Done Deal – Insights from our M&A and Activism team – June 2025

 Meet our Team: 30 seconds with Edward Knight

Describe your area of expertise at FTI and the value you bring to clients?

My career to date has been driven by the equity markets having previously acted as an investment banking adviser to quoted companies in the UK.  I bring a deep understanding of what drives value in corporates and the importance of both external and internal communication in ensuring companies achieve their objectives.  I have a solid grounding in equity raising and the technical aspects to the laws and regulations that public companies navigate on a daily basis. Moreover I understand the multiple pressures that listed company boards face, from sourcing growth either organically or through acquisitions to dealing with activist shareholders.  My experience enables me to act as a trusted adviser to clients seeking strategic counsel, in particular over M&A and shareholder communication. 

What deal trends are you seeing in your marketplace?

We are seeing a strong pipeline of public-to-private M&A deals and a rise in shareholder activist situations across Europe. This has been driven by the current depressed nature of European stock markets, making companies’ vulnerable to bids from trade or private equity and to shareholders seeking to unlock value by driving corporate actions.   The causes of the current stock market’s relative undervaluation are varied but stem from a reduction in aggregate allocation to European equities as an asset class.  In the UK, much has been self-inflicted through regulatory changes e.g. MiFID II and the historical treatment of pension fund deficits.  The result has been a marked decline in listings: in 2007 there were 3,297 companies quoted on the LSE, today that figure is around 1,650. We are recently noticing some signs of life in the European IPO market which might tick up in 2026.  Irrespective of these trends, we are finding that the demand for FTI’s expertise continues to increase.

What do you do outside of work that helps you reset and stay sharp for the next professional challenge?

I am an avid follower of Southampton FC so last season was useful in putting things into perspective.  Aside from football, I play tennis (sometimes reasonably) and golf (practice somehow makes me worse).  I like reading books with a historical angle and occasionally attempt The Telegraph’s cryptic crossword.