23
Jun
UK Deal Drivers: Uncovering the reality behind the opportunity
Dealmakers continue to navigate a demanding UK environment defined by tighter financing conditions, firmer valuation discipline and rising execution demands. With assumptions shifting more rapidly and market volatility now the norm, confidence in 2026 M&A depends on strategic clarity, credible value‑creation plans and the ability to manage integration and execution risk. As these factors increasingly determine which transactions move forward, this panel will explore the forces shaping UK deal activity and what is enabling deals to close in today’s market.
- What factors are most influencing UK deal activity today, and where are buyers seeing the strongest opportunities across sectors?
- Why is scale becoming a decisive requirement for UK M&A in certain sectors, and how are regulation, technology investment and cost pressures filtering into which deals are viable?
- How are supply‑chain pressures, cost volatility and regulatory interventions reshaping deal structures and value creation strategies?
- Which execution capabilities, from integration readiness to operational resilience, are proving decisive in getting deals over the line?
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SpeakersDr. Michael Engel Partner White & Case
Alex Van Hoek Partner Apollo
Chris Boulter Head of M&A Serica Energy
Hamish Lazell Group Strategy Director Octopus Energy
Nick Harper Head of UK M&A Goldman Sachs
Nicola Longfield Partner, Deal Advisory KPMG
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Dr. Michael Engel is a partner in White & Case’s global antitrust and FDI practice in London.
Dual-qualified in England & Wales and Germany, he advises clients on the full spectrum of EU, UK, German and multi-jurisdictional competition and regulatory issues, including merger control, foreign direct investment screening and the EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation. He regularly represents clients before the European Commission, the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and Germany’s Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt). He has extensive experience in complex merger control remedy cases and Phase 2 investigations, as well as cartel and State aid matters.
Prior to joining White & Case, Michael was a Partner at Kirkland & Ellis in London and previously worked at Sullivan & Cromwell. He is also a non-governmental advisor to the CMA. Michael studied at the Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg and the London School of Economics and Political Science, and holds a Dr. iur. (doctorate in law) from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich.
Alex van Hoek is Lead Partner for European Private Equity at Apollo.
Alex joined the firm in New York in 2010 and since 2021 has been based in London, overseeing the Firm’s efforts in various sectors in Europe, including Consumer, Retail, Hospitality, Leisure, and Transportation and Logistics. Alex has been involved in various private equity transactions including EVRi, The Restaurant Group, The Travel Corporation, Ingenico, Great Canadian Gaming, The Venetian, Hilton Grand Vacations, Diamond Resorts, Constellis, Caesars Entertainment, Aliante Casino, and Quality Distribution. Alex currently serves as a director of EVRi, The Restaurant Group, The Travel Corporation, Ingenico, Great Canadian Gaming and One Toronto Gaming.
Prior to joining Apollo, Alex was an Analyst in the Financial Sponsor Investment Banking group at Deutsche Bank. Alex graduated cum laude from Princeton University with a dual BSE degree in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanical Engineering.
Chris Boulter is currently Head of M&A at Serica Energy, a UK listed E&P company, where he leads the company’s M&A activities. With over 15 years’ experience in the energy sector, he has worked across technical, commercial and strategic roles. Prior to joining Serica, Chris spent seven years at Neptune Energy, a private equity-backed E&P company, where he held a number of M&A and commercial roles, culminating in the company’s $5 billion sale to Eni in 2024. He brings extensive experience in transaction execution, value creation and growth strategy across the UK and international energy sector.
Hamish Lazell is the Group Strategy Director at Octopus Energy, where he leads M&A and strategic initiatives across the Group. In the past couple of years he has led Octopus's acquisitions of Bulb off of the UK government and Shell's domestic energy supply business which collectively moved Octopus to become the largest household supplier in the UK, as well as led the expansion of the business into over a dozen new markets. Hamish began his career at Boston Consulting Group, advising clients in aviation, technology, finance, energy, and retail. He is passionate about driving sustainable, customer-focused innovation in the energy industry.
Nicola leads the UK Deal Advisory business and is a Consumer Deals Partner with over 20 years of professional experience, almost exclusively in advising a range of corporate and private equity clients on M&A transactions.