months of 2015."
