Mergers and Acquisitions in August 2019
August had impressive deal activity throughout the month which resulted in a total of 123 deals taking place. Moreover, 33 of these deals involved an overseas acquiror, which is a 57% increase from the previous month.
The largest deal value involved the acquisition of BTG plc by Bravo Bidco Ltd for the sum of £3.3 billion. Among the notable deals values was also the completed acquisition of First State Investments UK Holdings Ltd by Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation in a deal value of over £2.3 billion. Mikio Ikegaya, president and CEO of Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking commented, “We are committed to supporting First State Investments’ strategy to delivering high-quality investment capabilities and establishing and maintaining strong client relationships. We look forward to working with First State Investments as we continue to expand our investment management business and investment offerings globally”.
Other successful acquisitions of the month include: SafeCharge International Group Ltd by Canada Inc; Tarsus Group plc by Tiger Acquisitions UK Ltd; KCOM Group by MEIF 6 Fibre Ltd; Ferrous Resources Ltd by Vale SA; and Blue Earth Diagnostics Ltd by Bracco Imaging SpA.
The popular clothing brand Jack Wills Ltd’s business was acquired by Sports Direct International plc in a transaction value over £12 million. Michael Murray, head of elevation at Sport Direct, said that Jack Wills would still continue to operate as a separate company with its’ own leadership team. He further commented, “Our role will be to support the business and help elevate the brand and help restore it to its former glory”.
M&A has also been noted within in the car maintenance sub-sector with deals including management buy-out of TDR Transmissions Ltd, manufacturer of bearings, gearings, and driving elements; and Tyremark Ltd, a wholesale trade of motor vehicle parts and accessories, was acquired by Micheldever Tyre Services Ltd.
Other overseas acquirer transactions involved; the acquisition of Tilda Ltd by Ebro Foods SA; Cognitran Ltd acquired by Snap-On Ltd, Mirage Machines acquired by Actuant Corporation; Sunbury Holdings Ltd acquired by Hamilton Thorne Ltd; Fragrance Oils (International) Ltd acquired by Givaudan SA; and Bemis Healthcare Packaging Ltd was acquired by Kohleberg & Company LLC.
In summary, a diverse range of industries have experienced M&A activity and contributed to this months’ figure. With active public trader buyers as well as private equity investors, the UK continues to appeal to acquirers from both the UK and overseas.
Our team are highly experienced in company valuations and M&A and can assist you in realising the value of your company. Whether you are considering exit strategy options or exploring another avenue, you can call our team in confidence on 0203 441 2003. Alternatively, you can use our free, online valuation calculator to determine the value of your company.