M and A Deals News

Baker Steel seek £70m

2010-03-12T10:22:00+00:00

Specialist resources investor Baker Steel Capital Managers plans to float a trust to make pre-flotation investments in the sector. Read

Avisen buys Xploite

James Harris — 2010-03-11T16:22:45+00:00

Business performance specialist Avisen has agreed to acquire Xploite, an IT services group, for up to £11.4 million. Read

IFG acquires James Hay

James Harris — 2010-03-10T10:09:56+00:00

Financial services group IFG has acquired James Hay, a provider of self invested personal pensions (SIPPs), from Banco Santander for up to £38.9 million. Read

Pearson and Curtiss buys O'Pray

James Harris — 2010-03-09T11:04:14+00:00

Hull-based lift equipment manufacturer Pearson and Curtiss has acquired local rival J.W. O’Pray & Sons for £1 million. Read

Straight acquires Helesi

James Harris — 2010-03-08T09:56:37+00:00

Recycling products distributor Straight has acquired the UK arm of Greece-based manufacturer Helesi for £1.7 million. Read

PayPoint buys Verrus

James Harris — 2010-03-05T10:45:55+00:00

Cash and internet payment specialist PayPoint has agreed to acquire Verrus, a mobile phone services business, for up to £29 million. Read

Deloitte acquires carbon consultant

James Harris — 2010-03-04T10:28:03+00:00

Professional services firm Deloitte has acquired carbon consultancy dcarbon8 for an undisclosed sum. Read

Avacta acquires Reactivlab

James Harris — 2010-03-03T10:27:29+00:00

Drug development and healthcare group Avacta has acquired Reactivlab, a veterinary diagnostics business, for up to £5 million. Read

Euro Environmental in MBO

James Harris — 2010-03-02T15:08:21+00:00

Drain and sewer company Euro Environmental Group (EEG) has been sold in a £20 million management buy-out (MBO) backed by private equity firm Sovereign Capital. Read

ACS buys Cerrus

James Harris — 2010-03-02T13:44:53+00:00

Advanced Computer Software (ACS), a provider of IT services to the healthcare sector, has bought social care specialist Cerrus for £370,000. Read

Foreign acquirers scent blood

James Harris — 2010-03-02T12:44:20+00:00

The total amount of money spent on UK companies by foreign acquirers rocketed in the last quarter of 2009, according to research by the Office of National Statistics (ONS). Read

Baxter buys ApaTech

James Harris — 2010-03-01T16:38:18+00:00

US healthcare group Baxter International has acquired private equity-backed ApaTech, a bone repair specialist, for up to $330 million (£220 million). Read

Concentrix Solar wins deal of the year

James Harris — 2010-03-01T12:20:26+00:00

Days after winning Deal of the Year at the Rosenblatt New Energy Awards, Germany-based Concentrix Solar has opened a major power plant in the US. Read

Sinclair upbeat despite losses

2010-02-26T16:34:25+00:00

Oral health and dermatology specialist Sinclair Pharma has turned a £3.2 million pre-tax profit into a £14.6 million first-half loss. Read

Digital Barriers joins AIM

2010-02-25T17:30:03+00:00

Digital Barriers, set up to buy businesses and products in the ‘homeland security’ field, is joining AIM after raising £19 million. Read

Wyndham acquires Hoseasons

James Harris — 2010-02-24T10:15:52+00:00

US hospitality group Wyndham Worldwide has agreed to acquire Hoseasons from private equity firm HgCapital for £51 million. Read

UBM acquires GAO

James Harris — 2010-02-23T11:14:41+00:00

United Business Media, through its online gaming subsidiary UBM TechWeb, has acquired Game Advertising Online (GAO) for up to $7 million (£4.5 million). Read

CVS buys Veterinary Enterprises

James Harris — 2010-02-22T09:49:32+00:00

Vet market consolidator CVS has agreed to acquire Veterinary Enterprises & Trading (VET) for up to £12.2 million. Read

Asterand buys BioSeek

James Harris — 2010-02-19T10:07:01+00:00

Hertfordshire-based biotechnology company Asterand has acquired US drug discovery business BioSeek for up to $13 million (£8.5 million). Read

Halfords buys Nationwide

James Harris — 2010-02-18T08:56:55+00:00

High street retailer Halfords has acquired Nationwide Autocentres, a car repair company, for £73.2 million in cash. Read

UK companies more 'hawkish' on deals

James Harris — 2010-02-17T09:39:42+00:00

British privately held businesses are more focused on acquisitions than their foreign counterparts, according to research by professional services firm Grant Thornton. Read

Marshall buys Francis Group

James Harris — 2010-02-16T15:29:25+00:00

Marshall Motor Group has agreed to acquire Leicestershire-based car dealership Francis Group for an undisclosed sum. Read

Playtech buys Virtue Fusion

James Harris — 2010-02-15T09:59:45+00:00

Mobile and internet software provider Playtech has acquired online bingo business Virtue Fusion for up to £36 million. Read

RTS acquires Hatch Science

James Harris — 2010-02-12T11:08:36+00:00

Engineering services company Robotic Technology Systems (RTS) has acquired US manufacturer Hatch Science. Read

Astaire acquires HBH

James Harris — 2010-02-10T11:56:31+00:00

Financial services firm Astaire Group has agreed to acquire London-based stockbroker Hoodless Brennan Holdings (HBH) for £3.6 million. Read

No return to credit boom

James Harris — 2010-02-10T09:09:10+00:00

A significant number of financiers believe that the availability of debt will never return to levels experienced at the height of the boom, according to research by DLA Piper and Hawkpoint. Read

BSS acquires UGS

James Harris — 2010-02-09T09:21:23+00:00

BSS Group, a distributor of equipment to specialist trades, has acquired Oxfordshire-based UGS for £5.1 million. Read

New chairman for PLUS Markets

2010-02-08T12:32:53+00:00

PLUS Markets Group’s chief executive officer Simon Brickles is moving to focus on ‘international activity’, as a new chairman Giles Vardey comes aboard. Read

Business failures near 'historic high'

James Harris — 2010-02-08T12:20:13+00:00

The number of business failures dropped in the last quarter of 2009, according to figures from the government's Insolvency Service. Read

Future Films in AIM float

2010-02-05T09:00:00+00:00

Easyjet chairman and former Whitehall warrior Sir Colin Chandler is to chair finance group Future Film Group, now tapping AIM for £5 million. Read