M&A Week Day 2: Northern creative companies acquired between 2010 and 2016 (part 2)

[ JUMP TO THE TABLE ]

mergers-and-acquisitionsYesterday we launched our week-long focus on mergers and acquisitions in the creative North.

Our exclusive piece of research, conducted by Zephyr in association with Knight Corporate Finance and Clarion Solicitors, brings together the deals to have taken place in the wider creative sector in the North over the past five or so years.

Tomorrow we will detail the Northern-based companies who have bought companies outside the North, while later in the week we’ll look at the VC, business angel and other deals.

But today we continue our look at the deals involving Northern companies who have been acquired – you can see Part One here.

Partners

Our partners for the M&A Week initiative:

Knight_Primary_Logo_DarkBlue-01Knight Corporate Finance was founded by Adam Zoldan and Paul Billingham in December 2008 with the specific aim of advising businesses and entrepreneurs in the telecommunications, media and technology (TMT) sector. Both founders spent long periods of their careers in senior commercial and operational roles in the sector and bring a unique level of experience to transactions based on genuine industry knowledge.

Knight advises its clients on Strategy, Funding, Acquisition and Exit, and has completed over 70 transactions establishing itself as one of the leading corporate finance boutiques in its sector. The business has a team of nine professionals with offices in London and Warrington.

Clarion-only-logoClarion, a Leeds-headquartered law firm, has brought together a team of highly rated lawyers, many from national and international law firms, who work without the restrictions and cost implications associated with international legal practices.

It is widely recognised for its expertise and dynamic handling of sensitive, high profile and complex situations in the UK and internationally.

Northern creative companies acquired between 2010 and 2016 (Part 2, Part 1 here)

Date Target name Location Subsector Deal value
mil GBP
Deal type Acquiror name
26/02/2013 LBM Holdings Ltd Altrincham Digital services 29.0 Acquisition 100% Stream Global Services Inc
25/03/2013 Acorn Web Offset Ltd Normanton Printing n.a. Management buy-out 100% MBO Team – United Kingdom
31/03/2013 Group A Ltd Newcastle Upon Tyne Digital Services n.a. Acquisition 100% LF Europe Ltd
03/04/2013 Fishawack Ltd Knutsford Marketing & Communications 13.00 Institutional buy-out unknown majority stake % Growth Capital Partners LLP
16/04/2013 Active Win Media Ltd Manchester Marketing & Communications n.a. Minority stake unknown % Mr Fred and Peter Done
17/04/2013 Campbell Automotive Ltd Skelmersdale Marketing & Communications n.a. Acquisition 100% Road Transport Media Ltd
24/04/2013 Starfish 360 Ltd Wilmslow Marketing & Communications 0.22 Minority stake Enterprise Ventures Ltd
29/04/2013 Peppermint Digital Ltd Altrincham Marketing & Communications n.a. Merger 100% Peppermint PR Ltd
23/05/2013 Concept PR, Edian Consulting Ltd Liverpool Digital Services n.a. Acquisition Kenyon Fraser Ltd
30/06/2013 Eclipse Marketing Ltd Leeds Marketing & Communications n.a. Acquisition 100% Stericycle Inc.
15/07/2013 York Mailing (Holdings) Ltd Leeds Printing 10.00 Minority stake unknown % Business Growth Fund plc
22/07/2013 Mere PR Ltd Altrincham Marketing & Communications n.a. Acquisition 100% BJL Group Ltd
05/08/2013 Branded Reality Ltd Manchester Marketing & Communications n.a. Minority stake unknown % AXM Venture Capital Ltd
08/08/2013 Works The Complete Design Facility Ltd, The Leeds Marketing & Communications 0.40 Minority stake 30% Concha plc
09/08/2013 WA Smith (Leeds) Ltd Leeds Printing 6.75 Acquisition 100% York Mailing Ltd
20/08/2013 Horner Brothers Print Group Ltd Leeds Printing n.a. Acquisition 100% Paragon Group UK Ltd
17/09/2013 Systems Labelling Ltd Deeside Printing n.a. Acquisition 100% Americk (NI) Ltd
17/09/2013 GDA Creative Marketing Ltd Barnsley Printing n.a. Management buy-out 52% Mr Alistair Farrant, Mr Jem Hager
20/09/2013 Datagraphic Ltd Chesterfield Printing n.a. Acquisition 100% Prolog Print Media Ltd
30/09/2013 St Ives Direct Bradford Ltd Manchester Printing 8.00 Acquisition 100% Cogent B2B Ltd
17/10/2013 Megahertz Broadcast Systems Ltd Leeds TV production n.a. Acquisition OKNO-TV (UK) Limited
17/10/2013 Eskimo Creative Ltd Nottingham Marketing & Communications n.a. Acquisition 100% RetroFuzz Ltd
21/10/2013 Travel Entertainment Group Equity Ltd Manchester TV production 22.26* Acquisition 100% Global Eagle Entertainment Inc.
01/11/2013 Learning at Work Ltd Bishop Auckland Publishing n.a. Acquisition 100% Learning Curve (JAA) Ltd
05/11/2013 IWORX PR Ltd Manchester Marketing & Communications n.a. Acquisition 100% DS Emotion Ltd
12/11/2013 Signman Designs Ltd Rotherham Digital Services n.a. Acquisition 50% Gala Tent Ltd
02/12/2013 Through Creative Ltd Macclesfield Digital Services n.a. Acquisition 100% Williams & Crosby Ltd
03/12/2013 Granby Marketing Services Ltd Blackburn Marketing & Communications 3.80 Management buy-out unknown majority stake % MBO Team
05/12/2013 Red Production Company Ltd Salford TV production 30.00 Acquisition unknown majority stake % StudioCanal SA
16/01/2014 School Diaries Ltd Stockton-on-Tees Publishing n.a. Acquisition 100% AlphaGraphics North East
20/01/2014 May Fifteen Ltd Carlisle Marketing & Communications n.a. Acquisition 100% Ms Helen MacKenzie
21/01/2014 Recommended Hotels Ltd Chesterfield Marketing & Communications n.a. Acquisition 100% Cultuzz Digital Media GmbH
12/02/2014 Write Angle PR & Marketing Ltd, The Chorley Marketing & Communications n.a. Acquisition unknown majority stake % Ms Judith McMath
24/02/2014 Coolpink Ltd’s business and assets Leeds Digital services n.a. Acquisition 100% Blue Logic Computer Systems Ltd
28/02/2014 Trader Media Group Ltd Manchester Marketing & Communications 700.00* Institutional buy-out 50.1% Apax Partners LLP
05/03/2014 Press Ahead (Media Marketing & Communications) Ltd Sunderland Marketing & Communications n.a. Management buy-out 100% MBO Team – United Kingdom
11/03/2014 Reproworld Ltd Leeds Printing n.a. Acquisition 100% ARC-UK Technologies Ltd
18/03/2014 Epiphany Solutions Ltd Sheffield Digital Services 18.00* Acquisition 100% Jaywing plc
09/04/2014 Addo Printing Ltd Leeds Printing n.a. Acquisition 100% HillPrint Media Ltd
28/04/2014 Jacaranda Productions Ltd Leeds TV production 1.50 Acquisition 100% Communisis plc
06/05/2014 Fat Media Ltd Lancaster Digital Services n.a. Acquisition 100% Netfonics Holdings Ltd
12/05/2014 Artemis Media Profile Ltd Birkenhead Marketing & Communications n.a. Merger 100% Mason Media Ltd
04/06/2014 Fresh Approach (UK) Ltd Cheadle Marketing & Communications n.a. Management buy-out 100% Newco
09/06/2014 Arteb Printing Ltd St Helens Printing n.a. Acquisition 100% Uni Packaging SAS
19/06/2014 Rectangle Group plc, PLM Communications Ltd Sheffield, Leeds Marketing & Communications n.a. Acquisition Home Marketing Ltd
24/06/2014 Facilitate Ltd Knutsford Marketing & Communications n.a. Acquisition 100% Fishawack Ltd
10/07/2014 Whole9Yards.co.uk Ltd Leeds Digital Services n.a. Acquisition 100% Pearson Crossland Direct Ltd
11/07/2014 Lexicraft Ltd Birkenhead Printing n.a. Acquisition 100% Raventa Ltd
16/07/2014 90 Degrees Design and Marketing Ltd Manchester Digital services n.a. Management buy-out 100% MBO Team
22/07/2014 Caterer and Hotelkeeper Ltd   Publishing n.a. Acquisition 100% Travel Weekly Group Ltd
24/07/2014 Just Shoots UK Ltd Stockport TV production n.a. Acquisition 100% 422.tv Ltd
31/07/2014 Bakershaw Print Ltd Newcastle Upon Tyne Printing n.a. Acquisition 100% Potts Print (UK) Ltd
07/08/2014 McGrath Rainey Laird Ltd Leeds Marketing & Communications n.a. Acquisition 100% Home Marketing Ltd
29/08/2014 Gavin & Page Liverpool Marketing & Communications n.a. Acquisition 100% Kenyon Fraser Ltd
24/09/2014 Go Direct Marketing Ltd Leeds Marketing & Communications n.a. Acquisition 100% YORK Mailing Group Ltd
26/09/2014 Kaymar Print Ltd Preston Digital Services n.a. Management buy-out 100% Mr Mark Brindle
29/09/2014 GSE Research Ltd Bradford Publishing 0.40 Minority stake Finance Yorkshire Ltd
01/10/2014 Mediastation Creative Solutions Ltd Manchester Marketing & Communications n.a. Management buy-out 100% MBO Team
13/10/2014 Media Ark Ltd Stockport TV production n.a. Acquisition 100% Hangar Seven Ltd
06/11/2014 Vibe Ltd Stockport Marketing & Communications n.a. Acquisition 100% Charles Mason & Associates Ltd
18/11/2014 First2Print Ltd Sunderland Printing n.a. Minority stake unknown % Precision Printing Co Ltd
27/11/2014 Digital XL Services Ltd Cramlington Printing n.a. Acquisition 100% Potts Print (UK) Ltd
28/11/2014 Fist of Fury Ltd Tadcaster Marketing & Communications n.a. Acquisition 100% First 10 Digital Ltd
19/12/2014 Ashes Group Ltd Leeds Printing n.a. Acquisition 100% Print Trade Suppliers Ltd
31/12/2014 i-Resources Ltd Newcastle Upon Tyne Marketing & Communications 0.08* Minority stake unknown % Northstar Ventures Ltd
31/12/2014 Cloudspotting Ltd Huddersfield Marketing & Communications n.a. Acquisition 100% Attercopia Ltd
05/01/2015 Life Marketing Consultancy Ltd Leeds Marketing & Communications 14 Acquisition 100% Communisis plc
23/01/2015 Cotterill Cook (Printers) Ltd Manchester Printing n.a. Acquisition 100% Nottingham Label Company Ltd
23/01/2015 So…PR Ltd Manchester Marketing & Communications n.a. Acquisition 100% MUSE Group Ltd
18/02/2015 Tecmark Ltd Manchester Marketing & Communications n.a. Minority stake unknown % AXM Venture Capital Ltd
13/03/2015 Garnett Dickinson Holdings Ltd Rotherham Marketing & Communications n.a. Acquisition 100% Wagner Investments
25/03/2015 Kleeneze Ltd Accrington Marketing & Communications 3.40 Acquisition 100% Trillium Pond AG
30/03/2015 Learning Curve Group Bishop Acuckland Publishing n.a. Management buy-out unknown majority stake % MML Capital Partners Limited
13/04/2015 Cicada Communications Ltd Cleckheaton Marketing & Communications n.a. Management buy-out 100% MBO Team – United Kingdom
14/04/2015 Fluid Creativity Ltd Stockport Marketing & Communications n.a. Acquisition 100% We Are AD Ltd
27/04/2015 Pro-Mark Media Ltd Chorley Publishing n.a. Acquisition 100% BiP Solutions Ltd
07/05/2015 Zazzle Media Ltd Leeds Digital Services n.a. Acquisition 100% Optimum4 Ltd
04/06/2015 Crazyhorse Creative Ltd Leeds Marketing & Communications n.a. Acquisition 100% Blue Logic Digital LLP
19/08/2015 Summit Hull Marketing & Communications n.a. Minority stake unknown % RCapital Partners LLP
03/09/2015 York Mailing (Holdings) Ltd Leeds Marketing & Communications n.a. Management buy-out unknown majority stake % MBO Team – United Kingdom
09/09/2015 TW Parker (Paper) Ltd Bootle Printing n.a. Management buy-out unknown majority stake % TW Parker (Holdings) Ltd
10/11/2015 SA Labels Ltd Keighley Printing n.a. Acquisition 100% Reflex Group Ltd
10/11/2015 e3creative Ltd Manchester Marketing & Communications n.a. Acquisition 50% Mr Gary Neville
23/11/2015 Contact Print and Packaging Ltd Stockport Printing n.a. Acquisition 100% Glossop Cartons and Print Ltd
26/11/2015 Link 88 Ltd Leeds Printing n.a. Acquisition 100% Call Print Group Ltd
27/11/2015 Marketlaw Ltd Wilmslow Printing n.a. Management buy-in 100% Mr Brian Corcoran
25/01/2016 SR Print Management Ltd Normanton Printing n.a. Acquisition 100% Hague Computer Supplies Ltd
29/01/2016 Hudson and Pearson Ltd’s buildings and assets Burnley Printing 0.93* Acquisition 100% Calderprint Ltd
03/02/2016 Wilding & Hall Ltd Harrogate Printing n.a. Acquisition 100% Platinum Print Ltd
26/02/2016 Auto Trader Group plc Manchester Marketing & Communications 852.76* Minority stake 23.339%  
29/04/2016 Imagesound plc Chesterfield Music Production 10.23* Acquisition unknown majority stake % ECI Partners LLP

M&A Week Day 1: Northern creative companies acquired between 2010 and 2016 (part 1)

zephyr

Data compiled by Zephyr

See our full M&A series:

M&A Week Day 1: Northern creative companies acquired between 2010 and 2016
M&A Week Day 2: Northern creative companies acquired between 2010 and 2016 (part 2)
M&A Week Day 3: The Northern acquirers buying companies based elsewhere
M&A Week Day 4: Northern targets for Private Equity and VC deals
M&A Week Day 5: Mergers and acquisitions in the creative industries: a concluding perspective

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