Overseas deals to drive food manufacturing mergers and acquisitions

That’s the view of expert Andrew McLean, a partner at law firm Stephenson Harwood, in this exclusive video for FoodManufacture.co.uk

McLean was speaking at Food Manufacture’s​ annual Business Leaders’ Forum in central London last week, where senior executives met to discuss the major issues affecting the sector.

Private equity​

Watch the video to find out what he thinks is making UK food and drink manufacturing firms so attractive to overseas buyers, and whether he thinks there will be a resurgence in private equity activity in 2013.

Last year – which saw the highest amount of M&A activity in the food and drink sector for three years – was driven by a number of major trade deals, largely from overseas buyers.

In addition to iconic British brand Weetabix being snapped up by Chinese conglomerate Bright Food Group​, KP Snacks, the maker of Hula Hoops, was bought by German firm Intersnack​.

Watch the video to find out what 2013 has in store for M&A activity.

There will be more stories from Food Manufacture​’s Business Leaders’ Forum − sponsored by legal firm Stephenson Harwood, business improvement specialist Acumen and recruitment expert Goldteam − later this week.