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The night-time economy is a recognised driver of growth across Europe and the U.S. and global cities like New York and London play host to some of the world’s most popular DJs and artists after-hours, throughout the year. Further afield, the Spanish Island of Ibiza is one of the most popular seasonal destinations and over the decades has seen rapid expansion of the business arms of some of its most recognisable brands…. Read More
M&A in the Biotech sector rose by 25 per cent in the third quarter of 2016 compared to the two previous quarters, but is still down in activity seen in 2015. This activity was driven by small and medium deals but also the biggest deal of the year so far; German drug manufacturer Bayer’s takeover of the US agricultural seed producer, Monsanto, for $66 billion. August was a period of buyer’s remorse,… Read More
The team at Benchmark International is often approached by business owners with questions about M&A and what the typical process looks like. As with most things in the business world, one merger or acquisition is rarely the same as the last, but there are some key areas that you need to be aware of if you are thinking of buying or selling a business. Here we answer some of the most common… Read More
Whether it is a food manufacturer acquiring a start-up that specialises in organic goods or a media company making an investment in app development, there is little doubt that a number of M&A deals are being driven by businesses wanting to make that shift to attracting a younger market. Accessing new markets through M&A enables businesses to build a safety net, or ecosystem, to ensure they are protected when times get tough…. Read More
Despite uncertainty surrounding Britain’s decision to leave the European Union in June, the British Fintech sector continues to grow and a flurry of M&A activity made last month one of the sector’s busiest months yet. The surge we saw in August comes on the back of what was a somewhat disappointing period directly following the Brexit vote. In July, only one deal of more than £100m in value was announced, in comparison… Read More
Following a summer of uncertainty post Brexit, investors all over the world are returning from summers spent on the beach, ready to do some serious M&A business to close out the year. We have seen a comparatively quiet year for M&A when you look at the figures for 2015, with deal values in the UK around half of the $215 billion that were announced at the same time in 2015 (Thomson Reuters… Read More
The reported record levels of profit generated in the global recruitment sector in the last few years has worked as a catalyst for high levels of M&A activity. The great news for recruitment is that this appetite looks set to continue as we approach the final quarter of 2016. Unsurprisingly, recent deals that have made the headlines have come from the major players in the market. August saw Randstad reveal its plans… Read More
Media M&A has picked up significantly over the last few years in line with the structural changes to the industry. With the increasing development of technology that is now readily available to consumers has come a growing appetite to digest media through a number of channels. In today’s world the power of print is dwindling, and virtually all newspapers and magazines now engage their readership through apps and, in some cases, subscription… Read More
In the first week of September, German companies announced M&A deals amounting to $72bn – a significant contribution to the country’s global share in M&A, which has now doubled. So far in 2016, German organisations have been linked to 8.1 per cent of M&A deals across the world. This makes 2016 the most successful year for German M&A since 2002, and almost triples the country’s global M&A market share from this same… Read More
Chinese Olympians managed to scoop a total of 26 gold medals at the Rio Olympic Games. Although the country’s medal haul was not enough to match its astonishing tally in Beijing in 2008, China finished a commendable third place behind the US and the UK in the medal table. While being usurped by teams USA and GB may have been disappointing for China, when it comes to M&A the country has its… Read More
Benchmark International is pleased to announce that a deal has been agreed for the sale of LTC Services Limited to Russell Taylor Group. Formed over 14 years ago and based in Blackburn, Lancashire; LTC Services Limited have grown to become a trusted employment and recruitment consultant. The company specialise in helping individuals getting onto the recruitment ladder and in permanent employment. Founded in 2005, Russell Taylor Group Ltd has been growing steadily,… Read More
Business culture is one of the most influential factors when it comes to mergers and acquisitions. Unfortunately, it is also often one of the most overlooked. When it comes to successful integration, culture issues are one of the biggest obstacles to overcome. The effective merging of two businesses is almost impossible if the cultures are vastly different from one another and ignoring integration can present significant challenges further down the line. In… Read More
The steep drop in the price of crude oil created significant instability and uncertainty across the sector, and traditionally-run organisations have had to make strategic adjustments and difficult decisions amid the crisis. Despite the recent challenges facing the Oil & Gas sector, the energy industry as a whole remains the most active sector within M&A, with dealmakers predicting that activity is set to rapidly accelerate over the next 12 months. While the… Read More
Some businesses engage in M&A activity to increase their capabilities in R&D or to leverage manufacturing operations. Others wish to increase their market share or gain a competitive advantage. Some need to diversify their products and services while others seek to cut costs. In some cases, it’s a change of leadership which leads down the M&A route, while other companies need investment simply to survive. However, one often-overlooked reason for becoming involved… Read More
Rumours will typically run wild when M&A is on the horizon, which can create an atmosphere of fear and unsettling instability within an organisation. We take a look at the challenges facing businesses when trying to keep a potential deal under wraps, why timing is everything when it comes to a deal announcement and the tactics businesses can use when controlling their M&A story. Challenges Maintaining confidentiality while negotiating an M&A deal… Read More
Benchmark International is pleased to announce that a deal has been agreed for the sale of Spectra Care Group to Octopus Investments Limited. Spectra Care are a group of companies who design, manufacture and supply disability equipment throughout the UK. With offices throughout the UK, Spectra specialise in the moving and handling of equipment and pride themselves on their vast range of innovative products and services that they offer. Seeking out new… Read More
The technology sector has long dominated M&A media coverage, with some of the most recognisable brands sparking the public’s interest with mega-deals grabbing headlines. Increasingly, these deals are focusing on one of the next big battlegrounds for technology companies: the cloud. The cloud is currently attracting significant attention for acquirers of all stripes, from acquirers of all kind, from tech giants looking to pivot to cloud technology to private equity houses. The… Read More
A month is a long time in business and nothing has demonstrated this as much as games giant, Nintendo. Just a few weeks ago we discussed the £11.1bn that gaming phenomenon Pokémon Go had added to the value of Nintendo, with shares soaring by more than 86 per cent. Now, we are looking at quite a different story. “Gotta Catch ‘Em All” Overnight, the whole world was talking about the augmented reality… Read More
Benchmark International are pleased to announce that we have been named as the ‘International Corporate Finance Advisor of the Year’ by the 2016 Worldwide Financial Advisor Awards Magazine. The magazine is a globally recognised publication due to the comprehensive awards program which they run, gathering votes from countries all over the world to recognise the most prestigious professionals within their specialised areas of practice. They are set-up to identify a select number… Read More
With Finding Dory set to be the blockbuster family movie of the summer, we are reminded of one of the most successful M&A stories from the last twenty years. Not only did Disney’s acquisition of Pixar Studios see the corporation’s luck start to turn, it also continues to provide a shining example of a successful post-acquisition strategy. Acquisition In 2005, Disney was struggling with creative output and failing to gain much commercial… Read More