Category Archives: Mergers & Acquisitions

Business & Property News, Business Mergers, Mergers & Acquisitions, News

Business advisory firm calls on Government to crack down on ‘unregulated and unchecked’ sector

Hilton Smythe writes to Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds to call for formal regulation of the UK business sales sector after multiple reports of sharp practices      

A leading business advisory finance firm is calling for the government to regulate the business sales, mergers and acquisitions sector which they say is ‘unregulated and unchecked’.

Hilton Smythe, based in Manchester, believes that a lack of oversight has allowed poor service and sharp practices to persist. This is leaving many business owners vulnerable to poor advice, opaque pricing structures and a lack of accountability.

The sector, which supports thousands of entrepreneurs and SME owners each year, remains largely unregulated despite its critical role in the UK economy.

Hilton Smythe argues that this regulatory vacuum has led to a sector that is unregulated and unchecked – with wide disparities in service quality. Some operators are failing to provide accurate valuations, clear communication or appropriate buyer matching.

Gareth Smyth, CEO of Hilton Smythe, said: “There are some operators in the industry who are falling short of acceptable standards. The industry needs to modernise and take responsibility for raising standards. Too many business owners have received unrealistic valuations or have been charged substantial up-front fees with little to show in return.

“We are seeing first-hand the consequences of a sector that lacks proper oversight.

“If we are serious about supporting the UK’s business owners through one of the most significant decisions of their professional lives, then we must ensure that advisers are operating to a consistent and transparent standard.

“There are certain companies acting like it’s without clear rules and accountability – allowing sales people with no experience to value businesses and passing clients on to third parties such as solicitors based on commercial interests, rather than competence.”

Hilton Smythe is urging the peers, trade associations and government policymakers to prioritise the development of a regulatory framework that would introduce minimum service expectations for firms involved in business sales. This could include fair and realistic valuation practices, transparent fee structures, proper due diligence and clearly defined responsibilities for advisers.

Smyth added that he believes formal regulation would protect clients, enhance trust and improve the long-term credibility of the sector.

Hilton Smythe provides strategic advice, valuations and support for UK entrepreneurs and SME owners looking to buy or sell a business. The firm is known for its values-led approach and commitment to transparent, client-focused advisory services.

For more information on Hilton Smythe, visit www.hiltonsmythe.com

Cambridgeshire, Engineering, Manufacturing, Mergers & Acquisitions, News, South East England News

MARCH continues buy-and-build strategy with acquisition of Cobra Engineering

MARCH has acquired Cobra Engineering (UK) Limited, a specialist in the design, fabrication and installation of stainless and carbon steel, including complex pipework and structural fabrications. The acquisition supports MARCH’s strategy to expand its UK footprint and enhance its critical asset care offering.

Based in Wisbech, Cobra employs over 60 people and completes more than 1,200 projects each year, primarily for food manufacturing and utility customers. The business offers both in-house assembly and on-site services, including planned maintenance and shutdown support, with a focus on repeatable, project-based work.

The deal strengthens MARCH’s production capability and adds capacity to meet growing demand across the group. By adding a strong regional presence in East Anglia, it further supports the company’s goal of expanding its UK footprint. It also aligns with MARCH’s long-term ambition to drive improved operational efficiency and asset resilience across the industrial sector, supporting customers in critical process environments as they adapt to rising expectations around sustainability and performance.

“Cobra brings established customer relationships, specialist skills and local presence to the group,” said Christopher Kehoe, CEO of MARCH. “It’s a clear strategic fit and builds depth in an important area of our offer, expands our UK reach, and strengthens our footprint in East Anglia. Just as importantly, Cobra shares our commitment to engineering excellence and high-quality service delivery, values that sit at the heart of our business. With this acquisition, we’re adding a highly capable team with deep sector knowledge and a strong reputation. We’re looking forward to supporting Cobra’s growth and ensuring its continued success as part of the MARCH family.”

Lyndon Clancy, managing director of Cobra, said: “We’re proud of what we’ve built at Cobra over the years, a team that delivers reliable, hands-on support and builds strong relationships with customers across critical industries. Joining MARCH is the next step, giving us access to wider capabilities and broader technical support. Importantly, we’ll continue operating in the way our customers know and value, while gaining the tools to grow and improve what we do.”

—

About MARCH

MARCH, formerly the Edwin James Group, delivers critical engineering services to support some of the UK’s leading brands. With a network of 24 offices and service centres across the UK, it specialises in managing complex, regulated environments, using technology to address the biggest challenges its customers and their industries face.

MARCH provides a total engineering solution, from infrastructure management and process optimisation to digital automation. The company focuses on delivering in highly-regulated, asset-rich industries, where it offers a single point of contact for managing assets across their entire lifecycle.

With a team of over 1,300 skilled professionals, MARCH is committed to enhancing productivity, efficiency, and sustainability, helping clients navigate the challenges of decarbonisation and operational improvement. Through long-term partnerships, MARCH serves key sectors such as industrial manufacturing, nuclear, aerospace & defence, the public sector, life sciences, food & beverage, and utilities.

Mergers & Acquisitions

Streets expands presence in North Devon with merger of Stevens & Willey 

One of the region’s largest accountancy firms has today announced plans to further expand its business operations.

In a move that will expand its presence in the south west of England, Streets is merging with Stevens & Willey, based in Barnstaple, near Exeter.

The merger sees Stevens & Willey become part of Streets, and extends Streets’ network of offices even further into Devon.

It will also add to its growing number of offices nationally and reinforces its commitment to being local in presence, but national in capability.

Streets now has a presence in Banbury, Bedford, Belfast, Brighton, Bristol, Burnley, Cambridge, Cardiff, Colchester, Exeter, Glasgow, Halifax, Haverhill, Hull, Leamington Spa, Lichfield, Lincoln, London (Covent Garden, King’s Cross, Shoreditch), Ludlow, Luton, Manchester, Mersea, Newark, Newmarket, Northampton and Kettering, Peterborough, Preston, Sheffield,  Stevenage, and Wakefield.

Commenting on the merger, which concluded on June 30, Amanda Hicks, Partner at Stevens & Willey, said: “We see the merger as a great match, both in terms of client focus and cultural fit, and we made the decision to merge the firm with Streets because we believe it is in the best interests of everyone – clients and staff especially.  Stevens & Willey was originally founded 70 years ago as a local practice focused on supporting the needs of local businesses and community in North Devon.  As part of a wider, thriving practice, we can confidently promise greater continuity of service to our clients alongside a wider range of services, which includes areas of specialist tax planning and personal financial planning.”

“Our team is equally excited about the future as they now have a greater opportunity to learn from a multidisciplinary group of professionals, progress their careers locally, and collaborate with like-minded colleagues who share a clear purpose and vision.

Paul Tutin, Chairman and Managing Partner at Streets commented:

“We are delighted to welcome Amanda, Ian, Helen, Jo and Andrew and the entire team to Streets. Their well-established presence in North Devon aligns perfectly with our strategic vision for embedding offices across the UK, and the merger complements our growing number of regional offices.

“We see great synergy and shared values in the way Stevens & Willey supports its clients, and it is especially pleasing that we can build on this strong local reputation while offering broader advisory services and greater opportunities for growth.

“This merger also comes at an exciting time as we embed our new brand, a clear signal of our commitment to evolve while staying true to our values with independent ownership, people-focused service and a dedication to supporting clients and communities across the UK.”

As part of the merger process, Streets Law, the firm’s specialist legal services arm, advised on all corporate aspects of the deal, working closely with internal colleagues across tax and audit.

The merger coincides with the recent launch of Streets’ refreshed brand and visual identity. Following significant growth, evolving client needs and developments within the profession, the new brand better reflects Streets today: a multi-disciplinary partnership of trusted advisers with more than 30 offices across the UK, working with ambitious clients while remaining rooted in the communities they serve.

It comes just weeks after Fitpro Financial Limited joined Streets, with the new combined firm becoming known as Streets (Belfast) Limited.

The merger extends Streets’ network of offices into Northern Ireland for the first time.

Acquisitions & Partnerships, Business Mergers, Mergers & Acquisitions, News

MARCH acquires Quantum to expand critical engineering services offering

MARCH has acquired Quantum Controls Limited (QC) and Q Electrical Industrial Services Limited (QE), collectively known as Quantum. The move strengthens MARCH’s ability to deliver critical asset care and maintenance services with a focus on energy efficiency and sustainability.

Established in 1989, Quantum is the UK’s largest independent provider of turnkey solutions in the design, installation, and maintenance of variable speed drives (VSDs), panels, and motors. VSDs and the motors they control are important to the operation of critical equipment, and faults can cause downtime or product loss. The company serves a number of high-profile customers across sectors including water utilities, manufacturing, and infrastructure, with its services helping organisations achieve significant energy savings and operational efficiencies.

Quantum’s expertise is highly complementary to MARCH’s offering, particularly in asset care, energy management, and decarbonisation. Its strong relationships with leading VSD and motor manufacturers enable it to support all major VSD brands, making it a valuable partner for MARCH’s customers. The acquisition also strengthens MARCH’s position in the water utility sector, supporting its ability to deliver specialist engineering services under AMP 8 frameworks.

Christopher Kehoe

“Integrating Quantum into MARCH expands our capabilities in servicing critical assets, said Christopher Kehoe, CEO of MARCH. “Quantum’s broad capabilities and support for all major equipment brands align with MARCH’s focus on energy-efficient, sustainable solutions, enhancing our Asset Care services, especially in sectors where downtime is costly.”

Quantum currently employs around 100 staff. The existing management team, led by managing director Dan Fitzsimons and supported by founder Kevin Brown, will remain in place, helping to ensure continuity for both customers and employees.

Dan Fitzsimons, managing director of Quantum, said, “This deal provides an opportunity for Quantum to accelerate growth and broaden our service offerings. As part of MARCH®, we can access additional resources and expand our reach while continuing to deliver the service our customers rely on.”

Kevin Brown, Quantum founder, added, “This marks an exciting new chapter for Quantum. With MARCH® supporting us, we’re in a great position to improve our services and drive future-focused innovation. Our businesses and teams complement each other perfectly, making MARCH® a great place for us to grow.”

 

Acquisitions & Partnerships, Appointments, Business Mergers, Mergers & Acquisitions, News, Technology, Wales News

Flotek Group Acquires Microshade Business Consultants Limited, Expanding Their Cloud Infrastructure Capabilities

Flotek Group strengthens its cloud infrastructure team with the acquisition of Microshade Business Consultants Limited, enhancing IT support and cybersecurity services for parish councils across the UK.

Flotek Group, a leading Managed IT and Communications service provider, is excited to announce the acquisition of Microshade Business Consultants Limited. Established in 1984, Microshade provides secure IT solutions for over 286 parish councils across the UK and holds ISO 27001:2022 certification, demonstrating robust information security management.

Microshade operates its Cloud Remote Desktop Service at the Southwest Data Centre in Plymouth, where Flotek already maintains a regional office. This acquisition will allow Flotek to provide local IT support and cybersecurity services to parish councils across the country. Additionally, Flotek has been collaborating with Microshade to develop its own Private Application Hosting service, helping businesses move traditional on-premises software, such as accounting software like Sage, Iris, and Pegasus, to a private cloud environment, thereby eliminating the need for on-site servers. This acquisition comes in response to growing demand from our customers for Flotek to offer private application hosting. Flotek’s initial acquisition was Gower Business Systems, a Pegasus reseller.

Jay Ball, CEO of Flotek Group, commented, “We’ve had the pleasure of working with the Microshade team for over three years, collaborating on various projects. During the acquisition process, Stuart Wilbur, the founder, sadly passed away. Stuart’s vision was to bring advanced technology to the parish council sector, a vision we wholeheartedly share and are committed to continuing. We see tremendous growth potential in hosting our customers’ existing server-based applications in our private data centre technology. This complements our existing Microsoft Azure technology offering, as both solutions have their unique advantages in the market.”

David Astwood, who will take the position of Head of Infrastructure, added, “We’ve worked with the Flotek team for a number of years on joint projects and have enjoyed collaborating on a private cloud offering. We look forward to focusing on growth across the parish councils.”

The Microshade team will form the new Cloud Infrastructure team at Flotek, continuing to deliver specialist cloud technology utilising existing data centre relationships and security positions. Microshade, a Microsoft Cloud Partner, will be fully integrated into Flotek over the next 12 months.

The acquisition was advised on by Siobhan Williams, senior associate solicitor at Darwin Gray. Siobhan said “We are delighted to once again be advising Flotek on another exciting acquisition. It’s always a pleasure working with Jay and the team at Flotek.”

Flotek sees significant opportunities in the parish council sector, where they already have a substantial share, and aims to drive innovation into other vertical sectors such as accounting and legal. Microshade, based in Plymouth, provides secure IT services, including cybersecurity, to national clients.

About Flotek Group: Flotek Group is a Managed IT and Communications service provider, delivering trusted cloud technology to businesses across the UK. Since its founding, Flotek has grown significantly, driven by a commitment to innovation, customer service, and regional expansion.

About Microshade Business Consultants Limited: Microshade has been providing secure IT solutions for parish councils across the UK since 1984, hosting applications primarily for accounting software. The company is a Microsoft Cloud Partner and holds ISO 27001:2022 certification for information security management.

Business, Mergers, Mergers & Acquisitions

Two south Wales storage businesses announce merger to drive growth and funding opportunities

CARDIFF based blue self storage Ltd (bss) and Maltings Document Storage Solutions (MDSS) have announced their merger to create a new entity branded as ‘Blue Storage Group’, while continuing to operate under the existing brands.

 

While both companies operate profitably and sustainably, the markets in which they operate are changing rapidly with the emergence of new digital technologies. Becoming a larger entity will allow greater investment in new systems and processes, and both companies to take advantage of new funding opportunities, grow operations and scale up geographically.

 

blue self storage is one of the leading container storage providers in the UK, providing storage services for homes, business, vehicles, and removal companies. The fast-growing company has facilities across the UK in Cardiff, Tyneside, Bridgend and a soon-to-be-launched Gloucester site.

 

Maltings Document Storage Solutions, based in Cardiff, provides reliable document storage and management solutions. MDSS has over 40 years’ experience providing its bespoke services in Cardiff and surrounding areas, with aspirations to expand further into England in the near future.

 

Chris Bryan, Managing Director of blue self storage, will assume responsibility for the strategic direction of the overarching entity that includes both companies, and Dean Daly will continue as Operations Director at blue self storage. Gareth Oram will also continue as a non-executive director of MDSS, with the day-to-day operations being steered by Commercial Director, Chris James.

 

Chris Bryan said “This merger will enable us to improve our current offerings, expand our services, and deliver better value to all our customers. While both businesses offer storage solutions to different industries, the infrastructure that’s required for both offerings are very similar.

 

“We have ambitious plans for Blue Storage Group; building on the recent opening of our Bridgend operation, we are currently finalising our plans to open a facility at Gloucester and have several other sites in the pipeline”

 

Gareth Oram added: “The merger represents a strategic move towards greater growth and efficiency. We believe that we will be better positioned to pursue opportunities and continue our aim to be one of the key innovators in what is a very competitive sector. Striving towards innovation, we have invested in the latest digital software and technology so that we can focus on consistent, high-quality service for all our customers, large or small.”

Employee Benefits, Mergers & Acquisitions, News

Benefits Experts Vivup and Perkbox Combine, Creating a World-Class, All-in-One Employee Wellbeing, Benefits and Engagement Platform

Strategic Majority Investment from Great Hill Partners to Enhance Go-to-Market Capabilities and Accelerate Growth Opportunities

Vivup, a leading provider of world-class health and wellbeing benefits, and Perkbox, an award-winning global benefits and reward platform, have this week announced an agreement to combine and a strategic majority investment from Great Hill Partners, a growth equity firm that invests in high-growth, disruptive companies.

This brings together combined strengths with the goal of offering a truly market leading solution for the UK’s public and private employee benefits sectors. Great Hill Partners’ investment will help the newly strengthened organisation scale its go-to-market capabilities, innovate product offerings, and accelerate organic and inorganic growth opportunities. Omni Partners (“Omni”), a lower mid-market focused investor in UK private companies, invested in Vivup in 2022 and will retain a minority stake to continue supporting the combined company’s growth. The agreed transaction is subject to Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) authorisation.

Vivup and Perkbox are powered by a global team of professionals, together supporting over 4 million employees across almost 7,500 organisations. This includes over 85% of the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), helping improve the lives of its people via leading employee wellbeing, benefits, engagement, and recognition & reward solutions. Powered by complementary expertise, this newly integrated proposition of world class products will be instrumental in supporting more organisations and their employees across Europe and APAC. Vivup brings a strong heritage and expertise of working with the public sector providing leading wellbeing, family care, and product expertise in Salary Sacrifice Benefits, giving employers tools to connect their workforce and help their people thrive. Perkbox is a leader in Employee Discount Schemes and Reward and Recognition technology that enables organisations to better motivate and financially support their employees. Vivup and Perkbox brings together two like minded organisations with an aligned mission and set of values that will help employers to better care for, connect with and celebrate their employees.

Day-to-day executive leadership will remain consistent across the combined businesses with Vivup CEO Simon Moyle serving as the newly formed company’s Group CEO, and Perkbox CEO Doug Butler serving as Group executive chairman. After 20 years in management and leadership roles delivering innovation and development in the UK retail services market, Moyle has spent the past five years leading the transformation and rapid growth of Vivup into the market leading employee benefits provider it is today. He has led Vivup to achieve record growth and created an award-winning culture that is people centric and empowering. Butler, who became Perkbox’s CEO in December 2023, brings over 30 years of leadership experience, having run businesses across the technology, telecommunications and the employment engagement sectors. Butler is a long-time executive working with Great Hill, most recently as CEO of former Great Hill portfolio company Reward Gateway, a global HR technology and employee engagement company. Great Hill Partners’ Drew Loucks, Chris Busby and Mats Heimes will join the company’s Board of Directors.

 

Simon Moyle said: “It is amazing to bring these two great organisations together. Pending FCA approval, we will be in the best possible position to support people and organisations across the UK in a very special and unique way. It is rare to find a combination such as Vivup and Perkbox where between us, we have the leading products needed across voluntary benefits, wellbeing and recognition and reward, yet very little overlap in the areas in which we currently operate.  When I joined Vivup over five years ago, our team consisted of 17 people. Since then, our team has expanded significantly to almost 400 and with the addition of our Perkbox colleagues, we will now be over 500 strong. I am so proud of every member of our team and cannot wait to welcome our new Perkbox colleagues and support over 4,500 organisations. These last five years have been amazing but our future as a combined company is going to be even better!”

“Bringing the combined resources and technical product and support capabilities of Vivup and Perkbox together will be boon to the thousands of public and private sector clients and millions of employee users who rely on our solutions to meet their needs and challenges,” added Doug Butler. “I’ve always admired Vivup’s mission and growth under Simon’s leadership and, now supported by Great Hill as an investor, our complementary technology, service offerings and people centric cultures create a perfect combination to support HR professionals and their people.”

 

Great Hill Managing Director Drew Loucks noted: “Today’s exciting milestone creates a new industry player that is well-positioned to capitalise on a large and growing market opportunity. Doug and Simon both have strong track records of scaling industry-leading businesses by creating successful, client-centric cultures and innovative product offerings. We are excited to support the teams and bring Vivup and Perkbox together to deliver a more powerful employee wellbeing, benefits and engagement platform in the UK”

 

Charles Gallagher-Powell, Partner at Omni added: “This deal validates our strategy of partnering with mission-led, fast-growing businesses to help push them to greater heights. Recognising these attributes in Vivup, plus a shared ambition and culture, drove our decision to invest in 2022. We’ve loved every minute of working with Simon and the team since then. We couldn’t be prouder of what Vivup has achieved and are excited to support the new combined entity as a minority shareholder.”

 

The investment from Great Hill Partners has also enabled Vivup to complete the acquisition of The Employee Resilience Company (TERC Ltd), providers of specialist counselling, psychotherapy and employee assistance provision, and Work & Life Partners, specialists in childcare, eldercare and petcare. Both transactions further support Vivup and Perkbox’s focus on becoming the leading provider in the mental health, wellbeing and family care space.

 

Great Hill Partners’ investment in Vivup and Perkbox builds upon the firm’s significant expertise in the employee benefits space, including investments in Reward Gateway, bswift, RxBenefits, Retiree First, ParetoHealth, PlanSource, and more. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

 

 

About Vivup

Since 2005, Vivup has been providing world-class health and wellbeing benefits to employees across the public and private sectors while arming employers with the tools to cultivate resilient workforces, retain great staff and win the war on talent. Vivup partners with almost 4,000 clients and supports 3.3 million+ employees throughout the UK.

Vivup was awarded UK Employer of the Year at the Investors in People Awards in 2022 and won Best Supplier to Work for at the Employee Benefits Awards in 2023. Simon Moyle, CEO was awarded UK Leader of the Year at the Investor in People Awards in 2022 and won Scale up Entrepreneur of the Year (North East) at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards in 2023. Vivup has also just been awarded Number One SME in the UK by Elite Business.

 

About Perkbox 

Perkbox is the global benefits and rewards platform that allows companies to care for, connect with and celebrate their employees, no matter where they are and what they want. With over 10 years’ experience, Perkbox is trusted by thousands of companies with users across the globe. Its location agnostic globally available platform helps companies with diverse and dispersed workforces harmonise their Employee Value Proposition (EVP) — keeping each employee happy, healthy, and motivated.

 

About Great Hill Partners

Founded in 1998, Great Hill Partners is a private equity firm targeting investments in high-growth companies across the software, digital commerce, financial technology, healthcare, and digital infrastructure sectors. With offices in Boston and London, Great Hill has invested in more than 95 companies, establishing an extensive track record of building long-term partnerships with entrepreneurs and providing flexible resources to help middle-market companies scale. Great Hill has been recognized for its industry leadership, being ranked #4 in the 2023 HEC Paris-Dow Jones Mid-Market Buyout Performance Ranking on March 6, 2024, which evaluated fund performance of 632 leading private equity firms between 2010-2019[1]. For more information, including a list of all Great Hill investments, visit www.greathillpartners.com.

 

About Omni 

Omni invests in mission-led, fast-growing and profitable businesses that are looking for their first external capital. These are typically high-margin, UK-based companies that dominate their niche, are driven by culture-focused management teams and make at least £2m EBITDA. Omni approaches investing from a different angle. With a unique team make-up and approach, Omni focuses on shifting the odds in favour of success to turbocharge its investments and ensure that everyone wins together. Omni is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. For more information, please visit www.omni.co.uk

 

Employee Benefits, HR, Mergers & Acquisitions, News

Vivup and Perkbox Merge to Form a Unified, All-in-One Platform for Employee Wellbeing, Benefits, and Engagement

Vivup, renowned for its top-tier health and wellbeing benefits, and Perkbox, celebrated for its global benefits and rewards platform, have announced a strategic merger, backed by a significant investment from Great Hill Partners, a private equity firm focused on investing in high-growth, innovative companies.

This merger unites their strengths, aiming to create a leading-edge solution for both the UK’s public and private employee benefits sectors. The investment from Great Hill Partners will enable the newly fortified company to enhance its market presence, develop new products, and pursue both organic and inorganic growth strategies. Omni Partners, a UK-focused investment firm that previously invested in Vivup in 2022, will maintain a minority stake, supporting the company’s ongoing expansion. The completion of this deal is contingent upon approval from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Collectively, Vivup and Perkbox boast a global team of experts, supporting over 4 million employees in nearly 7,500 organizations, including over 85% of the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). Their combined offerings aim to improve employee wellbeing, benefits, engagement, and rewards across Europe and APAC. Vivup’s expertise lies in public sector wellbeing and Salary Sacrifice Benefits, while Perkbox excels in Employee Discount Schemes and Reward and Recognition technology. This merger brings together two organizations with shared missions and values, focused on enhancing employer-employee connections and wellbeing.

The leadership structure will remain stable post-merger, with Simon Moyle, Vivup’s CEO, taking on the role of Group CEO of the new entity, and Doug Butler, Perkbox’s CEO, becoming the Group Executive Chairman. Moyle has a successful track record in transforming Vivup into a leading employee benefits provider, while Butler brings over 30 years of leadership experience across various sectors, including a previous role as CEO of Reward Gateway. Drew Loucks, Chris Busby, and Mats Heimes from Great Hill Partners will join the company’s Board of Directors.

 

Simon Moyle said: “It is amazing to bring these two great organisations together. Pending FCA approval, we will be in the best possible position to support people and organisations across the UK in a very special and unique way. It is rare to find a combination such as Vivup and Perkbox where between us, we have the leading products needed across voluntary benefits, wellbeing and recognition and reward, yet very little overlap in the areas in which we currently operate.  When I joined Vivup over five years ago, our team consisted of 17 people. Since then, our team has expanded significantly to almost 400 and with the addition of our Perkbox colleagues, we will now be over 500 strong. I am so proud of every member of our team and cannot wait to welcome our new Perkbox colleagues and support over 4,500 organisations. These last five years have been amazing but our future as a combined company is going to be even better!”

“Bringing the combined resources and technical product and support capabilities of Vivup and Perkbox together will be boon to the thousands of public and private sector clients and millions of employee users who rely on our solutions to meet their needs and challenges,” added Doug Butler. “I’ve always admired Vivup’s mission and growth under Simon’s leadership and, now supported by Great Hill as an investor, our complementary technology, service offerings and people centric cultures create a perfect combination to support HR professionals and their people.”

 

Great Hill Managing Director Drew Loucks noted: “Today’s exciting milestone creates a new industry player that is well-positioned to capitalise on a large and growing market opportunity. Doug and Simon both have strong track records of scaling industry-leading businesses by creating successful, client-centric cultures and innovative product offerings. We are excited to support the teams and bring Vivup and Perkbox together to deliver a more powerful employee wellbeing, benefits and engagement platform in the UK”

 

Charles Gallagher-Powell, Partner at Omni added: “This deal validates our strategy of partnering with mission-led, fast-growing businesses to help push them to greater heights. Recognising these attributes in Vivup, plus a shared ambition and culture, drove our decision to invest in 2022. We’ve loved every minute of working with Simon and the team since then. We couldn’t be prouder of what Vivup has achieved and are excited to support the new combined entity as a minority shareholder.”

 

The investment from Great Hill Partners has also enabled Vivup to complete the acquisition of The Employee Resilience Company (TERC Ltd), providers of specialist counselling, psychotherapy and employee assistance provision, and Work & Life Partners, specialists in childcare, eldercare and petcare. Both transactions further support Vivup and Perkbox’s focus on becoming the leading provider in the mental health, wellbeing and family care space.

 

Great Hill Partners’ investment in Vivup and Perkbox builds upon the firm’s significant expertise in the employee benefits space, including investments in Reward Gateway, bswift, RxBenefits, Retiree First, ParetoHealth, PlanSource, and more. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

 

 

About Vivup

Since 2005, Vivup has been providing world-class health and wellbeing benefits to employees across the public and private sectors while arming employers with the tools to cultivate resilient workforces, retain great staff and win the war on talent. Vivup partners with almost 4,000 clients and supports 3.3 million+ employees throughout the UK.

Vivup was awarded UK Employer of the Year at the Investors in People Awards in 2022 and won Best Supplier to Work for at the Employee Benefits Awards in 2023. Simon Moyle, CEO was awarded UK Leader of the Year at the Investor in People Awards in 2022 and won Scale up Entrepreneur of the Year (North East) at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards in 2023. Vivup has also just been awarded Number One SME in the UK by Elite Business.

 

About Perkbox 

Perkbox is the global benefits and rewards platform that allows companies to care for, connect with and celebrate their employees, no matter where they are and what they want. With over 10 years’ experience, Perkbox is trusted by thousands of companies with users across the globe. Its location agnostic globally available platform helps companies with diverse and dispersed workforces harmonise their Employee Value Proposition (EVP) — keeping each employee happy, healthy, and motivated.

 

About Great Hill Partners

Founded in 1998, Great Hill Partners is a private equity firm targeting investments in high-growth companies across the software, digital commerce, financial technology, healthcare, and digital infrastructure sectors. With offices in Boston and London, Great Hill has invested in more than 95 companies, establishing an extensive track record of building long-term partnerships with entrepreneurs and providing flexible resources to help middle-market companies scale. Great Hill has been recognized for its industry leadership, being ranked #4 in the 2023 HEC Paris-Dow Jones Mid-Market Buyout Performance Ranking on March 6, 2024, which evaluated fund performance of 632 leading private equity firms between 2010-2019[1]. For more information, including a list of all Great Hill investments, visit www.greathillpartners.com.

 

About Omni 

Omni invests in mission-led, fast-growing and profitable businesses that are looking for their first external capital. These are typically high-margin, UK-based companies that dominate their niche, are driven by culture-focused management teams and make at least £2m EBITDA. Omni approaches investing from a different angle. With a unique team make-up and approach, Omni focuses on shifting the odds in favour of success to turbocharge its investments and ensure that everyone wins together. Omni is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. For more information, please visit www.omni.co.uk

Acquisitions & Partnerships, Bristol, Business Expansion, Business Mergers, Acquisitions & Partnerships, Business News, Mergers & Acquisitions, News from England, South West

Rawlings Group Ltd Extends Service Offering with Strategic Acquisition of Paper Bag Company

Rawlings & Son Ltd (Rawlings Group), a multi-brand packaging and drink processing specialist, has acquired Paper Bag Company, in a seven-figure deal advised on by the GS Verde Group.

 

The acquisition brings together the largest independent glass packaging supplier in the UK and the market-leading supplier of bespoke bags for retail and business.

Rawlings Group has a rich history dating back to 1850, starting out by washing and recycling beer bottles and selling them to breweries. Today, Rawlings Group prides itself on its collaborative approach to packaging development and experience-led service, as well as having a focus on sustainability and working towards environmentally positive options.

Paper Bag Co. has been providing alternatives to plastic bags for businesses and retail spaces since its inception 18 years ago. The business draws on expertise in both digital and traditional printing techniques to create a wide range of high-quality, tailored paper, canvas, and reusable cotton bags for their clients.

Rawlings Group and Paper Bag Co. both prioritise an ethical approach to their products and supply chain. Through their accreditations and supply chain Paper Bag Co can offer a wide range of Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS organic) and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified products; this level of transparency underpins a shared culture and commitment to protect the environment.

Rawlings Group CEO, Tom Wood, said of the acquisition: “The acquisition of Paper Bag Co is an exceptional opportunity for the Rawlings Group. By expanding our product offering in this space we will further develop our range of packaging services that share an ethical and sustainable focus, offering clients an end-to-end service for most packaging requirements.”

Paper Bag Co. CEO, Jon Marling added: “Rawlings Group was the perfect option to continue our journey on a larger platform. The Rawlings team’s ethos and purpose are very much aligned with ours and we are looking forward to developing our people and growing our positive impact & synergies in the future.”

The multidiscipline team at GS Verde Group advised Rawlings at every stage of the transaction, providing legal, financial and tax support for a streamlined and successful corporate transaction.

Accountancy & Accounts, Mergers & Acquisitions, News

ACCA and IMAA sign co-operation deal to elevate corporate finance expertise

Strategic co-operation agreement to further mergers and acquisitions expertise 

Two leading global organisations, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Institute for Mergers, Acquisitions, and Alliances (IMAA), have forged a strategic co-operation agreement. 

ACCA, the global body for professional accountants, and IMAA, the leading institute in mergers and acquisitions training and education, aim to deepen the expertise of their members in crucial areas of corporate finance, particularly in mergers and acquisitions. The goal is to equip professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in these increasingly important areas.

Helen Brand, chief executive of ACCA, said: “ACCA is delighted to collaborate with IMAA. Both organisations have a global footprint and share a commitment to excellence in their respective fields. Our members are equipped with world-class accountancy qualifications and frequently find themselves involved in businesses where M&A activities and joint ventures are increasingly significant. This co-operation agreement will enhance the educational opportunities that ACCA members can tap into.”

The first milestone in this partnership will offer ACCA members preferential access to IMAA’s certification programs and courses. This will enable ACCA members to gain specialised skills in M&A, adding value to their existing accounting and financial management expertise.

Christopher Kummer, founder and CEO of IMAA, commented: “We are excited about this strategic collaboration with ACCA, a leading organisation in the global accountancy landscape. Our focus has always been on promoting excellence in M&A education and research. Through this partnership, we look forward to contributing to ACCA’s educational portfolio, while also benefiting from the financial management acumen that ACCA members bring. This is a win-win situation, enhancing the scope and impact of both organisations.”

ACCA members will have the opportunity to access exclusive discounts for all M&A certification programs and the IMAA exclusive valuation training with Prof. Aswath Damodaran, the leading figure in valuation. Furthermore, the alliance will produce thought leadership content to provide fresh perspectives on the evolving landscape of corporate finance and M&A.

For more information, visit ACCA’s website and IMAA’s website.