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Feb 26

Davies Veterinary Specialists sold to Mars Petcare

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Davies Veterinary Specialists Sold To Mars Petcare

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Location

USA flag

Sector

Business & Professional Services

Deal Type

Sale

Value

-

Bishopsgate advised on the sale of Davies Veterinary Specialists to The Linnaeus Group, part of Mars Petcare Veterinary Health Group.

Davies Veterinary is the UK’s leading veterinary referral hospital for small animals. It was established in 1998 by Dr Jerry Davies and his wife Olivia. It was the first specialist referral centre in the UK outside of the traditional university-based system. It has grown to employ more than 100 specialist veterinary clinicians, registered nurses and veterinary professionals and it provides care for more than 9,000 pets per annum.

 

The Linnaeus Group was formed in 2014 following the acquisition of Solihull-based Willows Veterinary Centre and is a leading provider of veterinary services through its national network of small animal specialist hospitals and bespoke practices. Linnaeus joined the family of Mars Veterinary Health businesses in June 2018. Mars Veterinary Health is a purpose-driven team of 70,000 passionate, pet-loving Associates spanning preventive, general, specialty and emergency veterinary care. It sets a standard for high-quality care for more than 35 million pets each year across 3,000 veterinary clinics worldwide.

 

Richard Cox led the Browne Jacobson team providing legal advice to Davies.

Bishopsgate Advisors

James McBain Allan

James McBain Allan

Partner

Nat Whitley – Clinical Director, Davies Veterinary Specialists

We are delighted to be joining the Linnaeus Group of veterinary practices.

We look forward to sharing mutual expertise and support, as well as continuing to uphold the same values through our shared commitment to excellence and our promise to deliver outstanding care.

James McBain Allan – Partner, Bishopsgate Corporate Finance 

Davies is a typical example of Bishopsgate’s long-term relationships with its clients, which has resulted in a fantastic result for the Davies shareholders.

We have advised on the two previous Davies management buy-outs which ensured we became embedded in the business and were able to drive value for all 16 shareholders. This evidences the continued appetite for UK assets from overseas acquirers and I look forward to witnessing the continued success of Davies as part of the Linnaeus Group.

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    Feb 25

    My School Portal Limited sold to The Access Group

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    My School Portal Limited Sold To The Access Group

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    Location

    UK flag

    Sector

    Technology & Software

    Deal Type

    Sale

    Value

    -

    Bishopsgate is proud to announce the successful sale of leading education software provider My School Portal to The Access Group.

    The Access Group, a leading business solutions and software provider for mid-sized organisations, today announced the acquisition of My School Portal, the UK’s leading provider of parent engagement software to the independent education sector.

    My School Portal will be incorporated into The Access Group’s Education division, which delivers an industry leading education management suite that supports exceptional learning for over 8,000 learning institutions in the UK.

    The addition of My School Portal to Access Education is the latest in a series of best-of-breed solutions that provide a fully integrated software service for education institutions in the UK.

    Bishopsgate Advisors

    Ed Wesson

    Ed Wesson

    Partner
    Sam Reynolds

    Sam Reynolds

    Associate Director

    Simon Baines – Managing Director, The Access Group

    The acquisition of My School Portal reinforces Access Education’s position as a leading UK provider of software solutions for education institutions.

    We are dedicated to supporting our clients through every school and parent interaction, offering end to end solutions that drive efficiency and improve their school’s operations.

    With education leaders recognising the growing importance that technology plays as they recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, integrating a parent communication and engagement system into the Access portfolio creates an unrivalled efficiency proposition. Schools use My School Portal to bring information and separate services together and engage with parents. This drives more effective and efficient communication between schools and parents, creating more meaningful relationships and better educational outcomes for pupils.

    Adrian Brown – Founder, My School Portal Limited

    The Access Group is recognised for its experience in accelerating product development.

    Investing in customer success and providing software that gives their customers the freedom to provide outstanding education – all principles which My School Portal holds dear. We are looking forward to My School Portal continuing this journey with Access and becoming bigger and better. Each of our customers will be able to take advantage of a far-reaching suite of best-in-class solutions, delivered from a single supplier and we are excited that My School Portal will now be an integral part of such an effective technology portfolio.”

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      Feb 24

      Flourish Management MBO by Management

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      Management Bought Out By Flourish Management

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      Management

      Location

      UK flag

      Sector

      Consumer

      Deal Type

      MBO

      Value

      -

      Bishopsgate Corporate Finance advised Flourish MGMT founders Pip Wass and Ian Chinn on acquiring a 100% stake in the agency from The Robert Street Hub and former shareholders, under The FM Group (The Flourish Management Group).

      It’s customers include Nike, Superdry, Hawaiin Tropic, Marc Jacobs and Mac. The group was established with the plan to take the influencer management and creative marketing agency to the next, with big expansion plans and exciting launches following over the next three years.

      Bishopsgate Advisors

      James McBain Allan

      James McBain Allan

      Partner

      Craig Johnson – Co-Founder and Managing Director, Fanatical

      Everyone here at Fanatical is thrilled to become part of the Fandom family.

      The synergies between our two companies are undeniable and the opportunities that this acquisition presents are both incredibly exciting and vast. We felt fully supported by our advisory teams – their joined-up approach, hard work and dedication ensured the transaction was a smooth one. We really appreciate all they did in successfully getting the deal done and can’t praise them enough.

      We felt fully supported by our advisory teams – their joined-up approach, hard work and dedication ensured the transaction was a smooth one. We really appreciate all they did in successfully getting the deal done and can’t praise them enough.

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        Feb 23

        Barracudas received investment from Private Investors

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        Barracudas Privately Acquired By Private Investors

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        Private Investors

        Location

        UK flag

        Sector

        Business & Professional Services

        Deal Type

        Private Equity

        Value

        -

        Barracudas is the UK’s largest operator of activity day camps providing the highest quality in care and enrichment for children aged between 4.5 years and 14 years old.

        The business has grown significantly since the opening of its first camp over 25 years ago and now cares for over 30,000 children every year across 42 locations.

        The investment will allow founder and Managing Director Neil Greatorex and the Management Team to accelerate growth through increasing national footprint giving more parents and children access to one of the UK’s leading childcare providers.

        Bishopsgate Advisors

        James McBain Allan

        James McBain Allan

        Partner
        Sam Reynolds

        Sam Reynolds

        Associate Director

        Neil Greatorex – Managing Director, Barracudas

        We’ve enjoyed the process and feel that the deal works well for all parties.

        We feel confident about future growth and development under this structure, it offers opportunities for key staff and at a personal level feels both right and timely. The BCF team have shown rigour and discipline but have been personable and reasonable throughout. At a board level I expect the investors to add significant value.”

        James McBain Allan – Partner, Bishopsgate Corporate Finance

        I enjoyed working with Neil and the Management Team and they must be congratulated on building an exceptional business.

        This deal again emphasises the quality of businesses we have here in the East Midlands/East of England and I look forward to witnessing the continued growth of Barracudas over the coming years.

        Dale Cowdell – Management Team, Private Investor

        We were delighted to support the transaction and, having reviewed the proposal and met the people behind it, we were quick to deliver full credit approval helping towards a timely completion.

        We look forward to seeing this business succeed and grow further in the years to come.

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          Feb 22

          Guttridge sold to Mitchells Group

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          Guttridge Sold To Mitchells Group

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          To client icon
          Mitchells Group

          Location

          China flag

          Sector

          Industrial & Manufacturing

          Deal Type

          Sale

          Value

          -

          Bishopsgate advised bulk materials handling provider, Guttridge, on the sale to China based Mitchells Group.

          Based in Spalding, Lincolnshire, Guttridge employs 100 people and supplies bulk handling equipment and solutions to a wide range of European and global companies.

          Privately owned Mitchells is one of the world’s largest bulk material handling manufacturers, supplying specialist conveying solutions and handling equipment to agri-food companies worldwide.

          The deal will see the combined revenue of both companies surpass $30 million.

          The acquisition vastly increases Mitchells scope and engineering capacity which already sees the Group service customers in six of the world’s seven continents, with equipment installed in 46 countries.

          The deal will expand the breadth of Mitchells Group’s service offering, allowing it to supply small capacity systems to local farmland through to large commercial port terminals.

          Established in 1962 and employing 100 people, Guttridge will retain its name and continue to trade as part of the Mitchells Group.

          Bishopsgate Advisors

          Ed Wesson

          Ed Wesson

          Partner
          James McBain Allan

          James McBain Allan

          Partner

          Mic Mittasch – CEO, Mitchells Group

          The acquisition of Guttridge is a significant milestone in the continued growth of Mitchells and our forever expanding bulk handling capacities.

          As a Group, we are now in a stronger position globally to offer our customers a much wider scope and range of products, particularly for projects requiring smaller capacities which is in growing demand in developing economies which is a strong focus of the Group.

          The synergy of both companies, more than anything, made the acquisition most attractive. With our current and future customers in mind, we see the deal as a giant step to support even more customers in expanding territories and cater to more industries – specifically biomass, waste, recycling, chemicals and minerals.

          We look forward to the beginning of a strong and successful relationship with Guttridge and its employees.

          In 13 years of Australian ownership, Mitchells has grown from a small original equipment manufacturer in China, supplying solutions to customers in Asia and North America, to a leading global brand supplying material handling equipment to the world’s largest agri-food companies.

          Peter Guttridge – Chairmain, Guttridge

          We are delighted with the acquisition and joining Mitchells Group marks a culmination of 50 years of hard-work and continued high-quality design and build of bespoke handling solutions.

          The deal will allow us to support both new and existing customers with a greater range and scope of products and materials, ensuring we provide the highest quality to meet their needs.

          The high-level of skilled engineers and technicians in global locations at both companies compliment each other and by working together we can further establish our global presence and become true leaders in our field.

          The future looks incredibly bright and we’re looking forward to a prosperous and successful relationship with Mitchells.

          Operating in 46 countries, across six continents, Mitchells Group is one of the world’s largest bulk material handling companies, designing and manufacturing bespoke solutions to support a vast range dry material handling needs.

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            Feb 21

            Exponent Private Equity acquired by Bullitt Group

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            Exponent Private Equity Acquired By Bullitt Group

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            Location

            UK flag

            Sector

            Consumer

            Deal Type

            Acquisition

            Value

            -

            Bishopsgate advised Exponent Private Equity on the acquisition of Bullitt Group, a designer and manufacturer of rugged mobile phones (utilising a number a global brands including Caterpillar, Land Rover and Kodak).

            Bullitt Group, the UK designer of specialist mobile phones, has sold a majority stake to private equity company Exponent and appointed industry veteran Pieter Knook as its new chairman.

            Bullitt, named after the Steve McQueen film, creates mobile phones with well-known brands including Land Rover, Caterpillar, and Kodak. The Reading-based company has been preparing to bring in outside investors to help fund an expansion of the business.

            It fielded interest from US funds, but has agreed to sell a controlling stake to UK fund Exponent, which has invested in a variety of companies including Radley handbags, the vegetarian food brand Quorn, tool hire company HSS and the Racing Post sports paper.

            Terms of the transaction have not been disclosed. The original founding team — Colin Batt, Dave Floyd and Richard Wharton — will retain stakes in the phone company, as will the Business Growth Fund, which backed it in 2013.

            The company has developed bespoke phones including a rugged handset with a thermal imaging camera for Caterpillar and a camera for Kodak with a lens 20 times the size of that on an iPhone. It is set to reveal the design for its Land Rover-branded handsets later this year.

            Peter Stephens, chief executive of Bullitt, said the Exponent sale was a natural next step for the business. “As the company matured, it was appropriate to have more institutional support. It has been founder-led for seven years,” he said.

            Mr Knook spent 17 years at Microsoft, where he ran the company’s mobile business. He joined Vodafone in 2008 to develop its internet and digital strategy and is on the board of TDC, the Danish telecoms company. He replaces Keith Pacey, the former chief executive of electronics retailer Maplin, who joined Bullitt in 2012.

            Bullitt said last year that it was preparing to revive the Marconi brand in Britain by launching new digital radios bearing the famous logo. Mr Stephens said that those plans have now been dropped, as Bullitt focuses on global brands such as CAT.

            The acquisition by Exponent represented an exit for BGF after almost five years of tenure.

            Bishopsgate Advisors

            James McBain Allan

            James McBain Allan

            Partner
            Morgan Atherton

            Morgan Atherton

            Managing Partner

            Craig Johnson – Co-Founder and Managing Director, Fanatical

            Everyone here at Fanatical is thrilled to become part of the Fandom family.

            The synergies between our two companies are undeniable and the opportunities that this acquisition presents are both incredibly exciting and vast. We felt fully supported by our advisory teams – their joined-up approach, hard work and dedication ensured the transaction was a smooth one. We really appreciate all they did in successfully getting the deal done and can’t praise them enough.

            We felt fully supported by our advisory teams – their joined-up approach, hard work and dedication ensured the transaction was a smooth one. We really appreciate all they did in successfully getting the deal done and can’t praise them enough.

            Interested in our services or have any questions?

            Get in Touch

              Feb 19

              Majestic Bingo MBO by Management

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              Management Bought Out By Majestic Bingo

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              Management

              Location

              UK flag

              Sector

              Consumer

              Deal Type

              MBO

              Value

              -

              Bishopsgate advised the Management Team of Majestic Bingo, one of the UK’s largest Bingo Club operators, on the MBO from Risk Capital Partners.

              Debt funding was provided by Shawbrook Bank.

              Bishopsgate Advisors

              James McBain Allan

              James McBain Allan

              Partner

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                Feb 17

                Microgard Limited sold to Ansell Corp

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                Microgard Limited Sold To Ansell Corp

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                Location

                Australia flag

                Sector

                Industrial & Manufacturing

                Deal Type

                Sale

                Value

                £59m

                Bishopsgate advised the shareholders on the disposal of Microgard Limited, a global leader in chemical protective clothing employing over 750 people across companies based in Hull, Xiamen (China) and Leverkusen (Germany) to Ansell Corp.

                Founded in 1975, Microgard is a leading manufacturer and supplier of chemical protective clothing with a strong track record of introducing new technology and designs to the market to improve wearer protection and comfort. They have sales in over 75 countries and a world class manufacturing facility in Xiamen, China. Microgard has grown rapidly, primarily in EMEA and APAC.

                “This acquisition is another critical step in building the Ansell body protection business as part of the Industrial Global Business Unit,” says Magnus Nicolin, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director at Ansell. “Microgard’s innovative range of chemical clothing for Industrial, Chemical, Oil & Gas, and Life Science customers complements our previous acquisitions, including Trellchem high-end chemical protective clothing from Trelleborg Protective Products, High Five entry-level disposable clothing and Onguard chemical protective footwear from Barriersafe Solutions International.

                Together with our current chemical protective glove range, we now have a world-class portfolio of chemical protection solutions, leveraging our strong global footprint and Ansell Guardian™ solution selling capabilities to help customers improve protection and productivity in a wide-range of end user verticals.”

                Bishopsgate Advisors

                James McBain Allan

                James McBain Allan

                Partner
                Morgan Atherton

                Morgan Atherton

                Managing Partner

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                  Feb 16

                  Janson Computers LTD sold to Exertis

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                  Janson Computers LTD Sold To Exertis

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                  Location

                  Ireland flag

                  Sector

                  Technology & Software

                  Deal Type

                  Sale

                  Value

                  -

                  Exertis, a leading distributor of IT, communication & home entertainment products as part of DCC plc, has acquired Computers Unlimited, a specialist distributor of products and accessories for Apple, the Digital Home, and Creative Professionals.

                  Computers Unlimited supplies a wide range of third party branded software, IT hardware and consumer electronics products to over 2,000 partners throughout the UK and Continental Europe. The business employs 200 people and operates from offices in London, Paris and Barcelona.

                  Exertis is one of Europe’s largest and fastest growing technology distribution and specialist service providers. Exertis partners with 350 global technology brands and over 14,000 resellers, e-commerce operators and retailers across Europe.

                  The Computers Unlimited business model aligns well with Exertis’ commercial structure and is an excellent strategic fit, bringing new product categories and specialisms to the Exertis portfolio. Computers Unlimited has a best-of-breed range of products sourced from more than 70 leading manufacturers, including Adobe, Epson, Griffin, Incipio, LocknCharge, Microsoft, Nemetschek, Parrot, Sonos, Wacom, and Western Digital. The portfolio of products also includes Flexson, an in-house developed range of accessories for Sonos, which includes stands and brackets, skins, and other innovative complementary products, all of which are sold globally.

                  Bishopsgate Advisors

                  Ed Wesson

                  Ed Wesson

                  Partner
                  Morgan Atherton

                  Morgan Atherton

                  Managing Partner

                  James Samson – CEO, Computers Unlimited

                  I’m confident the new combined business can offer strong growth for our current and future brands.

                  Over the last 30 years, I’m so proud of what the fantastic team of past and present people at Computers Unlimited have achieved for us and our brands. Over that time we’ve launched and built channels for more than 100 brands.

                  The opportunity to combine Computers Unlimited’s brand and channel building talents with Exertis’ retail, logistics and geographic strengths is very compelling. I’m confident the new combined business can offer a fantastic proposition and strong growth for our current and future brands.

                  Niall Ennis – Group Managing Director, Exertis

                  We are excited at the prospect of extending the reach of Computers Unlimited to the multiple retail channels that Exertis supports both in the UK and in France. This acquisition also extends the Exertis footprint into the Spanish retail sector, where Computers Unlimited has a growing presence.

                  Likewise, we see significant opportunities to expand the reach of the brands currently working with Computers Unlimited into the Exertis operations in the Nordics and the Middle East.

                  Ennis confirmed that everything is very much business as usual and that Computers Unlimited will continue operating under its own distinct brand identity.

                  The acquisition of Computers Unlimited with its strong track-record of distributing Professional Creative, Apple (iPhone/iPod/iPad/Mac) and Digital Home products is an excellent strategic fit for Exertis and the businesses’ combined strengths will create new growth opportunities.

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                    Feb 15

                    Undisclosed Client sold to Jain Integration Systems Limited

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                    Undisclosed Client Sold To Jain Integration Systems Limited

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                    Undisclosed Client

                    Location

                    India flag

                    Sector

                    Industrial & Manufacturing

                    Deal Type

                    Sale

                    Value

                    -

                    Bishopsgate advised an undisclosed seller on the sale of the business to Indian listed Jain Irrigation.

                    Bishopsgate Advisors

                    James McBain Allan

                    James McBain Allan

                    Partner
                    Morgan Atherton

                    Morgan Atherton

                    Managing Partner

                    Interested in our services or have any questions?

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