Private equity in £40m deal to buy ‘university for industry’

Stephen Griffiths, of Rothschild, said market confidence is patchy and very fragile with a notable deterioration since July, compounded by wider fears over the eurozone.

“Transactions are getting done with strong appetite from both strategic trade buyers as well as private equity house but processes are taking a lot longer,” he said.

“At a fundamental trading level business confidence appears very good in certain sectors – export-led, engineering and oil and gas for example – but a lot more uncertain in UK consumer-facing environments.

“Despite the apparent gloom there are some very good success stories across all sectors of the market, especially in Yorkshire.”