2019 Company Mergers And Acquisitions

List of company mergers and acquisitions that took place in the UK in 2019: January - June

June 2019 Mergers And Acquisitions

The Money Shop owner to cease trading

Fri, 28/06/2019 Instant Cash Loans, the owner of The Money Shop loans and pawnbroking chain, has become the latest subprime lender brought to the brink of collapse with the weight of complaints from claims management companies. ICL has informed its 427 staff that it plans to cease trading and has begun the rollout of a mass redundancy process. Around 100 UK stores will shut or be sold.

Dransfield Novelty Company acquires Reflex Gaming

Fri, 28/06/2019 Leeds-based Dransfield Novelty Company has acquired the entire issued share capital of Gameco Holdings, the owner of Reflex Gaming. The deal brings together the UK's largest independent fruit machine operator and the UK's largest independent fruit machine manufacturer. Established 70 years ago, Dransfields has annual turnover exceeding £23m, employs 244 people, and services more than 14,000 machines at over 5,000 sites nationwide. It claims to be the original developer of the ‘nudge’ feature.

Lloydspharmacy owner buys prescription management app

Fri, 28/06/2019 McKesson UK, the parent company of Lloydspharmacy, has acquired prescription management app Echo in its bid to accelerate its digital healthcare strategy. Echo allows patients to manage their medicines and order repeat prescriptions to their door for free. Launched in 2016, Echo is staffed by 85 people and is one of three NHS-approved repeat prescription apps in the NHS app library.

Merlin Entertainments accepts £4.8bn takeover

Fri, 28/06/2019 Merlin Entertainments, the operator of theme parks such as Legoland, has agreed to a £5.9bn takeover. The consortium taking over the company consists of Kirkbi Invest, Blackstone and CPPIB, the Canadian pension fund. Kirkbi is the private investment firm of the family of Kirk Kristiansen, the inheritor of the Lego fortune. The deal has valued Merlin's shares at £4.77bn, and includes around £1.1bn in debt, making its total enterprise value c. £5.9bn. Merlin owns a vast portfolio of attractions, including Alton Towers, the London Eye and Madame Tussauds.

Kier announces cutbacks

Fri, 28/06/2019 Housebuilder Kier has announced plans to cut 1,200 jobs and sell several business units as low confidence in the contractor’s financial position forces it to begin paying suppliers in advance. The HS2 contractor has announced that it will focus on regional building, infrastructure, utilities and highways, and seeks to dispose of Kier Living, Property, Facilities Management and Environment Services, which it deems non-core. Kier Living is a housebuilder with a focus on the affordable housing market.

Monsoon Accessorize becomes latest retailer to seek CVAs

Fri, 28/06/2019 Monsoon Accessorize is calling on landlords to reduce rents at more than half of its stores in return for a share of £10m future profits. The company has said it will launch two separate company voluntary arrangements (CVAs) through which it will seek to lower rents at 135 out of the group’s 258 leased stores. Although it will not outright shut any stores at present, 36 stores could be put at risk of closure under the company's proposals. The CVA process has become popular with retailers in recent years, with the most high profile recent example being Arcadia Group.

Bathstore in hot water

Thu, 27/06/2019 UK retailer Bathstore has gone into administration, putting around 530 jobs at risk. Owned by American billionaire Warren Stephens, Bathstore has 135 stores and a head office in Welwyn Garden City. Stores will remain open while the administrator BDO searches for a buyer.

Blue Prism buys Thoughtonomy

Thu, 27/06/2019 Automation specialist Blue Prism has bought Thoughtonomy, a provider of on-demand virtual workforce and AI solutions. Thoughtonomy's products include ready-to-use chatbots and web-forms with integrated AI technologies such as computer vision, natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning.

CGI acquires software firm SCISYS

Thu, 27/06/2019 Global IT services consultancy CGI added 670 IT experts to its books with the acquisition of SCISYS. Based in Dublin, SCISYS is a pan-European computer software and services provider specialising in the space and defence sectors, as well as in media and broadcast news. The firm has offices in Germany and the UK, and annual revenue of approximately £58.4m. CGI has paid £78.9m for the firm.

Pokemon Go creator buys London studio Sensible Object

Thu, 20/06/2019 Pokemon Go creator Niantic has bought London gaming studio Sensible Object, establish its first outpost in the UK. The move signals Niantic's commitment to designing new real-world AR (augmented reality) experiences for players.

Subsidiaries snapped up as Redhall appoints administrators

Thu, 20/06/2019 Edwin James Group has taken over a subsidiary of Redhall Group following its parent's entry into administration. Jex Engineering is a full-service engineering business with bases in Manchester and Redditch. The deal saves 70 jobs and will see Jex trade as Jex Process Services. Another Redhall business, Booth Industries, which makes steel doors, has also been acquired by Avingtrans for £1.8m.

Dentsu Aegis Network buys re:production

Thu, 20/06/2019 Dentsu Aegis Network has announced the acquisition of Newcastle-based production company re:production. Founded in 2010, re:production employs 12 people and delivers production solutions for radio, TV commercials, animation and idents.

Anglia Tours joins Next Generation Travel

Thu, 20/06/2019 School trip organiser Next Generation Travel has bought counterpart Anglia Tours. The deal increases NGT’s turnover to £17m and boosts its workforce to 68 staff.

Creation Capital acquires Greenlane Biogas for £11.1m

Thu, 20/06/2019 Specialist engineering group Pressure Technologies has completed the £11.1m sale of Greenlane Biogas to Creation Capital. Greenlane Biogas reported turnover of £3m in the 12 months to 29 September 2018.

Compass Group to find bearings in the Nordics

Fri, 14/06/2019 Compass Group has agreed to buy Fazer Food Services from Fazer Group for €475m (£422m). Fazer Food Services is a premier food service provider in the Nordics with revenues of c. €600m in 2018. It has 1,000 restaurants, half of which are in Finland, and employs around 7,000 people. With a presence in 45 countries, Compass Group employs 600,000 people and has revenues of around €26bn.

Argon Medical Devices acquires UK distributor

Fri, 14/06/2019 Global US firm Argon Medical Devices has completed the acquisition of Mana-Tech, its exclusive distributor in the UK and Ireland. Argon's products are primarily tailored to percutaneous, image-guided procedures.

Funimation acquires Manga Entertainment

Fri, 14/06/2019 Streaming service Funimation has bought leading UKI anime distributor Manga Entertainment. The deal builds on the companies’ existing partnership, expanding Funimation’s catalogue as it bids to compete with the likes of Netflix and Crunchyroll.

Ideagen agrees £15.8m deal for Redland Business Solutions

Fri, 14/06/2019 Ideagen has announced that it is buying Redland Business Solutions for £15.8m. Redland is a regtech SaaS company which supplies software to the financial services sector. The firm currently generates c. £4.2m in revenue, with c. £3m of that recurring. Its clients include seven FTSE 100 and two Fortune 500 firms. The deal builds on Ideagen's acquisition of audit management software provider Morgan Kai Group for £20.5m late last year.

Brickability buys counterpart in Bolton

Fri, 14/06/2019 Bolton-based LBT Brick and Facades has been acquired by Brickability, a Bridgend-based building materials supplier that also trades as Lancashire Brick.

CVC Capital Partners buys majority stake in Teneo

Thu, 13/06/2019 CVC Capital Partners has acquired a majority stake in public relations and advisory company Teneo for $350m. Teneo advises the chief executives of some of the world's largest corporations and has strong political connections in the UK and US, with Bill Clinton and Tony Blair both having served on its advisory board. Teneo has more than tripled its headcount and made nine acquisitions in recent years, including Blue Rubicon in the UK in 2015. The acquisition values it at more than $700m.

PK Ventures acquires Primrose's Kitchen

Thu, 13/06/2019 ‘Superfood’ brand Primrose’s Kitchen has been acquired by PK Ventures, headed by three former Cadbury Schweppes executives. With investors including the UK Government’s food waste champion Ben Eliot, PK Ventures aims to double sales to £1.75m next year and push past £5m turnover within five.

Loch Lomond Group sold for £400m

Thu, 13/06/2019 Whisky producer Loch Lomond Group has been sold to Hillhouse Capital Group for around £400m. Loch Lomond was bought by Exponent Private Equity for a reported £210m five years ago, during which time the business has boosted exports from 10% of turnover to 70%. It reported revenue up 7% to £52.9m in the year to 30 September 2018.

Arcadia Group to close 48 stores

Fri, 07/06/2019 All seven CVAs have been accepted by Arcadia Group's creditors in a last minute deal to avoid administration. The reorganisation will see 48 of Arcadia’s 570 UK stores close and rents reduced on up to another 200, with the loss of over 1,000 jobs. Sir Philip Green’s high street empire employs 18,000 people and includes the Topshop, Dorothy Perkins and Miss Selfridge brands.

Aviva announces 1,800 job cuts by 2022

Fri, 07/06/2019 UK insurer Aviva has announced that it will cut 1,800 jobs worldwide over the next three years as it plans to split its life and general insurance businesses. The group says the reorganisation ‘will enable stronger accountability and greater management focus’, and sees Angela Darlington step up as interim CEO of UK Life and Colm Holmes become CEO of General Insurance. Altogether the company intends to reduce expenses by £300m per annum by 2022. The group says the 1,800 role reductions, out of a total workforce of 30,000, will be achieved through natural turnover where possible.

London Stock Exchange Group acquires Beyond Ratings

Fri, 07/06/2019 Beyond Ratings, a provider of environmental, social and governance data for fixed income investors, has been acquired by London Stock Exchange Group. With experience in low-carbon, ESG performance and climate exposure, the firm fits the trend towards more sustainable financial products.

Rank Group to take in Stride

Fri, 07/06/2019 Casino and gambling operator Rank Group has offered £115.3m for AIM-listed Stride Gaming. The deal continues Rank’s push away from its casinos to online platforms like Mecca Bingo, which attract a younger audience. Stride is the third largest online bingo operator in the UK, with an 11% market share

GCI acquires Modality Systems

Fri, 07/06/2019 IT services provider GCI has announced the acquisition of Modality Systems, the world’s largest dedicated Microsoft communications and collaboration practice, with European operations based in St Albans. The deal will allow GCI to grow overseas and capitalise on the growing global market for Microsoft-based cloud communications services.

Canadian firm buys bus builder Alexander Dennis

Fri, 07/06/2019 The double-decker bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis has been acquired by the Canadian bus and coach builder NFI Group. Headquartered in Scotland, Alexander Dennis reported £630.8m turnover for 2018 and will retain its current management team.

Serco acquires naval systems business

Thu, 06/06/2019 Service provider Serco has increased the scale and capability of its US defence business with the acquisition of Alion’s naval systems business unit (NSBU) for £170m. NSBU is a supplier of naval design and systems engineering to the US Navy, US Army and Royal Canadian Navy.

Macquarie beats out USSL for KCOM

Thu, 06/06/2019 KCOM, a provider of communications services to businesses and public sector organisations across the UK, has accepted a £563m takeover offer from Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets. KCOM had previously accepted an offer from Universities Superannuation Scheme but decided that Macquarie’s offers its shareholders greater value.

BT to close 270 offices

Thu, 06/06/2019 Further to the announcement last May that BT will close its London headquarters and cut 13,000 jobs, the telecoms group has revealed more detail about its reorganisation plans. BT is planning to close 90% of its offices in a consolidation programme that it says is the biggest of its kind in the UK. 300 offices will be whittled down to 30 by 2023. BT’s unions have warned the closures will need to be handled carefully. After torrid few years for the firm, Philip Jansen took over from Gavin Patterson as CEO in February. Last month, Jansen unveiled an initiative to give employees £50m in shares.

Double swoop sees Allianz become UK's second biggest insurer

Thu, 06/06/2019 Allianz has made two acquisitions as it increases its presence in the UK market. The first sees it buy Legal & General’s general insurance business for £242m, whilst the second will see Allianz buy out the remaining 51% stake in LV General Insurance Group from Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society for £578m. The two deals mean Allianz is now the second biggest general insurer in the UK.

May 2019

LondonMetric buys property group Mucklow

Wed, 29/05/2019 The property investment and development company LondonMetric has bought the property group Mucklow. The £415m deal strengthens LondonMetric’s urban logistics portfolio.

Away Resorts sold by LDC to Bregal Freshstream

Wed, 29/05/2019 The holiday park operator Away Resorts has been sold by LDC to the investment company Bregal Freshstream. Away Resorts, which operates six resorts across the UK, is to invest £25m across its portfolio following completion of the acquisition.

Paragon Group makes triple acquisition

Wed, 29/05/2019 Paragon Group has made a triple acquisition as it aims to strengthen its digital communications and identification capabilities in the UK, Europe and the USA. Paragon has bought Celerity Information Services (a customer communications specialist), ORM (a digital partner which specialises in digital strategy, technology platforms, data, customer experience, design, brand and marketing communications) and Graft Services (a marketing concierge service).

Building consultancy WYG to be taken over by Tetra Tech

Tue, 28/05/2019 The building consultancy WYG has agreed to be taken over by the American company Tetra Tech. The £43.4m deal enables Tetra Tech, a global consulting and engineering company, to expand into the UK and European markets.

London and Capital UK bought by Foster Denovo

Tue, 28/05/2019 London and Capital UK’s wealth business has been bought by national advice firm Foster Denovo.

Assura acquires GPI for £92m

Tue, 28/05/2019 The specialist healthcare property partner Assura has strengthened its development capabilities with the £92m acquisition of the primary care developer GPI.

Peel Ports Group acquires Quality Freight

Tue, 28/05/2019 Peel Ports Group has increased the range of logistics services it offers with the acquisition of Quality Freight.

EG Group acquires GB3

Wed, 22/05/2019 Petrol station and forecourt operator EG Group has moved to strengthen its technology systems with the acquisition of GB3, an IT services provider based in Preston. GB3’s founder and CEO, Graham Billsborough, will join EG Group as chief information officer following completion of the deal.

EAT acquired by Pret a Manger

Wed, 22/05/2019 The food chain EAT is to disappear from the high street following its acquisition by Pret a Manger. Following completion of the deal, Pret plans to convert as many of the 100+ EAT stores as possible to its Veggie Prets chain of vegetarian restaurants.

British Steel forced into compulsory liquidation

Wed, 22/05/2019 British Steel, the UK’s second-largest steel company, has been placed in compulsory liquidation following the breakdown of negotiations between the UK Government and owner Greybull Capital. Previously known as Tata Steel, British Steel was bought by Greybull for £1 in 2016 with the promise of sustained investment, but it has asked for financial help from the UK Government to help it cope with “Brexit-related issues”. British Steel currently employs 5,000 people across several sites in the UK, and will continue to trade as normal as it seeks a new buyer.

Quantama completes merger with Kingsland Business Recovery

Wed, 22/05/2019 Quantuma has completed a merger with Kingsland Business Recovery. The deal sees Quantuma take on Kingsland's offices in Birmingham, Bradford and Nottingham. Founded in 2013, Quantuma has grown to a £20m turnover business with around 150 staff.

Butts of Bawtry completes management buyout

Tue, 21/05/2019 Doncaster business Butts of Bawtry has completed a management buyout. Butts specialises in garage and workshop equipment, spare parts, health and safety equipment, MOT bay equipment, security products, workshop essentials and automotive tools. Established in 1971, it employs 30 people and turns over around £5m.

Interface (DCB) Technology (DT) acquired by CCS 2000

Tue, 21/05/2019 Leeds-based IT support business Interface (DCB) Technology (IDT) has been acquired by Ripon firm CCS 2000. CCS 2000 merged with Fresh Mango Technologies, based in the British Virgin Islands, in 2015, allowing it to expand its remote support hours to clients on both sides of the Atlantic. CCS 2000 owner and MD Guy Phoenix commented that the deal "underlines the strength of the Group's recovery after Hurricane Irma destroyed our sister company [...] in 2017."

Jamie Oliver's restaurant business in administration

Tue, 21/05/2019 Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group has gone into administration with the loss of 1,000 jobs. The group that was set up by the TV chef includes the restaurant brands Jamie's Italian and Fifteen London. The company has been in financial difficulty for several years and has been reducing the number of restaurants it operates. All but three of the company's 25 restaurants have been closed with immediate effect.

Liveforce to acquire Watu

Tue, 21/05/2019 Liveforce, an on-demand workforce management platform has agreed to acquire promotional staffing software Watu. The acquisition will make Liveforce the largest promotional staffing platform in the UK by clients and field staffing volume, as well as a big player in Australia.

Outsource UK acquires RZ Group

Tue, 21/05/2019 RZ Group has been acquired by Outsource UK, a Swindon-based specialist staffing agency operating in technology, engineering and change. The deal provides an opportunity for Outsource UK to gain a Scottish presence, means the company now has seven offices nationwide and increases its headcount past 100.

Elucigene Diagnostics agrees £9.2m deal to acquire Yourgene Health

Tue, 21/05/2019 Elucigene Diagnostics, a Manchester based molecular diagnostics group, has agreed a £9.2m deal to acquire Yourgene Health. Yourgene specialises in developing and commercialising genetic products and services. Its first commercialised CE-IVD products are non-invasive pre-natal screening solutions for Down's syndrome and other genetic disorders.

SCI Search and Selection bought by Entrust Resource Solutions

Mon, 20/05/2019 SCI Search and Selection has been bought by Entrust Resource Solutions. SCI sources scientists across all levels of experience, and joins Entrust People and Horton International UK within the group.

LDC backs MBO of Shield Group International

Mon, 20/05/2019 Mid-market private equity firm LDC has backed the MBO of Shield Group International (SGI) from Kiwa. Formerly known as Kiwa Compliance International, SGI is an environmental testing, inspection and consultancy business. It reports annual revenues of approximately £50m and employs more than 600 people across the UK, Belgium, France, Netherlands, Norway and Spain.

Northend Creative Print Solutions and My Print Partners merge

Mon, 20/05/2019 Northend Creative Print Solutions (CPS) and My Print Partners have merged, creating a new entity called Northend. The combined firm has a turnover of £4.7m and will be a full-service print house for the Sheffield area.

Hoffmaster buys UK paper straw manufacturer

Fri, 17/05/2019 Manchester firm The Paper Straw Co has been acquired by US business Hoffmaster. The deal will allow both firms to better serve their European customers by increasing the UK’s manufacturing capacity and production of paper straws. The investment capitalises on recent EU and UK government commitments to eliminate single-use plastics by 2030 and 2042, respectively.

The Technology Group buys Local Telecom Service

Fri, 17/05/2019 Leeds-based telephony, mobile and internet specialist The Technology Group has acquired York family business Local Telecom Service (LTS). The Technology Group has 39 staff, over 900 customers and is aiming to hit £15m turnover by 2022.

The Hut Group brings Christophe Robin under its roof

Fri, 17/05/2019 The Hut Group (THG) has announced a deal for Christophe Robin, a luxury natural haircare brand. Founded in 1999, Christophe Robin's products are not tested on animals, are made from 80% natural ingredients and are free from ammonia, parabens, silicones and SLS. Its eco-friendly credentials have contributed to sales growth of over 40% for the past two years.

Connexas Group acquires Seven Telematics

Fri, 17/05/2019 Fleet management and mobile worker solutions provider Connexas Group has acquired Seven Telematics. Connexas is a £20m turnover firm with over 700 customers. Its takeover of Seven sees it acquire Transcan Advance, a temperature data logger that has become a technology leader in the cold chain market.

True North Brewing Co to acquire Leeds Gin

Mon, 13/05/2019 True North Brewing Co has announced a deal for Leeds Gin, building on its successful launch of Sheffield Dry Gin. Leeds Gin’s range includes Leeds Gin Original, Minerva’s Garden, White Rose and Palma Violet, and is sold across Yorkshire. True North has plans to expand this range and redevelop the brand. True North Brewing Co reported turnover of £12.9m for the 2017-18 financial year.

Vp announces purchase of Sandhurst for £3.3m

Mon, 13/05/2019 Equipment rental business Vp has announced the purchase of Sandhurst for £3.3m. Founded in 2004, Sandhurst specialises in specialist excavator attachments in the construction and civil engineering sectors. It has five sites across the UK.

Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Brands acquires Hamleys

Mon, 13/05/2019 Mukesh Ambani, India’s richest man, has acquired iconic toystore chain Hamleys via his firm Reliance Brands. Founded in 1760, Hamleys is the world’s oldest toy retailer, and has 167 stores across 18 countries. The company reported a loss of £9.2m in 2018. Reliance already operates 88 Hamleys in 29 Indian cities.

Dunstall Holdings buys AMVAR Handling Solutions and AMVAR Storage & Workplace Solutions

Mon, 13/05/2019 Dunstall Holdings has bought AMVAR Handling Solutions and AMVAR Storage & Workplace Solutions. AMVAR supplies new and used forklift trucks and warehouse equipment, and provides service, maintenance and spares. The deal follows Dunstall’s takeover of Lift West in 2018, further strengthening its presence in the materials handling sector.

Pendo acquires Receptive Software

Mon, 13/05/2019 US product cloud company Pendo has announced the acquisition of Receptive Software. The deal will see Receptive's Sheffield headquarters become Pendo's European development centre, building on its recently opened London office, where it expects to employ 175 people. Founded in 2015, Receptive is an intelligence platform that helps B2B product managers utilise data related to customer feedback and feature requests.

IFF Research acquires Voluntas

Mon, 13/05/2019 Full-service market research agency IFF Research has acquired housing sector research specialist Voluntas. Voluntas produces customer intelligence for clients in the social housing sector, such as housing providers, maintenance contractors and facilities suppliers. Its clients include the Department for Education, the National Audit Office and Sport England. IFF Research expects to see turnover jump by 50% to £12m in the next financial year.

1,800 jobs at risk as Select falls into administration

Fri, 10/05/2019 Fashion chain Select has fallen into administration, putting 1,800 jobs at risk. Owned by Turkish entrepreneur Cafer Mahiroğlu, Select caters to 18-35 year old women and has 169 stores across the UK. Business advisory firm Quantuma has been appointed as administrators, and has cited “prevailing High Street conditions” as the key factor in the firm’s debt problems.

Ring Automotive takeover approved

Fri, 10/05/2019 OSRAM’s proposed acquisition of Ring Automotive has been approved by the CMA. The deal will allow OSRAM to expand its product range of automotive electronics and accessories. Ring offers around 3,000 products via over 3,000 specialist dealers across more than 60 countries. It has 160 employees and reported turnover of £46.1m in 2018.

Dean Hoyle sells Huddersfield Town

Fri, 10/05/2019 Huddersfield Town FC chairman Dean Hoyle has announced his departure from the club after 10 years. The move sees Phil Hodgkinson, the CEO and founder of PURE Business Group, set to acquire the club. Pending approval from the football authorities, he will take a 75% stake in the Terriers and become chairman.

Sega acquires British videogame publisher

Fri, 10/05/2019 Sega has made Two Point Studios the first acquisition under its Searchlight initiative. Two Point Studios released the hit business simulation game Two Point Hospital in August 2018.

My Clever Group announces deal for Digital Balance

Fri, 10/05/2019 My Clever Group has announced a deal for talent management software developer Digital Balance. Digital Balance develops cloud-based products that cover learning management, mentoring, skills and talent solutions, event management, appraisal systems and community sites. Founded in 2013, Digital Balance employs 15 people and has a roster of high profile clients including BT, L'Oreal, Now TV and Santander.

BrandAlley buys Cocosa from MySale Group

Thu, 09/05/2019 UK fashion sales site BrandAlley has bought luxury shopping website Cocosa from MySale Group. The £1.5m deal includes the Cocosa website and trademarks, and its database of approximately two million members and customers. Cocosa began life as a Grazia-related project launched by Bauer Media in 2008, going on to be bought by former Harrods chief Mohammed Al Fayed. After being wound down in 2014 the site was bought by MySale, in which Sir Philip Green has a 25% stake.

Downing exits seven Oakman pubs

Thu, 09/05/2019 Investment manager Downing has completed a £19m exit from seven pubs managed by Oakman Inns and Restaurants. Altogether, Oakman has 23 pubs across South and Central England.

Seek takes 50% stake in OU firm FutureLearn

Thu, 09/05/2019 The Open University has sold 50% of edtech firm FutureLearn to Seek for £50m. The deal comes just days after Seek's announcement of a $103m investment in US online learning platform Coursera, which is now valued at over $1bn. In an effort to assuage concerns about an overly commercially-minded takeover, the OU stressed the venture will have "contractual arrangements" to protect FutureLearn's academic independence. Nine million people have signed up to FutureLearn's platform since its launch in 2013. It now offers around 2,000 courses.

McDowell Purcell and Fieldfisher to merge

Wed, 08/05/2019 The law firms McDowell Purcell and Fieldfisher are to merge. The deal completes Fieldfisher’s international growth strategy and gives it a base in Ireland, a key consideration for any post-Brexit plans.

Adept Technology Group acquires Advanced Computer Systems Group for £7.5m

Tue, 07/05/2019 Adept Technology Group has furthered strengthened its operations in Yorkshire with the £7.5m acquisition of Advanced Computer Systems Group.

Just Eat buys software company Practi

Tue, 07/05/2019 Just Eat, a market leader in the online takeaway market, has bought the software company Practi. The deal will see Just Eat provide its restaurant partners with a software package covering PoS, cash and card payment handling, inventory management, kitchen operation and employee management systems.

Butler & Young acquired by SOCOTEC Group

Tue, 07/05/2019 The building safety consultancy Butler & Young has been acquired by the French company SOCOTEC Group, which is expanding its brand across Europe.

National Express acquires WeDriveU for £60m

Tue, 07/05/2019 National Express is to form a new shuttle division within its North American business unit following the announcement that it has acquired a 60% stake in WeDriveU for £60m. Based in Silicon Valley, WeDriveU provides employee shuttle services to many of the largest companies based in Silicon Valley and the broader San Francisco Bay Area. It is also expanding its service to other fast-growing US cities.

EG Group acquires 54 Fastrac

Fri, 03/05/2019 The forecourt operator EG Group has further expanded its operations in the USA with the acquisition of 54 Fastrac branded convenience retail stores and petrol stations in addition to their wholesale fuel business.

Epsom Wealth Management taken over by Brewin Dolphin

Fri, 03/05/2019 Bath-based Epoch Wealth Management has been taken over by Brewin Dolphin. Epoch’s managing partner, Barry Newbury, and his 37 colleagues will transfer to Brewin Dolphin along with their clients.

Sanlam buys Thesis Asset Management

Fri, 03/05/2019 Sanlam has increased the private client discretionary assets it has under management to £4.2 billion with the announcement that it has bought Thesis Asset Management.

Ridley Macmillan Insurance Brokers acquired by JM Glendinning

Fri, 03/05/2019 Ridley Macmillan Insurance Brokers has been acquired by JM Glendinning. The deal adds to the offices JM Glendinning already has in West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, North East and the Midlands.

Mpac buys Lambert Automation for £15m

Fri, 03/05/2019 The packaging company Mpac has bought Lambert Automation for £15m. Established in 1973, Lambert provides automation services to the medical and consumer healthcare markets. The deal enable Mpac to offer a more comprehensive and broader range of automation and packaging services to its customers in the pharmaceutical, healthcare and food and beverage sectors.

Four Seasons Health Care Group in administration

Wed, 01/05/2019 Four Seasons Health Care Group has appointed administrators to sell the business. The company is the UK’s second-biggest operator of care homes, with 17,000 residents and 20,000 employees. Dr Claire Royston, Group Medical Director of Four Seasons Health Care, says “Today’s news does not change the way we operate or how our homes are run or prompt any change for residents, families, employees and indeed suppliers. Our priority remains to deliver consistently good care. It marks the latest stage in the Group’s restructuring process and allows us to move ahead with an orderly, independent sales process.” Four Seasons was owned by the private equity firm Terra Firma, but the business built up £525m of debt, which was bought by the US hedge fund H/2 Capital Partners. Putting the business into administration allows the owners to sell it with no further obligations.

April 2019

Arch Insurance extends acquisitions spree

Fri, 26/04/2019 Arch Insurance has agreed a deal for Axiom Underwriting, adding to a spate of acquisitions that has included Ardonagh and Obelisk since the new year. Axiom had gross written premiums of £20m in 2018 and will join the Arch UK Regional Division, specialising in commercial property, casualty, motor, professional liability, personal accident and travel. The takeover sees 20 employees transfer to Arch’s books.

Star Legal acquires SMHT Solicitors

Fri, 26/04/2019 Star Legal has acquired SMHT Solicitors in a deal that sees the Bristol firm expand into the West Midlands. The deal adds offices in Aldridge and Walsall to Star Solicitors' 17 other offices.

Pro Global acquires VibeMM

Fri, 26/04/2019 Global consultancy Pro Global has entered the UK distribution market with the acquisition of MGA incubator platform VibeMM. The deal will see VibeMM rebranded as Pro MGA Solutions, which will become Pro's offering in the market in the UK and US.

Bolton Wanderers saved from brink of administration

Thu, 25/04/2019 Former Watford FC owner Laurence Bassini has agreed to buy Bolton Wanderers FC, pulling it back from the brink of administration. The club has said “significant funds” will be made available to pay wages and creditors. Bolton have lost five of their past six games and are close to relegation from the Championship. Players recently staged a 48-hour strike after receiving their wages late for the second month in a row.

Pension fund USSL seals £500m deal for KCOM

Thu, 25/04/2019 The Universities Superannuation Scheme (USSL), one of Britain's biggest pension funds, has agreed to buy Hull-based telecoms company KCOM in a deal worth £504m. The news has seen the struggling firm's share price jump by about a third to 97p. KCOM provides voice and internet-based services to 140,000 customers and businesses in Hull, the only part of the UK where the market leader BT doesn't have a presence.

CMA blocks Asda-Sainsbury's merger

Thu, 25/04/2019 Sainsbury's and Asda's proposed merger has been blocked by the Competition and Markets Authority. In a strongly-worded report, the CMA ruled that the deal would have led to higher prices, lower quality, a worse range on the shelves, and a poorer overall shopping experience. In particular, the CMA points to the likelihood of price increases for motorists at over 125 locations where the businesses' petrol stations are located close together.

Calvin Capital to acquire Lowri Beck

Tue, 23/04/2019 Calvin Capital has agreed to acquire Lowri Beck, a provider of meter installation and data collection services to the UK energy market. The deal will see the creation of an end-to-end offering comprising the installation, servicing, managing and funding of domestic metering assets. Furthermore, it establishes a platform for the future funding and management of a wider range of digital energy assets, such as battery storage and EV charging infrastructure. Lowri Beck reported revenue £71.5m in 2017. It installs and exchanges over 300,000 meters each year and collects data on another five million meters.

Sanlam UK acquires Blackett Walker

Tue, 23/04/2019 Sanlam UK has acquired financial planning and employee benefits firm Blackett Walker. Based in Newcastle, Blackett Walker consists of five financial advisers serving more than 1,000 clients. All support staff will be retained with the takeover.

L-Acoustics to buy majority stake in DeltaLive UK

Tue, 23/04/2019 L-Acoustics has agreed to buy a majority stake in DeltaLive UK, a specialist in audiovisual services and rental, to coincide with the recent sale of DeltaLive's Dubai-based operations Delta Sound to PRG. Delta Live UK will work on the development of L-Acoustic's private, lifestyle and sound art sector business.

Arch Insurance seals deal for Obelisk

Thu, 18/04/2019 Arch Insurance has completed a deal for Obelisk Underwriting, a specialist agency with offices in Leicester and Sheffield. Obelisk will join the recently formed Arch UK Regional Division, adding around £5m of gross written premiums to its books.

Integrate acquires Akkroo

Thu, 18/04/2019 Akkroo, a specialist in B2B event lead capture, has been bought by US business Integrate for $34m (£26.1m). Akkroo's software helps connect and integrate leads with a company's marketing stack.

Campbell Dallas and Scott-Moncrieff to merge

Thu, 18/04/2019 CogitalGroup, the owner of Walsall business advisory and accounting firm Baldwins, has completed the takeover of Scottish business Scott-Moncrieff. The deal will create a £200m turnover group, with Scott-Moncrieff the latest in a line of Scottish acquisitions for Cogital, kickstarted by its takeover of Campbell Dallas and Springfords in October 2017. All 16 Scott-Moncrieff partners and 220 staff will join Campbell Dallas, expanding the practice to 500 staff posted across 11 offices.

Bonhill Group has Last Word

Thu, 18/04/2019 AIM-listed B2B media firm Bonhill Group has acquired Last Word Media. Founded in 2005, Last Word offers B2B media services across the globe, with 71 staff based in its London head office, eight staff in Hong Kong and three in Singapore. The deal provides it with a springboard into America.

Sodexo acquires The Good Care Group

Thu, 18/04/2019 French catering giant Sodexo has agreed to buy live-in care provider The Good Care Group. Headquartered in London, The Good Care Group provides live-in care under two brands: The Good Care Group and Oxford Aunts. Its acquisition will enable Sodexo to expand Prestige Nursing + Care and profit from the growing live-in care market.

Entertainment One to take over Audio Network for £178m

Mon, 15/04/2019 Entertainment One has agreed a £178m deal for Audio Network, a production music specialist and one of the world’s largest independent creators and publishers of original music for use in film, television, advertising and digital media. With nine offices worldwide, Audio Network has a catalogue of 150,000 fully-owned tracks and relationships with more than 1,000 composers, singer-songwriters and emerging commercial artists. The business generates predictable revenue from royalties and sync licensing, with 60% of this from annual subscription fees.

Investors wiped out as Debenhams falls into administration

Fri, 12/04/2019 After years of speculation, Debenhams has finally fallen into administration. Its operating subsidiaries have been sold to Celine UK Newco, controlled by US hedge fund Silver Point Capital. The saga has concluded with an acrimonious rejection of House of Fraser owner Mike Ashley’s £200m offer, a third defeat in three months for him following unsuccessful moves for Patisserie Valerie and HMV. Mike Ashley had built up a 29% stake in Debenhams that is now worthless. Debenhams’ decline has been a long time coming, with its nadir in 2018 as it was forced to issue a profit warning three times and write down the value of its assets by £525m, causing shares to fall by more than 80%. Following this pre-pack deal, it is expected that Debenhams will close 50 of its 166 stores and reduce the rents of those remaining using CVAs. It has debt of £621m.

Northgate Public Services eyes up retinal screening firms

Fri, 12/04/2019 Leeds-based healthtech and software firm EMIS Health has disposed of its Specialist & Care business for up to £14.9m. Northgate Public Services has acquired the division, which is comprised of three specialist eye screening businesses: Medical Imaging UK, MIDRSS and Digital Healthcare. In 2018, Specialist & Care reported turnover of £20.4m, with an adjusted operating profit of £1.1m and closing net assets of £8m. Northgate Public Services was acquired by Japanese group NEC in 2018.

Boohoo Group seals deal for MissPap

Fri, 12/04/2019 Boohoo Group has completed the acquisition of women’s pureplay fashion brand MissPap. The deal strengthens Boohoo’s multi-brand platform, which includes PrettyLittleThing and Nasty Gal. MissPap shareholders had recently resolved to wind up the company, with more than £1m owed to trade and expense creditors. MissPap has over a million followers on Instagram.

Hendy Group hits £1bn turnover with latest deal

Fri, 12/04/2019 The motor vehicle dealer Hendy Group is to become a £1bn turnover company following the announcement that it is to buy Westover Group. Westover reported turnover of £334m and gross profit of £33m in 2017. The acquisition means Hendy operates 26 franchises from 83 outlets across the south of England.

Quilter subsidiary Intrinsic buys Lighthouse Group

Fri, 12/04/2019 The financial advice firm Lighthouse Group has been acquired by Quilter subsidiary Intrinsic. The £46.2m deal enables Intrinsic to develop its national advice business, adding 400 advisers to its team. Quilter as a whole now employs more than 3,900 financial advisers.

Tibbetts Group takes over Powell Gee

Fri, 12/04/2019 Powell Gee, a manufacturer of fasteners for the construction industry, has been taken over by family-run engineering firm Tibbetts Group. Tibbetts supplies products and components to the aerospace, automotive, construction, industrial and security sectors.

McAusland Turner acquires Robmarine Shipping

Thu, 11/04/2019 Historic Hull marine firm McAusland Turner has acquired Robmarine Shipping in Sussex. Established in 1888, McAusland Turner offers services in cargo, offshore wind, loss prevention and auditing. It recently established new bases in Grimsby and Newcastle, and revealed early plans to open an office in the City of London.

Magic Rock Brewing acquired by Lion

Thu, 11/04/2019 Huddersfield-based beer company Magic Rock Brewing has been acquired by Australian brewer Lion. Founded in 2011, Magic Rock employs 45 people and sells its beers in more than 25 countries worldwide. It reportedly has a 5% share of the volume of craft beer sold worldwide.

Hotstart completes takeover of IPU Group's engine heating business

Thu, 11/04/2019 Spokane Valley manufacturer Hotstart has completed a takeover of IPU Group's UK engine heating business. The deal will allow Hotstart to serve UK customers directly through its newly formed business Hotstart Birmingham, trading as Hotstart UK. IPU Group had been a Hotstart distributor for more than 20 years. It has developed a range of new products to complement Hotstart's product line, and will see production of those moved to the US.

Learnlight acquires arenalingua

Thu, 11/04/2019 The Education technology specialist Learnlight is expanding into Europe with the acquisition of the Germany language training company arenalingua. The deal boosts Learnlight's number of trainers to 3,000, with over 150,000 learners in more than 150 countries each year.

CMS Window Systems sold to Maven Capital Partners

Wed, 10/04/2019 CMS Window Systems has been sold by LDC to Maven Capital Partners. CMS manufactures energy-efficient and environmentally friendly windows, doors and curtain wall insulation.

LDC sells CMS Window Systems to Maven Capital Partners

Tue, 09/04/2019 CMS Window Systems has been sold by LDC to Maven Capital Partners. CMS manufactures energy-efficient and environmentally friendly windows, doors and curtain wall insulation.

Dennis Publishing acquires Kiplinger

Tue, 09/04/2019 Dennis Publishing has expanded its portfolio in the USA with the acquisition of the financial publisher Kiplinger.

Park Place Technologies acquires MCSA

Tue, 09/04/2019 The data centre maintenance firm Park Place Technologies has acquired the business-critical IT services provider MCSA.

Smith & Nephew takes over Osiris Therapeutics in £500m deal

Tue, 09/04/2019 Osiris Therapeutics, a biotechnology company which specialises in regenerative medicine products, has been taken over by in Smith & Nephew in a deal worth around £500m.

M Restaurants merges with Gaucho

Fri, 05/04/2019 The founder of M Restaurants Martin Williams has 'come full circle' by merging his business with steakhouse chain Gaucho, which he previously led for several years. The deal brings together M Restaurants' three venues and Gaucho's 16 restaurants, with M's shareholders exiting the business. Following the transaction, Gaucho's holding company Lomo Bidco will be renamed Rare Restaurants and both subsidiary brands will operate independently, although with a shared head office and senior management team. Lomo Bidco bought Gaucho out of administration in September 2018.

BDA Logistics Innovation bought by Carousel

Fri, 05/04/2019 UK logistics company Carousel has bought BDA Logistics Innovation. The deal strengthens Carousel's reach in Europe in the high-value, time-critical aftermarket parts services sector. Carousel's improved offering will be underpinned by its proprietary technology platform Gateway, which offers clients access to transport data across their supply chain.

National Grid acquires Geronimo Energy for £95m

Fri, 05/04/2019 National Grid Ventures (NGV) is to move into the American renewable energy generation market with the acquisition of Geronimo Energy for £95m. Established in 2004, Geronimo Energy is based in Minneapolis. Its track record includes 2.3GW of wind and solar generation projects, with another 6GW of projects in the pipeline at various stages of development.

Philip Day to buy Bonmarche in £5.7m deal

Fri, 05/04/2019 Billionaire businessman Philip Day, the CEO and owner of Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group, has offered to buy womenswear retailer Bonmarche in a deal worth £5.7m. Established in 1982, Bonmarche now has 312 shops and employs 1,900 full-time equivalent people.

UKTV channels split up by BBC Studios and Discovery

Fri, 05/04/2019 UKTV, the owner of a range of digital TV channels, is to be split up following a series of agreements between BBC Studios and the American media company Discovery. BBC Studios is to pay Discovery £173m to take full control of UKTV’s entertainment channels Alibi, Dave, Drama, Eden, Gold, Yesterday and W. In addition, BBC Studios also now owns the digital player UKTV Play and the UKTV brand. Discovery takes full control of the lifestyle channels Good Food, Home and Really.

Minimum wage increases by 4.8%

Mon, 01/04/2019 From 1 April 2019 the minimum wage, now known as the National Living Wage, went up to £8.21 an hour for workers over the age of 25. This is an increase of 4.8%. For people aged 21 to 24 the minimum wage increases to £7.70, while 18 to 20 year olds must be paid at least £6.15 and under-18s £4.35. The rate for apprentices is now £3.90.

March 2019

Speedy Hire buys Lifterz

Fri, 29/03/2019 UK tools, equipment and plant hire services firm Speedy has agreed to buy Lifterz Holdings. Based in Yorkshire, Lifterz has a fleet of approximately 1,300 powered access platforms and employs around 90 people. It reported revenue of £15.2m with normalised EBITDA of £3.3m in the 12 months to 31 January 2019.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car agrees deal for SHB Hire

Fri, 29/03/2019 Enterprise Rent-A-Car UK has agreed to buy SHB Hire, making it one of the largest commercial vehicle rental fleets in the country with more than 45,000 vehicles. In 2017, SHB Hire reported turnover of £105.3m and had tangible fixed assets worth £239m. It will be brought under the Enterprise Rent-A-Car brand.

Safic-Alcan UK to acquire Langley-Smith & Co

Fri, 29/03/2019 Chemicals distributor Safic-Alcan UK has agreed to acquire Langley-Smith & Co. Established in 1907, Langley-Smith specialises in adhesives, paint and coatings, polymer modification, road marking and rubber processing, inks and varnishes. It also has a presence in the beverage, animal feed and detergent sectors.

Triton Bidco to buy Inmarsat for £2.6bn

Thu, 28/03/2019 British satellite communications specialist Inmarsat is to be taken over by a consortium of international investors in a deal worth £2.6bn ($3.4bn). Triton Bidco consists of investment specialists Apax Partners, Warburg Pincus, Canada Pension Plan Investment and Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan. The group has promised to keep the company's headquarters in the UK and maintain R&D spending at its current levels. Inmarsat is primarily known for its telephone and data services, with one of its most successful lines being the technology that beams internet connectivity to passenger aeroplanes to provide in-flight Wi-Fi. Satellite-based networking has garnered attention from big cloud businesses that have traditionally relied on fibre in recent years, with Microsoft announcing a deal to deliver Industrial IoT connectivity using Inmarsat's satellites in February. Amazon Web Services recently partnered with Inmarsat's competitor Iridium Communications to do the same.

Model Citizens bought by Unlimited Group

Thu, 28/03/2019 Marketing services company Unlimited Group has acquired analytics consultancy Model Citizens. The new division will be rebranded as Realise Unlimited and strengthen Unlimited's advanced data analytics offer as well as insight across its business in CRM, PR, influencer marketing, B2B marketing, digital transformation, health and insight. The deal builds on the group's alliance with Hakuhodo and Serviceplan as it targets expansion in major international markets. Unlimited saw revenues increase 81% to £18.9m between 2017 and 2018.

Ocean Outdoor acquires Interbest and Ngage Media for €51m

Wed, 27/03/2019 Ocean Outdoor has acquired Dutch digital out-of-home advertising specialists Interbest and Ngage Media for a combined €51m. The double deal sees a strong market entry for Ocean Outdoor in the Netherlands.

Berry Global Group reaches agreement to buy RPC Group for £3.34bn

Wed, 27/03/2019 Plastics manufacturer Berry Global Group has reached an agreement to buy British packaging company RPC Group for £3.34bn, trumping Apollo Global Management's previous offer of £3.3bn. Following the announcement activist investor Elliott Capital has raised its stake in EPC to 7.9% from 5.6%. Berry claims the combined company will employ 48,000 people across six continents and have revenues of approximately £10bn. The deal extends the trend for mergers and acquisitions in the packaging sector, which is profiting from stable cashflow and demand from online shopping.

Illy acquires Prestat

Wed, 27/03/2019 Italian coffee group Illy has agreed to acquire 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' confectioner Prestat. Founded in 1902, Prestat is the chocolate truffle supplier to Buckingham Palace, and posted £7m in revenues last year. It is thought that it will partner with premium chocolate brand Domori, which Illy bought in 2006.

Emerald Group acquires Mind Tools

Wed, 27/03/2019 Global research and learning resources provider Emerald Group has acquired Mind Tools, a digital learning and performance support specialist. Based in Bingley, Emerald has a presence in 130 countries worldwide and a last reported turnover of £48m.

Team Sky to become Team Ineos at Tour de Yorkshire

Wed, 27/03/2019 Team Sky is to become Team Ineos at the Tour de Yorkshire in May, bringing forward Sky's expected exit by eight months. Ineos will become the sole owner of the holding company Tour Racing, continuing to fund the current team in full and honour all existing commitments to riders, staff and partners.

RPC Group accepts £3.34bn bid from Berry

Fri, 22/03/2019Plastics manufacturer Berry Global Group has reached an agreement to buy British packaging company RPC Group for £3.34bn, trumping Apollo Global Management's previous offer of £3.3bn. Following the announcement activist investor Elliott Capital has raised its stake in EPC to 7.9% from 5.6%. Berry claims the combined company will employ 48,000 people across six continents and have revenues of approximately £10bn. The deal extends the trend for mergers and acquisitions in the packaging sector, which is profiting from stable cashflow and demand from online shopping.

JD Sports to buy Footasylum for £90.1m

Fri, 22/03/2019 JD Sports has agreed to buy Footasylum for £90.1m. The high street retailer already owns 18.7% of Footasylum, which issued a profit warning in September and subsequently saw its share price halve. JD Sports' offer restores its former value, with its offer of 82.5p per share a near 80% premium on its closing price the week before. JD Sports has 2,400 stores, and owns the shoe store Size, sportswear brand Kukri and US chain Finish Line.

45,000 jobs at risk as Interserve collapses

Fri, 22/03/2019 Interserve, one of the British government’s biggest contractors, has collapsed into administration, wiping out shareholders and putting 45,000 jobs at risk. The firm is the largest probation provider in the UK, responsible for 40,000 offenders. Rescue plans were voted down by the two US hedge funds that own 35% of the company’s shares. 95% of other voters, some 16,000 smaller shareholders, opted for the rescue deal. The pre-pack administration means lenders have taken over the firm, staving off job losses in the short-term and meaning the company will continue to trade. The news is reminiscent of the collapse of fellow outsourcing giant Carillion in early 2018.

OneSavings Bank and Charter Court Financial Services agree £1.8bn merger

Mon, 18/03/2019 OneSavings Bank (OSB) and Charter Court Financial Services have agreed terms for a £1.8bn merger. The deal will be structured as a takeover by OSB and see Charter Court shareholders take a 45% stake in the group. The challenger banks have said the merger will create opportunities for growth, to improve its customer proposition, leverage complementary strengths, and create a diversified platform across product capabilities, brands and team cultures. It also expects to find £22m per annum in cost synergies over the next three years. The group will be led by OSB’s experienced CEO Andy Golding.

WestBridge Capital backs management buyout at APEM

Mon, 18/03/2019 WestBridge Capital has backed a management buyout at APEM, an independent environmental consultancy based in Stockport. Established in 1990, APEM provides environmental consultancy, laboratory services, field surveys and remote sensing capabilities to sectors including water, power, engineering, construction and transport. The firm has eight offices across the UK, as well as one in Germany and a forthcoming office in the US. It has revenue of £10m and employs 100 people.

TPA Capital completes deal for Pallet-Track

Mon, 18/03/2019 TPA Capital has completed a deal for Pallet-Track, a services provider to the palletised freight sector. Pallet-Track comprises almost 90 haulier members who leverage the network to provide nationwide coverage to customers. With hubs in Wolverhampton, Wigan and Welwyn Garden City, it processes approximately 3.5 million pallets a year and has revenues of £84.6m.

Operam Education Group acquires Teachers UK

Fri, 15/03/2019 Operam Education Group has acquired Teachers UK, a specialist recruitment agency based in Mansfield. Teachers UK places teachers, lecturers and support staff to academies, schools, colleges and nurseries across the region. The deal has been completed with backing from BGF and HSBC.Read more

Ripon Farm Services to acquire RBM Agricultural

Fri, 15/03/2019 Ripon Farm Services is to expand into Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire following the announcement it is to acquire new & used farm machinery dealer RBM Agricultural. RBM has revenues of £45m and employs 80 people.

Mothercare sells Early Learning Centre to rival The Entertainer

Fri, 15/03/2019 Struggling retailer Mothercare has sold toy brand Early Learning Centre (ELC) to rival The Entertainer for £13.5m. ELC is known for its wooden train sets and shape sorters. The brand is sold in Mothercare outlets and other chains, with no standalone stores. In its heyday, ELC had more than 200 shops across the UK. Mothercare is using the proceeds from the sale to reduce its £21.5m bank debt. It has also handed over the running of its toy departments to The Entertainer.

Adler Insurance Group takes over Corrigans

Fri, 15/03/2019 The chartered insurance broker Corrigans has been taken over by Adler Insurance Group.

Kluthe UK buys H3P Technologies

Thu, 14/03/2019 Kluthe UK, a chemical product supplier and surface treatment specialist based in Milton Keynes, has acquired H3P Technologies. Kluthe UK has a presence in 44 countries, with a focus in the UK on manufacturing products for paint shop applications in the automotive and industrial sectors. The acquisition gives it a foothold in the pre-treatment, metalwork and cleaning markets. The directors of H3P will stay with the firm until 2021 to ease the transition.

Bauer Media Group UK acquires UKRD Group

Mon, 11/03/2019 Bauer Media Group UK has announced it is to acquire UKRD Group, the owner of ten radio stations across Yorkshire, East Anglia and the South and South West of England. UKRD has a weekly reach of 722,000 listeners and is Bauer's fourth UK acquisition this year, following takeovers of Wireless local stations, Celador Radio and Lincs FM Group.

Ramsdens acquires The Money Shop for £1.5m

Mon, 11/03/2019 Pawnbroking specialist Ramsdens has acquired The Money Shop for £1.5m. The deal will see 18 The Money Shop stores rebrand, with a further five outlets to close. Ramsdens has taken on all of its pawnbroking loan books as part of the deal, as well as approximately 70 staff.

RFL board approves takeover of Widnes Vikings

Fri, 08/03/2019 The takeover of Widnes Vikings from administration has been approved by the Rugby Football League board, preserving 72 jobs. The consortium that is buying the club consists of Chris Price, Jason Shaw, Roger Harrison MBE, Stuart Murphy, David Dean, Tracey Glendinning, and Rod Steele. The deal has seen the Vikings incur a 12 point penalty for the 2019 Championship season, meaning the club now sits on -8 points. First team players Adam Tangata, Krisnan Inu and Wellington Albert have all left the club.

YMGR completes triple acquisition

Fri, 08/03/2019 Your World Recruitment Group (YMRG) has completed three acquisitions, of Healthcare Solution Services (HSS), Robinson Medical Recruitment (RMR), and Medic Now. HSS specialises in the placement of healthcare staff into prisons and other secure settings, RMR places temporary and permanent clinical staff and carers into the NHS and other healthcare facilities, and Medic Now provides paramedics and ambulance staff.

LK Bennett goes into administration

Fri, 08/03/2019 Upmarket fashion chain LK Bennett has fallen into administration, putting 500 jobs at risk. The administrator EY has closed five stores, resulting in 55 immediate redundancies. The chain has blamed rising business rates and rates for its problems, as well as £418,000 outstanding debt from House of Fraser after it went into administration last year.

Heritage Cashmere completes £5.5m MBO

Fri, 08/03/2019 Scarf and knitwear firm Heritage Cashmere has completed a £5.5m MBO. Group CEO Andrew Sykes has acquired a majority stake from founder John Kaye, who will continue in his role as chairman. Heritage Cashmere has a production base in the Far East. It received a £2.75m cash injection from fintech lender ThinCats to support the deal.

Dr. Oetker acquires Alsa from Unilever Group

Fri, 08/03/2019 Dr. Oetker has completed the acquisition of french baked goods and desserts brand Alsa from Unilever Group. As well as brands Alsa and Moench, the deal includes a production site in Ludres, in the Lorraine region. Dr Oetker (UK) reported turnover of £161.4m in 2017.

The Access Group acquires Volcanic

Thu, 07/03/2019 The Access Group, a software provider to mid-market recruitment agencies, has announced the purchase of Volcanic, a recruitment and staffing website software supplier. Volcanic supports over 600 customers across three continents, including more than 40% of the UK's top 500 agencies and 75% of the top 20. The firm doubled turnover to £2.6m in 2018, whilst also doubling losses to £0.1m.

Investindustrial takes majority stake in Morgan Motor Company

Thu, 07/03/2019 Italian private equity firm Investindustrial, the owner of Aston Martin, has announced a deal for Morgan Motor Company, a West Midlands manufacturer of classic sports cars. Founded in 1909, Morgan's cars are hand-built in its historic factory in Malvern, which is visited by more than 30,000 enthusiasts each year. Morgan reported revenues of £33.8m and net profit of £3.2m in 2018, and sells around 700 cars per year. The Morgan family will retain a minority shareholding in the firm and remain active in its running.

Ring Automotive acquisition subject to CMA probe

Thu, 07/03/2019 The Competition and Markets Authority is to investigate Ring Automotive's acquisition by OSRAM, the global lighting manufacturer. Ring Automotive is a specialist in lighting, inspection and power management for passenger and light commercial vehicles. It employs 160 people and reported sales of £40m in 2017.

Angling Direct agrees to buy Chapmans Angling

Tue, 05/03/2019 Fishing equipment retailer Angling Direct has agreed to buy Chapmans Angling, a fishing tackle specialist, for £1.4m. Chapmans operates a 4,000 sq ft store in Scunthorpe, and a 5,600 sq ft outlet in Hull. It generated over £3m in revenue in the last financial year.

CH&Co merges with Inspire Catering

Mon, 04/03/2019 Acquisitive catering group CH&Co has announced a merger with Stirling hospitality firm Inspire Catering. Inspire will join CH&Co's Scottish business, building on the 36 outlets that already make up the division. Founded in 2008, Inspire employs 250 people and serves 14,000 customers a day across the workplace and education sectors.

Rigby Group sells FluidOne to Livingbridge

Fri, 01/03/2019 FluidOne, a provider of data connectivity services based in London, has been sold by Rigby Group to the private equity investor Livingbridge. FluidOne's network solutions range across sectors including construction, hospitality, retail and professional services. Livingbridge has experience in the connectivity sector, with previous investments including M247 and Onyx.

NCO Europe leaves Alorica

Fri, 01/03/2019 NCO Europe has undergone a management buyout which has seen its exit from US owners Alorica. NCO is multilingual business process outsource and specialist call centre business with turnover exceeding £11m. With support from the Barclays Northern Powerhouse Fund, the buyout safeguards hundreds of jobs in Preston, with a view to create 250 more over the next three years.

My Plumber joins Fantastic Services portfolio

Fri, 01/03/2019 Bolton plumbing business My Plumber has joined the Fantastic Services brand portfolio. Formed in 2009, Fantastic Services has over 300 franchising partners, providing more than 25 professional services throughout the country. The deal is expected to allow Fantastic to hit sales of £40m in 2019.4

Rufus Foods bought by Pets Choice

Fri, 01/03/2019 Cat and dog food brand Rufus Foods has been bought by rival firm Pets Choice. Pets Choice reported turnover of £44.6m in 2017, and acquires its tenth brand with the deal.

Travel Leaders Group acquires Your Event Solutions

Fri, 01/03/2019 Travel retail and service provider Travel Leaders Group has acquired Your Event Solutions. YES is a meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) business based in Halifax. The addition of YES complements Travel Leaders’ growing presence in the meetings and incentives marketplace, and provides both firms with additional geographic reach and expertise.

February 2019 Mergers And Acquisitions

Batley management consultancy kadops buys Panda Engineering

Thu, 28/02/2019 Bradford business Panda Engineering has been acquired by Batley management consultancy kadops. Panda is a precision machining and fabrication workshop, employing 14 people. Traditionally the business has served local food and construction clients, but kadops aims to explore other markets such as hydraulics and oil and gas.

Finn Partners acquires financial services comms specialist

Thu, 28/02/2019 Finn Partners has bought London-based financial services PR specialist Moorgate Communications. Moorgate has a 16-strong team and generates around £1.3m in revenue each year. Its client list includes Deutsche Bank, Natixis, S&P Global and UniCredit.

Cardano buys auto-enrolment pensions provider NOW: Pensions

Thu, 28/02/2019 Cardano has agreed to buy UK defined contribution pensions provider NOW: Pensions from ATP. NOW: Pensions the third largest auto-enrolment provider in the UK, with over 1.7 million savers and £1bn of assets under management.

Dairy Crest to be sold in near billion-pound deal

Wed, 27/02/2019 Canadian multinational Saputo has agreed to buy British cheese and butter producer Dairy Crest for £975m. The maker of Cathedral cheddar and Clover margarine has seven locations and more than 1,100 employees across the UK. Saputo is one of the top 10 largest dairy companies in the world, but does not currently have any operations in the UK. The deal will see no immediate change to Dairy Crest's management team or dairy farmer suppliers in Devon and Cornwall.

Dentsu Aegis Network acquires BJL

Wed, 27/02/2019 Dentsu Aegis Network has acquired Manchester-based creative agency BJL for an undisclosed sum. BJL specialises in brand strategy, advertising, content production, PR, social media and CRM, and will build on Dentsu's reputation in media, digital, data and technology. BJL employs 75 staff and caters to a mix of B2B and B2C clients including Hilton, The Co-operative Bank and Ronseal. It reported £7.1m turnover in the financial year to June 2017.

QBS Group acquires Siener Informatique

Tue, 26/02/2019 Fast-growing firm QBS Group has acquired French software distributor Siener Informatique. QBS is a £39m-turnover distribution company which represents nearly 8,000 software publishers, including OpenText, Kaspersky, JetBrains and ManageEngine. Siener Informatique has 25 publishers and almost 1,000 resellers.

Unilever acquires Graze

Tue, 26/02/2019 Unilever has acquired Graze, the UK's leading healthy snacking brand. Founded in 2008, Graze provides nuts, seeds, trail mixes and snack bars, using zero artificial ingredients. Beginning with a subscription service for 'Graze Boxes', it has grown into a multichannel business with products available via retail stores, e-commerce and direct to consumer. Graze reported revenues of £52.8m with gross profit of £23m in the year to February 2018.

Redcomb Pubs sold to Young's for £34m

Tue, 26/02/2019 Southern pub operator Redcomb Pubs has been sold to brewers Young's for £34m. With 15 sites across London, the Home Counties and the south-west, Redcomb boosts Young's managed houses portfolio to 200 and its pub estate, accounted for in the Ram Pub Company, to 270. Redcomb reported £16.7m turnover for the year to 30 June 2018.

STM Group completes takeover of Carey UK's pensions firms

Mon, 25/02/2019 Cross border financial services firm STM Group has completed its £400k takeover of Carey Administration Holdings. The acquired firm owns 70% of Carey Pensions UK, which offers SIPP administration products to the UK market, and 80% of Carey Corporate Pensions UK, which offers auto-enrolment workplace pensions solutions to SMEs in the UK. The minority shareholdings in both firms are held by Carey Pensions' managing director Christine Hallett.

Business Talent Group acquires Hillgate

Mon, 25/02/2019 Business Talent Group has announced the acquisition of Hillgate, a UK-based online talent marketplace. The transaction expands the Los Angeles-based firm's international footprint and sees the launch of BTG Europe. Combining its proprietary technology platform, data, compliance capabilities and customer success process with Hillgate, BTG Europe hopes to accelerate growth and scale rapidly in Europe with a focus on high-end, on-demand consultants.

Orange announces strategic acquisition of SecureData Group

Mon, 25/02/2019 French telecoms group Orange has announced a strategic acquisition of SecureData Group, the UK's largest independent cybersecurity provider. The UK is Europe's biggest managed security service market. The newly acquired firm will work alongside Orange Cyberdefence's existing business units in France and Belgium.

Camira Fabrics sews up deal for Holmfirth firm

Fri, 22/02/2019 Textile manufacturer Camira Fabrics has purchased family-owned dyeing business Holmfirth Dyers. Camira Group grows to a £100m turnover business with the addition, and adds to its four existing premises split 3:1 between Huddersfield and Lithuania. The deal strengthens and extends Camira's vertical supply chain into fabric dyeing and specialist finishing.

MBO completed at Woodcock & Wilson Group

Fri, 22/02/2019 Woodcock & Wilson Group, a Huddersfield based fan and air movement equipment specialist, has completed a management buyout led by MD Ian Crum. As well as Woodcock & Wilson, the acquisition includes Complete Fan Maintenance, a leading bespoke industrial fan manufacturer.

Volkswagen Financial Services takes majority stake in Fleet Logistics

Fri, 22/02/2019 Volkswagen Financial Services has bought a 60% stake in Fleet Logistics. The remaining 40% of the firm will be held by existing owner TÜV SÜD Auto Service. Fleet Logistics currently has a contracted fleet of around 200,000 vehicles. The combined firm aims to create a complete range of products and services that combine fleet and travel management.

Filtermist International buys DCS Group

Fri, 22/02/2019 Industrial air filtration and extraction firm Filtermist International has bought DCS Group, a fume and dust extraction systems specialist. The deal creates a £11.4m turnover group with sites in Dewsbury and Wetherby. DCS will be integrated into Absolent Group, the owner of Filtermist, following completion.

HMV closes 27 stores following sale from administration

Thu, 21/02/2019 HMV has revealed which of its stores have closed after its acquisition out of administration by Doug Putman. The Canadian music mogul is the owner of the retailer Sunrise Records, and headed off competition from Sports Direct's Mike Ashley in his pursuit of the chain. Following the deal, 100 HMV shops are to remain open, safeguarding nearly 1,500 jobs across these and HMV's head office. This will see 27 stores close, including HMV's flagship presence on Oxford Street, causing 455 redundancies. A further 122 warehouse jobs will also be axed. This is the second time the retailer has gone into administration in six years. Spending on physical music, video and computer games has fallen from £5.7bn to £1.8bn in just 10 years.

Morses Club seals deal for Hays Credit

Thu, 21/02/2019 Morses Club, the UK's second largest home collected credit lender, has acquired Hays Credit. Established in 1957, Hays provides loans to around 2,700 customers in the North East of England. The deal complements Morses Club's recent takeover of Eccles Savings & Loans, a North West based firm with 3,000 customers.

96 Patisserie Valerie stores saved in rescue deal

Thu, 21/02/2019 Patisserie Valerie has been saved from administration by Dublin private equity firm Causeway Capital Partners. The deal includes 96 of the cake chain's stores, safeguarding nearly 2,000 jobs, but excludes the 27 outlets belonging to sisters brands Philpotts and Baker & Spice. The administrator KPMG has already closed 70 stores, causing 920 redundancies.

Honda to close its Swindon plant

Tue, 19/02/2019 Honda is to close its Swindon car manufacturing plant in 2021 with the loss of 3,500 jobs. The Japanese firm said the decision to close the 30-year-old plant was made as a result of changes in the global car market, such as the fall in demand for diesel vehicles. Japan's new trade deal with the EU will enable Japanese vehicle manufacturers to export direct from Japan to EU countries with zero tariffs by the mid-2020s.

CB Brook & Co sold in Management Buyout

Mon, 18/02/2019 Fabric supplier CB Brook & Co, trading as Brook International, has been sold in a management buyout. Established in 1871, the historic firm has been led by four generations of the Brook family. Andrew Brook will hand on the mantle of managing director to Chris Drury and Chris Melia, who will share the role.

SysGroup acquires Certus IT for £8m

Mon, 18/02/2019 Cloud hosting firm SysGroup has acquired Certus IT, a Newport based IT services and cloud hosting provider. The £8m deal includes a provision for a further £1m dependent on performance in the year following closure. SysGroup raised £10m of funds through a share placement, adding to a new £5m banking facility from Santander, prior to the deal.

Namaste Technologies reconsiders route to UK

Fri, 15/02/2019 Medical cannabis firm Namaste Technologies has scrapped plans to take over AF Trading for $5m and signed a new letter of intent to buy CannMart UK via Namaste Bahamas for $1.5m. CannMart UK is a subsidiary formed by the principal shareholders of Access Fulfilment, who will provide consulting services to AF for two years after the deal closes.

Hilton Foods agrees deal for sous vide manufacturer

Fri, 15/02/2019 Hilton Foods has agreed to acquire HFR Food Solutions, a sous vide products manufacturer based in Wednesbury. Sous vide is a cooking method in which food is cooked very slowly in a water bath, aiming to cook evenly and retain moisture. The deal allows Hilton to broaden its offering in a fast-growing segment. HFR turned over £24m in the year to 30 September 2018. Hilton reported sales of £1.4bn in 2017, and supplies to Tesco, Ahold, Coop Danmark, ICA and Sonae across Europe.

TriSpan buys sk:n clinics

Fri, 15/02/2019 Private equity firm TriSpan has acquired sk:n from Graphite Capital. The Edgbaston headquartered skincare specialist has 51 clinics across the UK offering non-surgical cosmetic and skin treatments. It reported £246,000 turnover with an operating loss of £2.9m in the year to August 2017.

Utilitywise in administration

Thu, 14/02/2019 The energy broker Utilitywise has gone into administration. The company’s Enterprise division has ceased trading with immediate effect but the administrators are seeking buyers for the group’s other subsidiary companies, which are continuing to trade as normal.

MBO completed at Atlas Leisure Homes

Thu, 14/02/2019 With backing from HSBC, Atlas Leisure Homes has been sold by its owners to a new management team consisting of Steven McGawn, Colin Jeffery and Philip Spark. Atlas Leisure Homes employs 250 people and has revenue of £34.6m. Co-founder and current managing director Andy Innes will remain with the firm in an advisory role for 12 months.

GBG acquires IDology

Thu, 14/02/2019 Global identity data intelligence firm GBG has acquired Atlanta-based identity verification and fraud detection specialist IDology for $300m (£233m). IDology has more than 500 customers and reported revenues of $38.2m and EBITDA of $16.3m in 2018.

Go Plant Fleet Services seals £13m deal for Gulliver's

Thu, 07/02/2019 Go Plant Fleet Services has completed a £13m deal for business and assets of Gulliver's Truck Hire. The acquisition includes 266 vehicles, consisting of truck-mount and compact sweepers, refuse trucks and gritters. It strengthens Go Plant's contract hire and spot hire fleets and reinforces its status as a leader in specialist commercial vehicles, boosting turnover past £85m. Go Plant now employs 790 people at 44 depots and service centres across the UK.

Time Out Group sells £9.6m stake in Flyt to Just Eat

Wed, 06/02/2019 Time Out Group has sold its stake in Flyt to Just Eat, the online takeaway delivery marketplace, for £9.6m. The deal returns a £4.5m profit on Time Out's acquisition in July 2015. Formerly known as Flypay, Flyt's technology integrates restaurant bills, menus, ordering and payments with platforms including Uber Eats and Just Eat. Time Out will use proceeds from the sale to invest in Time Out Market.

The Wilkes Partnership and Coley & Tilley merge to create a £12m firm

Wed, 06/02/2019 Two Midlands law firms, The Wilkes Partnership and Coley & Tilley, have agreed to merge in a deal which creates a £12m firm employing 185 people. The merger, part of The Wilkes Partnership’s long term growth plans, will see the Coley & Tilley brand retained for the personal injury team.

Asahi Europe purchases Fuller, Smith & Turner's beer business for £250m

Wed, 06/02/2019 Fuller, Smith & Turner has sold its entire beer business to Asahi Europe. The £250m deal gives Asahi ownership of Fuller’s beer, cider and soft drinks brewing and production, wine wholesaling and includes the Griffin Brewery, Cornish Orchards, Dark Star Brewing and Nectar Imports. In addition, Asahi now has ownership of brands, including London Pride, on a perpetual, global, exclusive and royalty-free basis. Ownership of the licensed trademarks is retained by Fuller’s.

Upper Street Events bought by Immediate Media

Wed, 06/02/2019 The consumer events specialist Upper Street Events has been bought by consumer magazine publisher Immediate Media. The acquisition, which will see Upper Street Events relocate to Immediate Media’s London office, is part of Immediate Media’s strategy of transforming into a multiplatform consumer company.

The Co-op to sell Markerstudy for £185m

Tue, 05/02/2019 The Co-op has announced it is selling its insurance underwriting business to Markerstudy for £185m. Co-op will continue to sell insurance products and as has agreed to work with Markerstudy to distribute motor and home insurance products as part of the deal.

Knights buys BrookStreet des Roches.

Tue, 05/02/2019 The legal and professional services company Knights has bought Oxfordshire-based law firm BrookStreet des Roches.

Premier Technical Services Group buys Trinity Fire & Security

Tue, 05/02/2019 Trinity Fire & Security Systems has been acquired by Premier Technical Services Group.

Forward 3D and PMX Agency announce merger agency: ForwardPMX

Tue, 05/02/2019 Forward 3D and PMX Agency have announced they are to merge, creating a new global brand performance agency ForwardPMX. Part of the Stagwell Group, ForwardPMX will have 700 people and 20 offices operating across North America, EMEA and APAC.

Tracsis buys Cash & Traffic Management and Compass

Tue, 05/02/2019 Transport software provider Tracsis has completed the acquisitions of Cash & Traffic Management for £1.7m and Compass for up to £5.25m. CTM provides event traffic planning, admission control and other event-related services, employing 20 staff. Compass, meanwhile, is an Irish data analytics firm that will augment Tracsis' traffic and data services capabilities.

Purpose Software acquired by European tech firm

Fri, 01/02/2019 Purpose Software, a provider of service management software for managed print services (MPS) firms, has been bought by Danish business Asolvi. The combined business will have 900 customers across 30 countries.

Guest Investments buys Boss Direct and Browns CTP

Fri, 01/02/2019 Bolton-based Guest Investments has sealed a £5.5m deal for print businesses Boss Direct and Browns CTP. The deal includes a 26,000 sq ft facility in Middleton as well as three Heidelberg presses with cut-star delivery systems. The combined printing business will trade as Browns while the Boss Direct name will be retained in Bolton as the office equipment and furniture arm.

Bridgestone Europe navigates deal for TomTom Telematics

Fri, 01/02/2019 Tyre specialist Bridgestone Europe has agreed to acquire TomTom Telematics for €910m (£800m). TomTom Telematics is TomTom's digital fleet solutions business. Its expertise will complement Bridgestone's global service network as it moves to become a leader in the Mobility as a Service (MaaS) sector. Bridgestone will profit from TomTom's vehicle and tyre operating insights, with access to a user base of 860,000 vehicles communicating 200 million data points per day.

L'Occitane agrees $900m deal for British brand Elemis

Fri, 01/02/2019 French skincare brand L’Occitane is to acquire British beauty business Elemis for c. $900m (£687m) in cash. Elemis sells premium quality beauty products to consumers directly online and wholesale via various distribution channels, as well as offering traditional and alternative massage and body and skin treatments. It had estimated net sales of $140.2m and EBITDA of $39.9m in the year ended December 2018. It has been sold by Steiner Leisure, a division of private equity firm L Catterton.

Vineyards Pookchurch and Bolney Wine Estate merge

Fri, 01/02/2019 Neighbouring vineyards Bolney Wine Estate and Pookchurch have merged to form a 104-acre estate. Pookchurch has 27 Ha of planted vines, including stills such as Pinot Gris, Bacchus and Pinot Noir, and other sparkling varieties.

Four-way merger creates £120m turnover Synetiq

Fri, 01/02/2019 A new £120m turnover vehicle dismantling group has been created following the merger of Motorhog, Car Transplants, FAB Recycling and DH Systems. The new entity, to be called Synetiq, will be headquartered in Doncaster with 16 sites across the UK. Altogether, the company will have a fleet of 100 collection and delivery vehicles, 50,000 registered auction customers and over 400 staff.

January 2019 Mergers And Acquisitions

Cogent acquires NC Creative Group

Thu, 31/01/2019 Integrated marketing agency Cogent has acquired Solihull-based communications firm NC Creative Group. The deal bolsters Cogent’s B2B offering, and boosts its headcount to 100 staff. Cogent reported turnover of €19.1m for the 2017 calendar year.

Drupal specialist Ixis acquires LiberoNet

Thu, 31/01/2019 Web development firm Ixis has announced the acquisition of LiberoNet. The deal builds on Ixis’s expertise in Drupal to include other open source platforms such as Wordpress, Shopware and Magento. The deal will see LiberoNet’s team of four relocate from their Birchwood office to Ixis’s HQ in Warrington.

MBO completed at Ibbotsons Produce

Thu, 31/01/2019 A management buyout has been completed at Ibbotsons Produce, a Tadcaster-based food production business, with backing from HSBC. Ibbotsons increased turnover by 53% to £28.8m in the last financial year.

West Midland Safari Park bought by The Looping Group

Wed, 30/01/2019 West Midland Safari Park has been bought by French amusement park operator The Looping Group. In 2017, WMSP reported turnover of £14.7m and just under 500 staff. The Looping Group consists of 15 regional parks in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and the UK.

R&G Acquisitions purchases Hyphose

Wed, 30/01/2019 R&G Acquisitions, the owner of several industrial, hydraulic and pneumatic product providers, has acquired fluid power specialist Hyphose. Hyphose reported turnover of £5m in 2018 with a loss of £175,000.

Elevate agrees deal to take over Halebury

Wed, 30/01/2019 US legal services company Elevate has sealed a deal for Halebury, a flexible resourcing specialist, to complement its talent arm Elevated Lawyers. Elevate provides technology, people, data science and consulting tools to the legal sector, acting as a strategic partner to law firms and in-house teams.

Vertu Motors acquires Vans Direct for £7.5m

Wed, 30/01/2019 Auto dealer Vertu Motors has acquired Vans Direct for £7.5m. Founded in 1999, the online retailer is based in Newport and employs 42 staff.

Inprova Group bought by CEO Paul Kennedy

Wed, 30/01/2019 Inprova Group, a Warrington-based provider of procurement solutions, has been bought by its chief executive Paul Kennedy. Following the buyout, Inprova has secured a £4m loan from the Barclays Northern Powerhouse Fund.

Waterland Private Equity acquires childcare services provider Sandcastle Care

Tue, 29/01/2019 Waterland Private Equity has acquired Sandcastle Care, a childcare services provider in North West England. Sandcastle offers long-term therapeutic care across 18 sites and has been operating small care homes since 2004.

Smith & Nephew agrees deal to take over Ceterix Orthopaedics

Tue, 29/01/2019 Hull-headquartered medtech company Smith & Nephew has agreed to take over US firm Ceterix Orthopaedics. Ceterix is the developer of the "Novostitch Pro" Meniscal Repair System, which addresses more complex meniscal tear patterns than Smith & Nephew's existing products can address. Smith & Nephew has agreed to pay an initial $50m for the firm, with another $55m available over the next five years subject to meeting financial performance targets.

Rebellion buys TickTock Games

Tue, 29/01/2019 Game developer and publisher Rebellion has bought TickTock Games for an undisclosed sum. The Yorkshire-based games studio is Rebellion's fourth acquisition and will be rebranded as Rebellion North.

Burningnight bought out of administration by Access Commercial Finance

Tue, 29/01/2019 Parts of bar group Burningnight look set to be bought out of administration by turnaround specialist Access Commercial Finance. Burningnight has sites in Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Nottingham.

Arch Insurance Europe buys Ardonagh's commercial lines business

Fri, 25/01/2019 Arch Insurance Europe has completed a takeover of the UK commercial lines business owned by the Ardonagh Group and parts of its Geo Underwriting segment. The combined firm employs around 250 people and generated over £150m of gross written premiums in 2017. It will become the Arch UK Regional Division and focus on commercial property, casualty, motor, professional liability, personal accident and travel.

You & Mr Jones takes majority stake in Oliver Agency

Fri, 25/01/2019 Brand-tech business You & Mr Jones has taken a majority stake in Inside Ideas Group, a London-based firm that helps brands build their own internal marketing capabilities. Inside Ideas' biggest subsidiary is Oliver, an in-house content specialist that works with the likes of Adidas, Google, PepsiCo and Unilever. The group generates approximately $150m in annual revenues.

Aston Barclay invests in LCV offering

Fri, 25/01/2019 Aston Barclay has announced a takeover of Independent Motor Auctions in Leeds. The deal marks Aston Barclay’s entry into the Light Commercial Vehicles market, with IMA’s fleet sales catering to vendors including British Gas, National Grid and Yorkshire Water. While IMA’s Leeds sites will be closed down, Aston Barclay plans to redevelop its existing Leeds centre into a dedicated LCV facility. Its Leeds car auctions will be transferred to its ‘mega centre’ in Wakefield.

Coats acquires ThreadSol for $12m

Fri, 25/01/2019 Industrial thread manufacturer Coats has acquired ThreadSol, a cloud-based digital applications provider. ThreadSol's technology focuses on fabric usage optimisation with the aim of reducing waste and cost. Headquartered in Singapore, and with offices posted across South Asia, Threadsol has over 100 employees and sales of c. $2.3m in 2018. It will be integrated into Coats Global Services for a cash consideration of up to $12m.

Next 15 to buy Planning-Inc

Fri, 25/01/2019 Next 15 has agreed to buy Planning-Inc, a predictive analytics and data marketing specialist, for an initial £6.3m increasing to £15m by 2023, depending on performance. Planning-Inc’s clients include Argos, M&S and Sony. Following the acquisition, it will continue to operate as a standalone brand. Next 15 reported revenues up 15% to £196.8m in the year to 31 January 2018. It acquired voice-activated marketing specialist Brandwidth Group last year.

Barnsdales buys Swift & Co

Fri, 18/01/2019 Building on its acquisition of Bridge Property Management in September, Barnsdales has taken on the business of Swift & Co. Founded over 80 years ago, Swift & Co covers a range of agency, professional and property management work, including a ground rent portfolio of over 900 properties. Its five employees will transfer to Barnsdales’ office in Sheffield’s city centre, bringing the firm’s total headcount to 45 staff.

Hendy Group acquires two dealerships in Hampshire

Fri, 18/01/2019 South coast automotive group Hendy has bought Seward Group. Including two dealerships in Portsmouth and Havant, the acquisition consolidates Hendy's already strong footprint in the region. It now has 57 franchise outlets in 30 locations, and employs in excess of 1,000 people.

Visa to buy UK fintech firm for £198m

Fri, 18/01/2019 American financial services corporation Visa has agreed to buy Earthport for £198m. Headquartered in London, Earthport is a cross-border payment processing business and partner of tech company Ripple. Visa has offered 30p per share, a premium of over four times Earthport’s closing price prior to the announcement.

Farfetch acquires Stadium Goods for $250m

Fri, 18/01/2019 In its first major deal since going public in September, Farfetch has agreed to buy streetwear marketplace business Stadium Goods in a deal that values it at $250m. The London-based e-commerce platform has been partnered with Stadium Goods in a distribution deal since April 2018; this deal will make its full inventory of luxury trainers and streetwear available to Farfetch users. According to Bain & Co, the online luxury market is set to grow from an estimated $26bn in 2018 to between $90.9bn and $103bn in 2025.

Erlson Precision Components seals double deal for Altrincham firms

Fri, 18/01/2019 Erlson Precision Components, a manufacturer based in Skelmersdale, has completed a double swoop for Altrincham firms PI Castings and Turbotech Precision Products. PI Castings has 80 staff and makes investment castings for the aerospace sector. Turbotech meanwhile manufactures impeller and compressor wheel castings in aluminium alloys for application in automotive, aerospace, heating and ventilation products. It has 35 employees.

Trak Global Group agrees deal for Intelligent Mechatronic Systems

Thu, 17/01/2019 Trak Global Group has sealed a deal for Intelligent Mechatronic Systems, a leading Canadian insurance telematics business. Trak Global Group provides technology for nearly a quarter of usage-based insurance policies in the UK, and is Europe's leading telematics supplier to the vehicle rental and mobility sector. The deal provides Trak Global with immediate scale in North America, boosting total revenues past $50m and its workforce to over 300 staff, a third of which will be in Canada and the US.

McKesson UK buys GP supplier

Thu, 17/01/2019 McKesson UK, the parent company of Lloydspharmacy, has acquired Prescribing Support Services and Optimed Healthcare under the PSS umbrella. Prescribing Support Services provides NHS medicines optimisation services, clinical services, medical reviews, and practice pharmacists to GP surgeries, managing the recruitment process and training, while Optimed designs pharmacist-led review services as well as NHS training programmes. With around 25,000 employees, McKesson UK supports over 1,800 pharmacies with services for medicine manufacturers through to individual patients in the community.

Hachette acquires Sheldon Press

Thu, 17/01/2019 Hachette UK has acquired Sheldon Press, an imprint of Christian knowledge publisher SPCK. Sheldon Press specialises in medical, mental health and self-help books; it has over 150 titles in print. No staff are to transfer to Hachette as part of the deal.

MBO completed at Siamo Group

Thu, 17/01/2019 Key Capital Partners has sold its stake in Siamo Group to its management team in a deal backed by Clydesdale Bank. Siamo Group provides temporary and permanent recruitment services combined with training, HR, payroll and IT services. Headquartered in Birmingham, it operates from 50 locations across the UK in sectors such as retail logistics, e-commerce fulfilment and manufacturing.

Vinci to buy controlling stake in Gatwick Airport

Fri, 11/01/2019 French conglomerate Vinci has agreed to buy a majority stake in Gatwick Airport. Taking advantage of the recent drop in UK asset prices, the deal sees the infrastructure group take over the world's busiest single runway airport for £2.9bn. Gatwick is the UK's second largest airport and will be the largest airport in Vinci's portfolio. Gatwick reported revenue of £764m in the last financial year, just under a quarter of the €3.2bn generated by Vinci's airport activities in 2017.

40 jobs saved at York Brewery

Fri, 11/01/2019 The Black Sheep Brewery has purchased York Brewery out of administration, saving over 40 jobs. The takeover of the £2.1m turnover firm includes three pubs in York and another in Leeds.

Volvo sells stake in WirelessCar to Volkswagen

Fri, 11/01/2019 Volkswagen has bought a 75.1% stake in WirelessCar from Volvo Group. Based in Sweden and with offices in the US and China, WirelessCar provides connected vehicle services to passenger car producers. VW will use WirelessCar's technology to enable data exchange between car operating systems and a cloud platform it is developing with Microsoft.

Ant Financial in talks with WorldFirst

Fri, 11/01/2019 Ant Financial, the payment company part-owned by Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, is in talks to take over British start-up WorldFirst. WorldFirst provides foreign exchange and currency-hedging services to businesses, banks and individuals globally. Founded in 2004, it has offices in Asia, Africa, Europe and the US and employs around 600 people. The deal would strengthen Ant Financial's global presence as it continues to roll out Alipay online payment services, which currently has over 700 million active users in China. Ant Financial was recently valued at $150bn.

Clayton, Dubillier & Rice to buy WSH for £780m

Fri, 11/01/2019 WSH, the parent company of hospitality provider BaxterStorey and caterer Searcys, is to be sold to American private equity firm Clayton, Dubillier & Rice in a deal that values the it at £780m. The deal also includes Benugo, Caterlink, Holroyd Howe and Portico. WSH saw turnover hit £828m for the year to 29 December 2017. Pre-tax profit in the period rose 29% to £7.5m.

Edrington offloads Glenturret to Art & Terroir

Fri, 11/01/2019 Art & Terroir has agreed to buy the Glenturret malt whisky brand from Edrington. The deal includes Glenturret's 240 year old distillery, which is the oldest still in use in Scotland. This acquisition marks Art & Terroir 's entry into the whisky business, with its previous focus being the production and distribution of high-end wines.

Cumming to merge with MHBC

Fri, 11/01/2019 International project management and cost consultancy Cumming has agreed to merge with Mellersh & Harding Building Consultancy (MHBC). The deal expands Cumming's expert resources and improves its offering to its UK and European clients. Based in London, MHBC provides specialised services ranging from building surveying and full-scope project management to design and building services engineering. The merger grows Cumming’s worldwide team to approximately 750 employees across 31 offices.

Canon UK exits 3D printing business

Fri, 11/01/2019 Hobs Group has bought Canon UK's 3D printer reseller business. The deal confirms Canon UK's exit from the market and builds on Hobs 3D's existing business reselling 3DSystems machines. Its expanded reselling and maintenance activities will complement its other services including prototyping, model making and its multi-sensory virtual reality platform VRCub3d.

Economy Energy ceases to trade

Wed, 09/01/2019 Economy Energy, a gas and electricity supplier with about 235,000 domestic customers, has ceased to trade. It is the ninth small energy supplier to collapse in the last year. Ofgem will choose a new supplier to take on Economy Energy’s customers and the energy supply of Economy Energy’s customers will continue as normal. The failure of Economy Energy follows that of Extra Energy, Future Energy, Gen4U, Iresa Energy, National Gas and Power, One Select, Spark Energy, and Usio Energy.

Keywords Studios seals £3.5m deal for Sunny Side Up Creative

Fri, 04/01/2019 Acquisitive Irish videogames specialist Keywords Studios has completed a £3.45m deal for Sunny Side Up Creative. The Canadian firm works on marketing assets for game publishers and developers such as game trailers, key art assets and motion graphic production. Sunny Side Up's services will complement the trailer and marketing services provided by Keywords' existing studios Fire Without Smoke and Trailerfarm.

Bertram Group buys Education Umbrella

Fri, 04/01/2019 Bertram Group has bought Education Umbrella, a supplier of books and digital learning resources to schools. The deal is Bertram's first since it was acquired by Aurelius and rebranded from Connect Books in 2018.

RCF Group makes sound investment

Fri, 04/01/2019 Pro audio specialist RCF Group has announced a deal for DPA Microphones. Based in Denmark, DPA is a brand of high-end professional audio equipment. It owns the distributor Sound Network in the UK.

The Entertainer makes first acquisition in Europe

Fri, 04/01/2019 The Entertainer has made its first European acquisition with a deal for Spanish toy shop chain Poly. The deal provides The Entertainer with a platform for its Addo product range and other key brands. Poly has 57 outlets and employs over 350 staff.

SQW Group completes management buyout

Thu, 03/01/2019 SQW Group, the parent company of SQW Consulting and Oxford Innovation, has completed a management buyout with backing from HSBC. A specialist in economic and social policy, innovation management and SME expansion, the group has offices in Edinburgh, London and Oxford and employs more than 250 people.

MAG acquires price comparison website SkyParkSecure

Thu, 03/01/2019 Manchester Airports Group has strengthened its airport services division with the acquisition of SkyParkSecure for an undisclosed sum. SkyParkSecure is a price comparison website specialising in booking parking options across 28 UK airports.

Croda International buys Brenntag Biosector

Thu, 03/01/2019 Croda International has acquired the Danish drug development company Brenntag Biosector for €72m (£65m). Founded in 1939, Biosector specialises in adjuvants for the human and veterinary vaccine market.

RSK Group seals double deal

Thu, 03/01/2019 Engineering and environmental service company RSK Group has celebrated a new £300m funding package from Ares Capital with two acquisitions. RSK has bought tree surgeon business BTS and TBF contracting businesses TBF Traffic and TBF Scaffolding, adding £22m turnover and 200 staff to the group. The deals are the seventh and eighth RSK has completed this financial year so far. RSK has 36 international offices, 2,500 staff and annual turnover of £200m. In April, RSK sealed deals for CWA and NDT Services with backing from Permira Debt Managers.

HMV in administration again

Wed, 02/01/2019 The entertainment retailer HMV has gone into administration for the second time in six years. The company employs around 2,200 people and operates 125 shops. The business continues to trade while the administrators search for a buyer