NE deal making landscape – current trends in the region

In a time when businesses are facing challenges constantly, the NE deal-making landscape has delivered a robust performance thus far this year. In our 2026 H1 review, we announced that our Corporate Finance team completed 59 transactions between January and June this year.

The total deal value was in excess of £400m, this is the strongest six-month period in terms of transaction volume completed in our team’s history. You can see our full review of H1 below.

the full AAB Corporate Finance H1 2026 review

One of the best things about this? That the deals span a broad range of sectors, from professional services, industrial and manufacturing, right through to health and social care, energy and infrastructure, technology, media and telecoms. This is a real reflection of the expertise across our team.

Every deal tells a different story. From business owners planning a successful exit to organisations pursuing acquisitions, securing investment or driving growth, we’re proud to help our clients achieve the outcomes that matter most.

We delve into the key current trends across the region below.

CURRENT TRENDS IN THE NE DEAL-MAKING LANDSCAPE

NE deal-making landscape H1 2026

True to form, the North Scotland region has delivered a robust performance reflecting a more positive deal market than was perhaps expected given the challenging political and economic headwinds.

With change comes opportunity, and we have seen both trade and institutional acquirers purchasing strategic targets as part of their own growth journeys, recognising that labour shortages and productivity pressures remain key challenges; a theme we have seen across other regions.

Insight on deals completed by the team in North East Scotland

It is encouraging to have 12 completed transactions for the region, up from 9 in the same period last year. Notable deals include advising STATS Group, a Mitsui & Co business and international provider of pressurised pipeline solutions, expanding its service offering with the strategic acquisition of Pipelines2Data together with providing transaction support to H2 Equity portfolio company, Motive Offshore, in their acquisition of subsea integrity and cable monitoring business C-Kore.

In addition, the team supported the vendors of environmentally friendly commercial cleaning contractor, Tidy Green Clean, in the sale to management and advised acquisitive clients Accord Business Solutions in its investment into IT infrastructure business, Future Group, Harbro Group in acquiring Edinburgh-based animal feed reseller Almins and Porters Pharmacy in its acquisition of Peterhead-based Clerkhill Pharmacy.

We continue to assist several businesses who are best known as oil field service companies either diversify into industrial sectors or be acquired by large industrial groups. A transferable ethos and skillset of working in highly regulated, harsh environments and hazardous areas requiring a disciplined supply chain is what many in the region know, making them attractive e.g. businesses supporting SSEN’s national grid upgrades and built environment projects.

Reflections on the NE deal-making landscape

I also share the same views of my Corporate Finance colleagues that sellers who fail to prepare are likely to be challenged during processes with acquirers undertaking in-depth diligence focussing on much more than the typical financial, tax and legal aspects.  It has been interesting to note some clients introduce AI to collate information as part of the diligence process and populate data rooms. Anything to ease the human burden is welcome!

We look forward to the second half of the year with a healthy pipeline of opportunities and are encouraged to see many of our sell-side mandates currently going through the diligence phase, together with supporting a broad range of active acquirers with the M&A strategies.

If you have any queries about the deal-making landscape in the North East, please do not hesitate to get in contact with Callum Gray, a member of our Corporate Finance team, or your usual AAB contact.

Corporate Finance leaders from across AAB’s regions reflected on the deal landscape they’re seeing in our full H1 review.