Yesterday 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 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, 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)
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
