UK mergers and acquisitions hit a new record last year as companies defend themselves from foreign takeovers January 9, 2018 The number of merger and acquisition (M&A) deals in the UK hit a record high last year, despite growing dissatisfaction from the business community with the pace and vagueness of the Brexit negotiations. The number of deals where a UK company was the target escalated to 1,543 in 2017 from 1,493 the year before, according [...]
Aston Martin owner Investindustrial grabs Chelsea-based luxury furniture retailer Oka January 7, 2018 Investindustrial, the Italian private equity owner of Aston Martin, has bought a UK luxury furniture retailer co-founded by Samantha Cameron’s mum. Oka, based in Chelsea, is said to have attracted a cheque for more than £40m from Investindustrial, the Sunday Times first reported. It sells furniture ranging from £32 cushion covers to £3,785 sofas, and [...]
Morgan Stanley swoops to steal the crown from Goldman Sachs advising on announced M&A deals worth $136bn last year January 3, 2018 Morgan Stanley won the UK title for advising on the biggest share of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) announced last year, grabbing the crown fromGoldman Sachs. Morgan Stanley worked on deals involving a UK party worth a massive $136bn (£101bn), climbing from seventh place in 2016 and stealing an impressive 36 per cent market share, according [...]
World’s largest interdealer broker TP Icap grabs rival Coex Partners November 30, 2017 Brokerage giant TP Icap, which was formed just last year in a £1.28bn deal, has hoovered up smaller Marylebone-based rival Coex Partners. TP Icap has paid an initial £7.1m for the firm, although this could rise over the next two years if performance conditions are met. In the first set of results since Tullett Prebon [...]
Servelec shares shoot up as former Biffa owner Montagu Private Equity makes a £224m bid November 23, 2017 London-listed software company Servelec has seen its shares rocket by more than 20 per cent this morning, as it received a £224m offer from private equity firm Montagu. Servelec, which serves the healthcare, social care, education, oil and gas and energy and utilities sectors with hardware and software, has recommended that shareholders accept Montagu's offer. [...]
Pret a Manger private equity owner Bridgepoint confirms Burger King UK franchise buyout November 16, 2017 Pret a Manger owner Bridgepoint has confirmed that it will become the master franchisee of the Burger King brand in the UK. Reaching an agreement for an undisclosed amount with Burger King Europe, Bridgepoint will also acquire Caspian UK Group, one of the UK’s largest Burger King franchisees with 74 restaurants across the country. The [...]
Bollington and Wilsons insurance brokers merge as private equity firm Inflexion buys both November 6, 2017 Private equity firm Inflexion has boasted a double buyout this morning, as it announced the acquisition of Bollington Insurance Brokers and Wilsons Insurance Brokers. The UK-focused firm also added that it would merge the two companies to create Bollington Wilson Group, which will generate annual gross written premiums in excess of £120m. Both Bollington and [...]
Iconic sailing-wear brand Musto sets sail to Helly Hanson for £50m October 19, 2017 British outdoor clothing brand Musto, worn by the likes of Zara Phillips and yachtswoman Samantha Davies, has been sold to Norwegian sportswear company Helly Hansen for around £50m. Phoenix Equity Partners, the UK private equity firm which bought Musto in 2007 for £40m, has finally relinquished the company after an unusually long ten-year hold period. [...]
UK business software group Civica has just been sold by Canadian pension fund Omers for more than £1bn July 24, 2017 Business software group Civica has just been sold to Partners Group, a global investment manager with more than $66bn (£50.76bn) in assets under management, for £1.06bn. Omers Private Equity, the private equity branch of the Ontario municipal workers' pension fund Omers which also owns Vue cinemas, made a 2.6-times return on its original investment through [...]
China official warns over foreign takeovers as figures show outbound M&A levels have fallen this year March 20, 2017 China’s foreign exchange regulator has issued a warning over foreign takeovers. And Chinese companies appear to have slowed down their foreign takeover ambitions this year, following a bumper 2016. New Dealogic figures show that there has been a fall in the number of outbound Chinese deals, from 162 at this point last year to 134 [...]