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Mergers And Acquisitions January to June 2020

A list of company mergers and acquisitions that took place in the UK between January and June 2020

June 2020

Unilever chooses London for corporate HQ

Thu, 11/06/2020 Anglo-Dutch consumer products giant Unilever has announced it is to scrap its dual-headed legal structure and unify under a single parent company, Unilever plc, which will be headquartered in London. The UK government has been lobbying for the company to choose London ahead of Rotterham, and following this announcement the business secretary Alok Sharma said this is “a clear vote of confidence in the UK”. Unilever owns some of the best known consumer brands, including Marmite, Persil and Timotei.

BP to cut 10,000 jobs

Tue, 09/06/2020 BP is to cut 10,000 jobs in the wake of the economic slowdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The oil company says that most of the jobs lost will be office-based roles and represent about 15% of the workforce. BP’s chief executive officer Bernard Looney wrote to staff saying that BP was ‘spending much, much more than we make’.

Restructure at Lookers sees 27 dealerships close and 1,500 to be made redundant

Mon, 08/06/2020 Car retailer Lookers, which reopened its operations at the beginning of June as the UK Government starts to relax lockdown measures, has announced it is to restructure its operations. Up to 27 dealerships will be closed in the second half of 2020, resulting in 1,500 job redundancies, saving Lookers around £50m in annual payroll costs.

500 jobs to be lost at luxury car maker Aston Martin

Mon, 08/06/2020 Car manufacturer Aston Martin has announced that 500 jobs are to be lost at its luxury sports car plant in Gaydon, Warwickshire. Coronavirus has caused sales in the luxury car market to collapse and Aston Martin is one of many manufacturers announcing changes to try and keep going through the crisis.

1,000 jobs to be lost at Bentley

Fri, 05/06/2020 Bentley Motors is the latest car manufacturer to announce job losses in response to lower sales caused by coronavirus. The company hopes that a quarter of its UK workforce, around 1,000 jobs, will take voluntary redundancy.

Victoria's Secret goes into administration

Fri, 05/06/2020 More than 1,100 jobs are at risk following the announcement that the UK division of lingerie brand Victoria's Secret has gone into administration. Victoria's Secret, which has 25 stores in the UK, first held its famous annual fashion show in 1995, but decided not to hold it in 2019 following criticism that it was outdated.

ETX Capital bought by Guru Capital

Wed, 03/06/2020 The private equity firm JRJ Group has sold ETX Capital to Guru Capital. ETX Capital is a provider of spread betting products

PIB Group expands European operations with German acquisition

Wed, 03/06/2020 PIB Group has expanded its European operations with the acquisition of Marx Re-Insurance Brokers in Germany.

Compass Group sells vending fulfilment company to Lavazza

Wed, 03/06/2020 Compass Group has sold Fulfill to Lavazza. Fulfill is a vending fulfilment company.

Connexity buys Skimlinks

Wed, 03/06/2020 The world's largest commerce content monetisation platform, Skimlinks, has been bought by Connexity.

Safic-Alcan UK buys Langley-Smith & Company

Wed, 03/06/2020 The speciality chemical distributor Safic-Alcan UK has acquired Langley-Smith & Company.

Compass Group buys food and health tech start-up

Wed, 03/06/2020 Compass Group is continuing its digital transformation with the acquisition of the food and health technology start-up Feedr.

Davies Group acquires Codebase8

Wed, 03/06/2020 Codebase8 Limited, an automation, modernisation and digital services provider and consultancy company, has been acquired by Davies Group.

Assystem buys Corporate Risk Associates

Wed, 03/06/2020 The risk consultancy Corporate Risk Associates has been acquired by the international engineering group Assystem.

Dutch company buys AVMI

Wed, 03/06/2020 The visual communications systems integrator AVMI has been taken over by the Dutch company Kinly.

McCue Corporation acquires temporary safety barrier manufacturer Banner Stakes

Wed, 03/06/2020 Banner Stakes, a manufacturer of temporary safety barriers, has been acquired by McCue Corporation.

Royal London sells Ascentric to M&G

Wed, 03/06/2020 Royal London has sold Ascentric to M&G. Ascentric is a digital wrap and wealth management platform for financial advisers.

Judges Scientific buys Heath Scientific Company for £5.3m

Wed, 03/06/2020 Heath Scientific Company has been bought by Judges Scientific for £5.3m.

Safety product specialist Holchem bought by Ardian

Wed, 03/06/2020 Ardian is now Europe’s second largest food safety company with the acquisition of Holchem. Based in Manchester, Holchem providers hygiene and food safety products to the food, beverage and dairy industries.

Culina Group buys Fowler Welch for £98m

Wed, 03/06/2020 Fowler Welch has been sold by Dart Group to Culina Group. Fowler Welch is a provider of food supply-chain services to retailers, processors, growers and importers. The £98m deal enables Dart Group to focus on its leisure travel business.

Microsoft buys virtualisation software specialist Metaswitch

Wed, 03/06/2020 Metaswitch Networks, a provider of virtualised network software, has been bought by Microsoft. The transition from 4G to 5G is going to increase the importance of virtualisation software and Microsoft believes this acquisition leaves it well placed to adapt to these industry changes.

Veriton Pharma bought by Belgian pharmaceutical company

Wed, 03/06/2020 Veriton Pharma has been bought by the Belgian pharmaceutical company SERB.

Carlsberg and Marston's to merge UK operations

Wed, 03/06/2020 The Danish brewer Carlsberg and the UK pub operator Marston’s have agreed to merge their UK operations to create a “best in class” UK brewer. The joint venture, which will be known as Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company will own a portfolio containing some of the UK’s best known alcoholic drinks, including Carlsberg Danish Pilsner, Marston’s Pedigree, Hobgoblin, Poretti, Wainwright, Young’s. Business plans will be agreed between Marston’s and Carlsberg UK on a five-yearly basis.

Carluccio’s rescued from administration but 40 sites to close

Wed, 03/06/2020 Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG) has bought the restaurant chain Carluccio’s out of administration. The deal, which secures the jobs of more than 800 employees, includes 30 sites across the UK and one in Ireland. 40 sites are not included in this deal and will be closed, with all remaining staff made redundant. BRG owns a number of well known UK restaurant brands including Cinnamon, Fishworks, Slim Chickens, Giraffe and Ed’s Easy Diner.

McMillan Williams bought by Taylor Rose

Wed, 03/06/2020 A top 75 law firm has been created following the news that Taylor Rose has acquired McMillan Williams Solicitors.

Digital Ethos expands with View Digital purchase

Wed, 03/06/2020 Digital Ethos has announced it is to implement an “aggressive” expansion strategy, starting with the acquisition of York-based startup View Digital.

Dawsons Music bought out of administration

Wed, 03/06/2020 Musical instrument retailer Dawsons Music has been bought out of administration and will continue to trade via a new company, Dawsons Music & Sound, which is owned and operated by Andrew Oliver of Arranged Musical Options.

Private equity firm finds the right deal with purchase of Where's Wally publisher

Wed, 03/06/2020 The international private equity firm Trustbridge Partners has acquired Walker Books, a publisher of children’s books such as Where’s Wally, Guess How Much I Love You and We’re Going on a Bear Hunt.

Prime Global expands portfolio with Cambridge Medical Communication acquisition 

Wed, 03/06/2020 Prime Global has added to its existing portfolio of six agencies and two consultancies with the acquisition of Cambridge Medical Communication.

Private equity firm buys menswear retailer TM Lewin

Wed, 03/06/2020 The special purpose acquisition vehicle Torque Brands, established by private equity firm SCP, has acquired the menswear retailer TM Lewin.

BGF sells Direct Online Services to Broadview Holdings

Wed, 03/06/2020 The investment firm BGF has sold Direct Online Services (DOS) to Broadview Holdings. DOS is an etailer specialising kitchen worktops. BGF first invested £3m in the company in 2016 and has seen turnover increase from £22m to £37m.

Paragon Group buys business service providers

Wed, 03/06/2020 The business service providers OfficeTeam and ZenOffice have been bought by Paragon Group. Paragon is a provider of customer communications, identification, graphics and business services.

Big break for snooker videogame developer with Sumo Group takeover

Wed, 03/06/2020 Videogame developer Sumo Group has acquired the cross-platform work for hire studio Lab42. Based in Leamington Spa, Lab42 holds the exclusive licence to develop video games using the World Snooker Tour brand and is currently working on a follow up to the successful Snooker 19 game.

Cognism buys German email marketing company

Wed, 03/06/2020 The German email signature marketing company Mailtastic has been acquired by Cognism.

Rapp Worldwide and Proximity merge to form 19-office agency

Wed, 03/06/2020 Omnicom has formed a new 19-office agency with the announcement that it is merging Rapp Worldwide and Proximity. The move will see the Proximity offices rebrand to Rapp.

Inflexion now owns 75% of UKFast

Wed, 03/06/2020 The private equity firm Inflexion has increased its shareholding in UKFast to 75%. The deal sees founders Lawrence and Gail Jones leave the business, and will see further investment in cloud security, networks and remote desktop services. In addition, UKFast has acquired Secarma, a technology company which specialises in code-breaking, cyber-defence and cyber-intelligence.

Bauer Radio now owns 100% of First Radio Sales

Wed, 03/06/2020 Bauer Radio has taken over 100% ownership of First Radio Sales (FRS) from Wireless. FRS is a provider of cross-platform advertising services to radio groups across the UK.

Alvius buys specialist job board

Wed, 03/06/2020 UK Startup Jobs has been acquired by Alvius. Established in 2011, UK Startup Jobs is a job board which specialises in advertising vacancies in high growth UK businesses.

Waterstones owner buys Wordery

Wed, 03/06/2020 The online bookseller Wordery has been sold by Aurelius to Elliott Advisors, owner of Waterstones. Aurelius is also considering selling Education Umbrella and Dawsons Books due to the economic uncertainty created by Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic.

May 2020

Inc & Co Property Group buys Prospect Business Centres

Wed, 13/05/2020 Prospect Business Centres has been acquired by Inc & Co Property Group.

Miss Group expands European operations with Euronic Oy acquisition

Wed, 13/05/2020 The Finnish web hosting business Euronic Oy has been taken over by Miss Group

Virgin Media and O2 owners agree merger

Wed, 13/05/2020 Liberty Global and Telefonica have agreed to merge their UK operations, creating a 50:50 joint venture which combines Virgin Media and O2 to create the largest fixed-mobile provider in the UK.

Envision Pharma Group adds healthcare communications consultancy to portfolio

Wed, 13/05/2020 Healthcare communications consultancy 90TEN has been acquired by Envision Pharma Group.

Stobart Air and Propius rejoin Stobart Group

Wed, 13/05/2020 The administrators of Connect Airways have agreed to sell Stobart Air and Propius to Stobart Group. These two businesses were previously owned by Stobart Group, which sold them to Connect in February 2019.

Astellas Pharma buys Nanna Therapeutics

Wed, 13/05/2020 Nanna Therapeutics has been bought by Astellas Pharma.

Accenture buys London-based cybersecurity consultancy

Wed, 13/05/2020 Cybersecurity consultancy Context Information has been taken over by Accenture. Based in London, Context provides a range of security services to companies in the financial services, government, aerospace & defense and critical infrastructure sectors.

Cambridge Commodities expands USA business with Ultimate Superfoods acquisition

Wed, 13/05/2020 Cambridge Commodities has expanded its service offering in the USA with the acquisition of Ultimate Superfoods.

Healthcare communications agency Fishawack sold to investment firm Bridgepoint

Wed, 13/05/2020 LDC has sold Fishawack Health to the investment firm Bridgepoint. Established in 2001, Fishawack is a healthcare communications agency.

Clubhouse Golf bought by German retailer

Wed, 13/05/2020 The German retailer All4golf has bought Clubhouse Golf, the UK’s biggest online retailer of golf equipment.

Canadian investment firm Onex buys Independent Clinical Services Group

Wed, 13/05/2020 Independent Clinical Services Group, one of the largest healthcare staffing providers in Europe, has been acquired by the Canadian investment firm Onex.

Norton Motorbikes bought by Indian company TVS Motor

Wed, 13/05/2020 The famous British motorcycle brand Norton has been bought by the Indian company TVS Motor.

MRI Software buys social housing software specialist

Wed, 13/05/2020 Real estate software specialist MRI Software has acquired Castleton Technology. The deal will strengthen MRI’s position in the social housing sector.

HarperCollins buys Egmont Books

Wed, 13/05/2020 Egmont Books has been bought by HarperCollins. The deal will see Egmont Books run as a distinct children’s division.

Amethyst Radiotherapy continues expansion with Medical Equipment Solutions purchase

Wed, 13/05/2020 The private cancer treatment specialist Amethyst Radiotherapy has continued to expand its operations in the UK with the acquisition of Medical Equipment Solutions.

Jonathan Ball Publishers expands portfolio with Icon Books acquisition

Wed, 13/05/2020 Non-fiction publisher Icon Books has been taken over by Jonathan Ball Publishers.

£12.4m deal sees OTAQ Group has completed its reverse takeover by Hertsford Capital

Wed, 13/05/2020 The marine technology company OTAQ Group has completed its reverse takeover by Hertsford Capital. The £12.4m deal will see Hertsford Capital renamed as QTAQ plc.

Meten International and EdtechX merge

Wed, 13/05/2020 EdtechX has merged with the English language training specialist Meten International.

GCA Altium buys Stella EOC

Wed, 13/05/2020 GCA Altium has purchased Stella EOC, a media investment banking boutique that operates across the Nordics, the UK and continental Europe.

Sign writer Furturama bought by PFI Group

Wed, 13/05/2020 PFI Group has acquired the sign writing specialist Furturama.

Oasis and Warehouse to close down

Tue, 05/05/2020 Attempts to find a buyer for the fashion retailers Oasis and Warehouse have failed and the businesses are to close down with the loss of 1,800 jobs.

April 2020

All 60 UK Cath Kidston stores to close

Tue, 21/04/2020 Fashion and homewares retailer Cath Kidston is to close all 60 of its shops in the UK with the loss of more than 800 jobs. The brand has been bought out of administration by Baring Private Equity Asia and will continue as an online business only in the UK.

Oasis and Warehouse Group in administration

Thu, 16/04/2020 The women’s fashion retailers Oasis and Warehouse have gone into administration. The Oasis and Warehouse Group operates 92 branches and more than 400 concessions. The administrators have made 200 employees redundant and furloughed a further 1,800. Head office staff have been retained as attempts are made to save the business.

Felinesoft bought by technology group ClearCourse Partnership

Wed, 08/04/2020 Technology group ClearCourse Partnership has bought Felinesoft. Established in 2001, Felinesoft is a developer of technology products and digital services to a range of UK businesses and charities.

Jacobs buys Wood Nuclear for £250m

Wed, 08/04/2020 John Wood Group has sold its nuclear business (Wood Nuclear) to Jacobs, one of the world's largest providers of technical, professional and construction services, for £250m. The deal gives Jacbos ownership of the UK’s largest independent nuclear research, development and testing centre.

£6.75m deal sees Gateley buy Vinden

Wed, 08/04/2020 The legal and professional services group Gateley has acquired Vinden, a corporate advisory consultancy, for £6.75m.

Vertu Motors now owner of 18 outlets following £4m double acquisition from Vantage Motor Group

Wed, 08/04/2020 Vertu Motors has increased the number of outlets it operates in Yorkshire to 18 following the announcement that it has bought the Kia Bradford and Honda Bradford businesses from Vantage Motor Group for £4m.

Critical infrastructure developer bought by Exponential-e

Wed, 08/04/2020 The cloud, connectivity and communications specialist Exponential‐e has bought Vysiion, a provider of critical infrastructure to the public and private sectors.

Microlise buys fleet compliance and management software developer TruTac

Wed, 08/04/2020 TruTac, a developer of fleet compliance and management software for heavy goods vehicles, has been acquired by Microlise.

TradeRisks, owner of ReSI Capital Management, bought by Gresham House

Wed, 08/04/2020 Gresham House has bought ReSI Capital Management and its parent company TradeRisks.

Tracsis buys software developer iBlocks

Wed, 08/04/2020 iBlocks, a UK-based software company which was established in 2000, has been acquired by Tracsis. iBlocks develops software products and systems which are used in the rail industry.

Hurley Partners bought by Mattioli Woods for £25.6m

Wed, 08/04/2020 Mattioli Woods has expanded its operations and reach with the £25.6m acquisition of Hurley Partners, a private client adviser and asset management company.

BMC buys RSM Partners

Wed, 08/04/2020 RSM Partners, a provider of mainframe services and software, has been taken over by BMC.

DMC Canotec expands with Leemic acquisition

Wed, 08/04/2020 Leemic, a nationwide supplier of photocopiers, integrated office technology and equipment, has been taken over by DMC Canotec.

Debenhams in administration

Wed, 08/04/2020 The department store chain Debenhams has gone into administration for the second time in a year. The retailer employs around 20,000 people, most of whom have been furloughed as part of the government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. While all of its shops are closed for the duration of the coronavirus lockdown, Debenhams continues to trade through its website.

Armstrong Burton becomes part of Pegasus Group

Wed, 08/04/2020 Pegasus Group has expanded its architectural capabilities with the acquisition of Armstrong Burton.

All change in the shrimp industry as Sykes buys Dutch company Klaas Puul

Wed, 08/04/2020 Sykes Seafood has bought the Dutch shrimp company Klaas Puul.

Aeorema Communications buys Eventful

Wed, 08/04/2020 The boutique events and incentive travel company Eventful has been bought by Aeorema Communications.

KKR buys Viridor for £4.2bn

Wed, 08/04/2020 The American private equity firm KKR has bought recycling and waste management company Viridor from Pennon Group for £4.2bn. Pennon will use the proceeds from the sale to reduce its borrowings.

inTec buys iTek

Wed, 08/04/2020 inTec Business Solutions has bought iTek Computer Solutions.

£1.75m deal sees Bloomsbury Publishing buy Zed Books

Wed, 08/04/2020 The academic and non-fiction publisher Zed Books has been acquired by Bloomsbury Publishing. The £1.75m deal further establishes Bloomsbury as a leader in academic Area Studies publishing.

Xactium acquired by American risk management specialist

Wed, 08/04/2020 Riskconnect, an Atlanta-based risk management specialist, has bought the software provider Xactium.

Bayford Group buys energy supplier

Wed, 08/04/2020 Energy supplier E Gas & Electricity has been bought by Bayford Group.

Management system developer PharmOutcomes bought by EMIS Group

Mon, 06/04/2020 EMIS Group has bought Pinnacle Health Partnership LLP and Pinnacle Systems Management in a deal worth up to £7m. Pinnacle owns and operates the PharmOutcomes platform, a web-based management system used by more than 11,000 pharmacies across the UK.

IT Lab buys government software supplier Sol-Tec

Mon, 06/04/2020 Sol-Tec, a provider of software services to government departments, has been taken over by IT Lab.

Swegon strengthens position in UK market with Waterloo Air Products acquisition

Mon, 06/04/2020 Grilles and diffusers manufacturer Waterloo Air Products has been taken over by Swegon. The deal enables Swegon to expand further in the UK, Europe’s second largest ventilation market.

Aon and Willis Towers Watson merge to form one of the world's largest professional services firms

Mon, 06/04/2020 Two of the world’s largest professional services firms, Aon and Willis Towers Watson, have agreed to merge. The combined firm will be headquartered in London.

GroupBC leaves private equity ownership following acquisition by Bentley Systems

Mon, 06/04/2020 Bentley Systems has acquired GroupBC from the private equity firm YFM Equity Partners. GroupBC develops information management systems for projects in the construction industry.

Kuehne + Nagel sells contract logistics operations to XPO Logistics

Mon, 06/04/2020 XPO Logistics has expanded its operational capabilities in the UK with the acquisition of Kuehne + Nagel’s contract logistics operations. The deal includes inbound and outbound distribution, reverse logistics management and inventory management services, which together generate annual revenues of £500m.

200 more vehicles for Western Truck Rental following takeover by VMS

Mon, 06/04/2020 VMS Fleet Management has continued its recent expansion with the acquisition of Western Truck Rental. The deal will see around 200 vehicles added to Western’s fleet.

Cicero to rebrand as Cicero/AMO following takeover

Mon, 06/04/2020 The full-service communications and market research agency Cicero is to rebrand as Cicero/AMO following its acquisition by Havas Group.

UK's largest KFC franchise bought by EG Group

Mon, 06/04/2020 The Herbert Group has sold the UK’s largest KFC franchise to EG Group. The deal includes 146 KFC restaurants and one Pizza Hut store.

Future of 122 Moss Bros stores secure following acquisition by Crew Clothing owner

Mon, 06/04/2020 A £22.6m deal has seen clothing brand Moss Bros acquired by an investment vehicle owned by Michael Shina, the owner of Crew Clothing. Mr Shina intends to keep at least 122 of Moss Bros’ current 127 stores open.

Kantar buys Mavens

Mon, 06/04/2020 Mavens, a London-based digital marketing and analytics consultancy, has been acquired by Kantar.

Fortnite developer and publisher buys facial animation specialist

Mon, 06/04/2020 American video games developer and publisher Epic Games has bought Cubic Motion. Based in Manchester, Cubic Motion develops facial animation technology and services for video games, film, broadcast, and immersive experiences.

Tableware manufacturer Steelite acquires William Edwards

Mon, 06/04/2020 Steelite International, a manufacturer of tableware and buffet products for the hospitality industry, has acquired William Edwards. Established in 1993, William Edwards specialises in fine bone china tableware. The deal further establishes Steelite’s position as a leading player in the luxury tableware sector.

MBO completed at law firm Jackson Lees

Mon, 06/04/2020 The full service law firm Jackson Leeds Group has been acquired by MAPD Ventures via a Management Buyout.

Buckley Commercial and Fairhurst Estates merge to form Fairhurst Buckley

Mon, 06/04/2020 The largest, independent surveying and agency practice in Stockport has been formed following the announcement that Buckley Commercial and Fairhurst Estates have merged. The newly formed company will be known as Fairhurst Buckley.

American investor buys Redx Pharma

Mon, 06/04/2020 The biotechnology company Redx Pharma plc is to be taken over by the American investor Redmile. Redx specialises in developing novel precision medicines which can treat conditions relating to oncology and fibrosis.

BrightHouse collapses

Wed, 01/04/2020 The UK’s biggest rent-to-own retailer BrightHouse has collapsed into administration. BrightHouse employs 2,400 people and operates from 240 shops. It grew out of the former Radio Rentals business. The administrators are looking for buyers for part or all of the business.

Carluccio's in administration

Wed, 01/04/2020 The Italian food restaurant chain Carluccio’s has gone into administration. The company employs 2,000 people. The business is likely to be mothballed for the duration of the coronavirus crisis with employees being furloughed.

March 2020

Non-essential high street businesses forced to close

Tue, 24/03/2020 The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing many consumer facing businesses to close their doors for the foreseeable future. All pubs, restaurants and gyms were ordered to close by the Government from midnight on 20 March. Non-essential high street businesses are also being made to close, leaving just supermarkets, pharmacies, pet shops, petrol stations, hardware stores, newsagents, post offices, laundrettes, dry cleaners and banks open.

Laura Ashley in administration

Thu, 19/03/2020 Laura Ashley has gone into administration after failing to secure sufficient funding to support the business. The 67-year-old clothing and housewares company employs 2,700 people and operates 153 stores across the UK.

All 531 Carphone Warehouse stores to close 

Tue, 17/03/2020 Dixons Carphone is closing its 531 standalone Carphone Warehouse stores in the UK, making 2,900 people redundant. The company says that another 1,800 employees affected by the closures will take alternative roles within the business. Dixons Carphone says that this part of its business will make a £90m loss this year and that it will now focus on selling mobile devices and connectivity through its shop-in-shops in 305 Currys PCWorld stores and online.

The Budget 2020

Wed, 11/03/2020 The new Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, has delivered his first Budget. Among the measures that will affect businesses are changes to the business rates regime and the rules for statutory sick pay: Statutory sick pay will now be paid to all those who are advised to self-isolate due to the coronavirus. Companies with fewer than 250 staff will be refunded for sick pay payments to employees off sick as a result of the coronavirus for up to 14 days.

Firms eligible for small business rates relief will receive a £3,000 cash grant and business rates will be abolished for companies in the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors with premises with a rateable value below £51,000.

Among other changes announced by Mr Sunak are a rise in the tax threshold for employees’ national insurance contributions from £8,632 to £9,500, the abolition of VAT on digital publications from December 2020 and the introduction of a plastic packaging tax from April 2022. Fuel duty is frozen for the 10th consecutive year.

Flybe collapses with loss of 2,400 jobs

Thu, 05/03/2020 The Exeter-based regional airline Flybe has been placed into administration as a result of insolvency proceedings. The airline has ceased to trade and is no longer able to fly or accept bookings. Most of the 2,400-strong workforce has been made redundant. Flybe was the largest independent regional airline in Europe, carrying around 8 million passengers a year between 81 airports across the UK and the rest of Europe. Flybe had already been impacted by rising fuel costs, currency volatility and market uncertainty but the added pressures put on the travel industry by the spread of the coronavirus in the last few weeks further deepened the severity of its financial situation.

DRPG expands

Mon, 02/03/2020 The communications agency Firehouse has been acquired by DRPG.

Wavenet expands

Mon, 02/03/2020 The telecommunications supplier Portal Voice and Data has been acquired by Wavenet. Established in 2000, Wavenet providers data, voice, security and technology services to over 8,000 SME and enterprise customers.

Vernacare bought by asset manager

Mon, 02/03/2020 The global alternative asset manager HIG Capital has bought Vernacare.

Tough Mudder out of administration

Mon, 02/03/2020 The obstacle course and mud run specialist Tough Mudder has been bought out of administration by Spartan.

Blackstone buys IQ in huge £4.7bn deal

Mon, 02/03/2020 The largest ever private real estate transaction in the UK has taken place, with the announcement that IQ Student Accommodation has been bought by the American private equity firm Blackstone for £4.7bn. IQ owns and manages more than 28,000 beds across the UK

Linetime is bought

Mon, 02/03/2020 The legal practice management specialist PracticeEvolve has acquired Linetime, a developer of software for the legal industry.

Danone expansion

Mon, 02/03/2020 Danone has bought a majority stake in Harrogate Water.

Incap buys AWS Electronics Group 

Mon, 02/03/2020 AWS Electronics Group has been bought by the Finnish electronics manufacturer Incap. The deal means Incap now has additional production facilities in the UK and Slovakia.

Searchlight buys majority stake in GRP

Mon, 02/03/2020 The private investment firm Searchlight Capital Partners has bought a majority stake in Global Risk Partners (GRP). Established in 2013, GRP is the UK’s second largest independent insurance intermediary.

Prosper Wealth Management acquired

Mon, 02/03/2020 Prosper Wealth Management has been acquired by Independent Wealth Planners. Prosper will continue to be run by its existing management team.

SCX Special Projects bought by private equity firm

Mon, 02/03/2020 The specialist engineering company SCX Special Projects has been bought by the private equity firm Elysian Capital. SCX specialises in designing and engineering specialist handling equipment such as bespoke cranes for the Royal Navy and the nuclear energy sector.

Clugston's shares in Barmston bought

Mon, 02/03/2020 Wilton Developments is now the sole owner of Barmston Developments after it bought out Clugston’s 50% share in the business.

Buyer for Distilled 

Mon, 02/03/2020 The digital agency Brainlabs has acquired the SEO agency Distilled.

Brickability buys McCann Roofing for £2.75m

Mon, 02/03/2020 McCann Roofing Products has been bought by Brickability Group. The £2.75m deal increases and diversifies Brickability’s European material supply and product range.

IFA Wealthtime bought by AnaCap

Mon, 02/03/2020 The European financial services private equity firm AnaCap Financial Partners has bought Wealthtime. Established in 2006, Wealthtime consolidates the investment portfolios and financial assets of individuals seeking advice from Independent Financial Advisers.

Dialog Semiconductors expands IoT base

Mon, 02/03/2020 Adesto Technologies, a provider of electronic components for the fast growing Internet of Things (IoT) market, has been taken over by Dialog Semiconductors. The £385m deal gives Dialog access to 5,000 new industrial customers.

Merian in Jupiter's orbit 

Mon, 02/03/2020 Jupiter Fund Management is to buy Merian Global Investors in a deal worth £370m. The deal enhances Jupiter’s position as one of the UK's leading high-conviction active asset managers.

Nominet increases cyber security capabilities

Mon, 02/03/2020 Nominet, the company responsible for running the run the UK internet infrastructure, has bought cyber security company CyGlass. The deal, the first time Nominet has acquired another business, improves Nominet’s ability to provide network detection and response systems as part of its responsibilities covering Domain Name System (DNS) security.

Arla Foods brings logistics in-house

Mon, 02/03/2020 Arla Foods is to take the logistics operation at its Hatfield site in house following the announcement that it has bought logistics provider PCL 24/7. All 470 PCL employees are expected to transfer to Arla.

Accenture acquires data science firm Mudano 

Mon, 02/03/2020 The strategic data consultancy Mudano has been taken over by Accenture. Established in 2014, Mudano uses advanced analytics, applied data science and modern data technologies to provide a range of consultancy services to the UK financial services sector.

BSW Timber bought by private equity firm

Mon, 02/03/2020 The private equity firm Endless has bought BSW Timber. Established in 1848, BSW is the UK’s largest integrated forestry and sawmilling business.

Edelman ventures into Kenyan market

Mon, 02/03/2020 The PR agency Edelman has further established its position in the pan-African market with the acquisition of the Kenyan communications firm Gina Din Corporate Communications.

Wellbeing Software acquired by Australian firm 

Mon, 02/03/2020 Healthcare software specialist Wellbeing Software has been taken over by the Australia company Citadel Group. Wellbeing hopes the deal will enable it to expand into new areas such as pathology and oncology systems.

ASSA ABLOY acquires biometric specialist Biosite

Mon, 02/03/2020 The security device manufacturer ASSA ABLOY has bought the biometric access control and software specialist Biosite Systems. The deal is part of ASSA ABLOY’s strategy of supporting domestic growth and boosting global expansion.

Cranswick expands pig operations

Mon, 02/03/2020 Cranswick has developed its self-sufficiency in UK pigs processed to over 30% following the announcement that it has acquired the Buckle family’s pig farming and rearing operations. In addition, it is now the sole owner of the White Rose Farms Limited pig production joint venture it set up with the Buckle family in 2018.

Fraser Brown acquired by Knights

Mon, 02/03/2020 The legal and professional services company Knights has strengthened its position in the East Midlands with the acquisition of Fraser Brown, one of Nottingham’s largest independent law firms, for £8.28m.

Adonia Medical Group acquired by sk:n

Mon, 02/03/2020 The Adonia Medical Group has been acquired by the skincare and laser hair removal specialist sk:n.

EDF acquires electric vehicle charger Pod Point

Mon, 02/03/2020 The energy giant EDF has moved to become a leading player in the fast growing electric vehicle industry with the acquisition of Pod Point. Established in 2009, Pod Point has provided the infrastructure for 62,000 charging points across the UK. The UK Government recently announced it was bringing forward its ban on selling petrol cars from 2040 to 2035.

February 2020

Google moves UK accounts from EU to US

Fri, 21/02/2020 Google is changing the legal controller for UK-based users of its services from an EU company to a US company. Until now Google Ireland Ltd was the service provider and data controller, but as the UK leaves the EU, the US company Google LLC becomes the data controller responsible for UK users’ information and for complying with applicable privacy laws. Like all EU laws, GDPR will continue to apply in the UK after Brexit unless and until the UK government decides otherwise, but Google’s move indicates that it is making preparations in case the UK and EU data protection regimes diverge.

TalkTalk sells its fibre network infrastructure business

Tue, 11/02/2020 CityFibre has bought TalkTalk’s fibre network infrastructure business FibreNation for £200m.

Xcede to merge with TechStream and Etonwood

Tue, 11/02/2020 A specialist technology talent group with revenues exceeding £100m has been created with the news that Xcede is to merge with TechStream and Etonwood. The three companies will share a group parent company branded as TechStream Group.

Renew buys Agger (parent company of Carnell Support Services) for £38m

Tue, 11/02/2020 Renew is to move into the highways sector with the acquisition of Agger, parent company of Carnell Support Services, for £38m. Agger is a provider of specialist engineering services to the strategic highway network.

Mindcrest acquired by DWF for £14.2m

Tue, 11/02/2020 The legal and managed services business Mindcrest has been acquired by DWF for £14.2m.

Kids Planet now UK's third largest nursery chain

Tue, 11/02/2020 Kids Planet has established itself as the third biggest nursery group in the UK with the acquisition of Kids Allowed. The deal means Kids Planet now runs 52 nurseries across the North West and Midlands.

Smith & Nephew acquires equipment manufacturer Tusker

Tue, 11/02/2020 Smith & Nephew has bought the American medical equipment manufacturer Tusker Medical, designer of a new system of ear treatments in children that avoid the need for general anaesthesia.

Keoghs acquired by Davies

Tue, 11/02/2020 The insurance specialist law firm Keoghs has been acquired by the professional services and technology firm Davies. Keoghs will form a new legal solutions division within Davies.

Engie withdraws from UK consumer market

Tue, 11/02/2020 French energy company ENGIE has decided to withdraw from the UK domestic energy market following the announcement that Octopus Energy has acquired ENGIE’s residential energy supply business, Qwest Energy and Roar Power. The deal sees Octopus take over supply of ENGIE's 70,000 customers. ENGIE is to focus on the business supply market.

Double acquisition for BAE Systems

Tue, 11/02/2020 BAE Systems has strengthened its position in the defence electronics and communications systems sector with the acquisition of Collins Aerospace’s military Global Positioning System (GPS) business and Raytheon’s Airborne Tactical Radios (ATR) business.

ClearCourse acquires CRM company Hart Square

Tue, 11/02/2020 ClearCourse has strengthened its position in the not-for-profit sector with the purchase of Hart Square. Established in 2009, Hart Square provides specialist CRM and digital consultancy services for charities, not-for-profits and professional membership organisations.

Cemen Tech cements takeover of Volumech

Tue, 11/02/2020 Volumech, a manufacturer of replacement parts for several makes of volumetric mixers, site service and mixer refurbishments, has been taken over by Cemen Tech.

Amerisur Resources acquired for £242m

Tue, 11/02/2020 Amerisur Resources has been acquired by the Latin American oil and gas giant GeoPark for £242m.

Sirius to be acquired by Anglo American for £405m

Tue, 11/02/2020 Sirius has secured a major strategic partner for its North Yorkshire polyhalite project with the announcement that it is to be acquired by Anglo American for £405m. It is expected that once developed, the North Yorkshire project will produce a premium fertiliser product and Amglo American believes this will fit well within its product portfolio.

Sabio increases market share

Tue, 11/02/2020 Sabio now holds a 24% share of the Spanish contact centre market following the announcement that it has acquired Team Vision, a provider of contact centre and customer experience services.

Triple buy for DMC Group

Tue, 11/02/2020 DMC Group has moved to further consolidate the managed print services sector with the acquisitions of Condor Office Solutions, Systems Technology and CSL Business Machines.

Bunzl acquires Joshen Paper & Packaging

Tue, 11/02/2020 The distribution and outsourcing group Bunzl has strengthened its position in the US market with the acquisition of Joshen Paper & Packaging, a packaging distributor which operates across 11 states.

Calligo acquires IT provider DC Networks

Tue, 11/02/2020 Irish IT managed services provider DC Networks has been taken over by Calligo.

Ground Control in major T/O move

Tue, 11/02/2020 Ground Control has moved to maintain its position as the UK’s largest private gritting operator with the acquisition of JW Crowther & Son.

Recycling specialist Enva buys SAR Recycling

Tue, 11/02/2020 SAR Recycling has been acquired by Enva. The deal for one of the main UK lead acid battery recyclers strengthens Enva’s specialist waste recovery business.

Ebiquity buys Digital Decisions

Tue, 11/02/2020 Digital media monitoring and optimisation service Digital Decisions has been bought by Ebiquity.

Craggs Environmental doubles in size

Tue, 11/02/2020 Craggs Environmental has acquired LCM Environmental, in a deal which will see Craggs double in size.

Breedon buys CEMEX's UK assets for £178m

Tue, 11/02/2020 CEMEX's UK assets have been acquired by the construction materials group Breedon for £178m. The deal includes 100 active operations across six divisions across the UK. The addition of 170 million tonnes of mineral reserves and resources takes Breedon’s total resources to over 1 billion tonnes.

GSK to split into two businesses

Thu, 06/02/2020 GlaxoSmithKline is to split itself into two separate entities. The Consumer Healthcare side of the business will operate as a standalone company, with ‘New GSK’ becoming an R&D biopharma company focused on science related to the immune system, use of genetics and new technologies. The split is expected to happen in 2022 and cost an estimated £2.4bn with a target delivery of £700m of annual savings. GlaxoSmithKline's consumer healthcare brands include Aquafresh, Beechams, Corsodyl, Macleans, Nicorette and Sensodyne.

January 2020

Beales in administration

Tue, 21/01/2020 The department store chain Beales has gone into administration. The 138-year-old Bournemouth-headquartered company has 23 outlets and employs more than 1,000 people. The business continues to trade while the administrators look for a buyer. Beales has been unprofitable for several years, with high rents and high business rates making it difficult to compete with online rivals.

Hyundai and Kia invest €100m in UK electric vehicle business

Thu, 16/01/2020 The Korean firms Hyundai and Kia Motors are to make a €100m investment in the UK-based electric vehicle company Arrival.Arrival says it is ‘reimagining vehicle design and assembly to create Generation 2 electric vehicles’. Generation 1 electric vehicles are existing fossil fuel vehicles retrofitted with electric power, making them expensive, inefficient and costly to run and maintain. In contrast, Generation 2 products will be designed from scratch, improving cost, design and efficiency. Arrival has its headquarters in London and more than 800 employees in five countries. Its immediate focus is on the booming electric commercial vehicle market.

Expedeon sells proteomics and immunology business to Abcam

Mon, 06/01/2020 Abcam has acquired Expedeon’s proteomics and immunology business, which includes Innova and TGR Biosciences.

£250m broadband investment planned following Swish Fibre acquisition

Mon, 06/01/2020 Full-fibre broadband provider Swish Fibre has been acquired by Fern Trading. The deal will see £250m of investment, starting with 10 Gigabit per second full-fibre network across 250,000 properties in the Home Counties.

Sykes Holiday Cottages buys Pure Cottages Group

Mon, 06/01/2020 The private equity firm LDC has sold Pure Cottages Group to Sykes Holiday Colleges. Pure Cottages Group runs more than more than 1,500 holiday homes across Cumbria, Cornwall and the Cotswolds.

Knights continues expansion with ERT Law acquisition

Mon, 06/01/2020 The commercial litigation law firm ERT Law has been bought by the legal and professional services company Knights

Doncasters Group on course to reduce operational site footprint by 50%

Mon, 06/01/2020 The capital investment firm Nimbus has acquired Firth Vickers Centrispinning and Paralloy from Doncasters Group. Doncasters has sold seven operational sites in recent months as it aims to halve its operational site footprint by 50% and refocus on its superalloy casting and superalloy production facilities.

News Corp sells ad platform Unruly to Tremor International

Mon, 06/01/2020 Unruly, the social video advertising platform, has been sold by News Corp to Tremor International. The deal will see News Corp receive 6.91% of Tremor International stock, a minimum revenue guarantee of £30m and UK CEO Rebekah Brooks join the board of directors of Tremor International in the “near future”.

Bovis Homes to change name to Vistry Group as Linden Homes acquisition completed

Fri, 03/01/2020 A new top five UK housebuilder has been created following the announcement that Bovis Homes has completed its acquisition of Galliford Try’s Linden Homes and Partnerships & Regeneration businesses. Following completion of the deal Bovis will change its name to Vistry Group plc.

Minimum wage increases to £8.72 an hour

Fri, 03/01/2020 The minimum wage for workers aged over 25, now known as the National Living Wage, is to rise by 6.2% to £8.72 an hour from April 2020.The rate for 21-24 year olds is due to increase from £7.70 to £8.20, while the rate for 18-20 year olds will increase from £6.15 to £6.45 and the rate for 16-17 year olds goes up from £4.35 to £4.55.

Operam Education Group expands further with Key Stage Teacher Supply acquisition

Fri, 03/01/2020 Education recruitment agency Key Stage Teacher Supply has been acquired by Operam Education Group. The deal follows the acquisitions of Teachers UK and The Education Specialists earlier in 2019.

Data driven recruitment specialist Caraffi bought by Investigo

Fri, 03/01/2020 Talent management consultancy Caraffi has been bought by Investigo Group. Caraffi specialises in the use of data driven diagnostic tools in the recruitment process.

FDH buys Aerospheres

Fri, 03/01/2020 Aerospheres, a distributor of aerospace aftermarket chemicals, has been acquired by American company FDH.

Johnson Services Group buys Fresh Linen for £12.5m

Fri, 03/01/2020 Fresh Linen, a supplier of over 900,000 items of linen a week to the hospitality market in the South East of England, has been acquired by Johnson Services Group. The £12.5m deal strengthens the group’s hotel linen portfolio.

Spanish law firm bought by DWF for £42.5m

Thu, 02/01/2020 DWF has further developed its international capabilities with the £42.5m acquisition of fast growing Spanish law firm Rousaud Costas Duran.

Bodycote buys Ellison Surface Technologies

Thu, 02/01/2020 Ellison Surface Technologies has been bought by Bodycote, in a deal which forms one of the world’s largest providers of thermal spray and engineered coating surface technology services to the aerospace industry.

Private equity firm buys majority stake in ARC Building Solutions

Thu, 02/01/2020 Newable Capital has taken a majority stake in ARC Building Solutions, a manufacturer and supplier of certified cavity fire barriers to the UK house building and construction markets.

Videogame developer Team17 buys Yippee Entertainment for £1.4m

Thu, 02/01/2020 Videogame developer Team17 has acquired Yippee Entertainment for £1.4m.

Circle Health buys BMI Healthcare

Thu, 02/01/2020 The independent hospital operator BMI Healthcare has been taken over by hospital group Circle Health. BMI manages more than 50 hospitals and healthcare facilities across the UK.