K3 ranked No.1 for H1 2025 by Experian amid “positive outlook”

K3 Capital Group has retained the No.1 spot in Experian’s UK M&A Financial Adviser ranking for deal volume in H1 2025 – while also strengthening our position across the regional charts.

With 105 deals completed between January and June 2025 according to the Experian MarketIQ Report criteria, we were 27 clear of our nearest competitor. Only one other adviser was able to achieve even half of our total number of transactions in the first six months of this year.

Regionally, K3 Capital Group, the parent company of KBS Corporate, is ranked No.1 in six of the 11 geographical areas Experian has divided the UK into – and we have improved our position in three more.

Retaining the top position in England’s South East, East of England, North West, Midlands and Yorkshire & Humber, we have now added Wales to that list. We have risen to No.3 from No.4 in both London and the South West, and to No.4 from No.5 in Scotland. In the North East, the No.1-ranked adviser completed only one more deal than us.

The South East, Midlands and North West, where we hold the No.1 ranking, are respectively the biggest regions for M&A activity and deal-making values outside of London. In the South East and the East of England we hold the biggest market share compared to our rivals – more than double the number of deals of any competitor in both of those regions in H1 2025.

Among the biggest transactions we have advised on in 2025 so far are the sale of leading energy efficiency company Aran Group, and investments into Trinitatum, a test automation software specialist, and PAC Group, a market-leading engineering company.

Everything is in place for K3 Capital Group to continue building on our success throughout H2 2025, following the addition of new companies to the group. KR8 Advisory was launched this year, as was a fifth service division, Financial Services, with strategic investments made into Pareto Financial Planning and Luna Investment Management.

Jane Turner, Experian MarketIQ Research Manager, expressed positivity in the market, commenting: “The UK M&A market demonstrated resilience in the first half of 2025, with deal volume showing a slight increase in Q2.

“The SME segment was a key driver of activity, accounting for nearly 88% of all disclosed-value transactions. International interest in the UK remained robust, particularly from US and European acquirers. Market activity remained strong across various sectors and deal sizes, with total disclosed deal value reaching £71bn.

“Looking ahead, analysts are optimistic about a potential uplift in activity in the second half of the year, with transformative AI and sector consolidation expected to be major catalysts for growth.

“The market’s adaptability and continued international interest suggest a positive outlook for the remainder of 2025.”