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Balfour Beatty strengthens US business

Balfour Beatty, an engineering construction, services and investment group, has bought US firm Douglas E Barnhart from its management. The deal is worth $116 million (£59.4 million), which was paid in cash from the company’s existing resources. Mergers & Acquisitions / Thursday, 5th June 2008

Wichford starts UK spending spree

An Isle of Man-registered investor has completed the first in a series of planned acquisitions designed to take advantage of the current downturn in the UK property market. Wichford, which invests in properties occupied by Government bodies, has bought St Anne House in Croydon. Mergers & Acquisitions / Friday, 30th May 2008

Scott Wilson’s Terence Lee bid

Design and engineering group Scott Wilson has agreed to buy a mechanical and electrical building consultancy in a bid to strengthen its underground infrastructure services. The London-based group has exchanged contracts to acquire Terence Lee Partnership in a deal that could be worth as much as £1.3 million. Mergers & Acquisitions / Wednesday, 28th May 2008

Balfour Beatty makes airport bid

An engineering, construction and investment group is to add a second airport to its business after agreeing a £14 million deal. Balfour Beatty is to buy a majority shareholding in Blackpool International Airport in an all-cash transaction. Mergers & Acquisitions / Tuesday, 6th May 2008

Asset-based loan backs Everwhite BIMBO

Everwhite, a supplier of plastic products used in buildings, has undergone a buy-in management buy-out (BIMBO) after being put into administration in January. The transaction was supported by £1 million from existing Everwhite shareholders led by John Moulton, along with a £3.9 million asset-based lending package. Mergers & Acquisitions / Monday, 28th April 2008

Hallmark goes fourth with acquisitions

Hallmark Hotel Group has continued its buy-and-build strategy by spending £25 million on buying four properties. The group, which was established last year to create a chain of regional hotels through acquisition, now owns five properties after adding sites in Derby, Carlisle and Bournemouth to its portfolio. Mergers & Acquisitions / Wednesday, 16th April 2008

Elysian makes the cut with debut investment

A landscaping and horticultural specialist trading as English Landscapes is looking for acquisition targets after it was bought by three of its directors. The Landscape Group is now under the control of chief executive Martin Hunt after he secured funding from private equity firm Elysian Capital. Mergers & Acquisitions / Thursday, 10th April 2008

Kinetics on acquisition trail

Sovereign Capital, a UK private equity buy-and-build specialist, has acquired fabric maintenance provider Lord via its portfolio company Kinetics. The acquisition is the fifth for the overall group in the past 15 months. Mergers & Acquisitions / Tuesday, 25th March 2008

Management’s Jolly buy-out

A Preston-based mechanical and electrical engineering services provider is poised for organic and acquisitive growth after its management bought the business. T Jolly, which has been trading for more than 100 years and today generates a £20 million turnover, changed hands for an undisclosed sum in a deal backed by NBGI Private Equity. Mergers & Acquisitions / Tuesday, 18th March 2008

RPS completes consultancy acquisition

RPS, a consultancy specialising in advising the natural resources industry, has bought RWG, a provider of engineering advice to the public and private sectors. The acquirer, which also supports the land, property, environment and health and safety markets, could pay up to £10.1 million depending on the acquired company's performance. Mergers & Acquisitions / Thursday, 13th March 2008

Landscape architects bought by European group

Whitelaw Turkington, a South London-headquartered firm of landscape architects, has been acquired by European engineering consultancy group Grontmij. The £3.6 million turnover company will continue to be led by CEO Lindsey Whitelaw and trade under its existing brand name. Mergers & Acquisitions / Thursday, 6th March 2008

Spanish eco-village project wins AIM funds

Classical Renaissance, a business planning to develop sustainable villages in mountainous regions of Spain, has received £2.5 million from AIM-listed investment company Low Carbon Accelerator (LCA). The funding is in the form of a profit-participating loan, and gives LCA an equity stake in the Spanish business’s UK holding company. Fundraising Deals / Monday, 14th January 2008

My best business decision: Andrew Stoddart

Andrew Stoddart, MD of Above & Beyond Architecture, says that challenging convention has been his best business decison. Achieving Growth / Thursday, 13th September 2007

Castle builds on success

While the start-up phase of a company’s life can be make or break, the next step in the evolution of a growing business can be even tougher. Breakthrough Clinic gives one company at a crossroads of expansion the chance to gain free advice on the possibilities for growth from an expert business adviser. Achieving Growth / Thursday, 11th May 2006

Universal Pixel’s £70m gamble

Universal Pixel took on the challenge of selling the most expensive new-build residential property in the UK. Had it all gone wrong, it would have been disastrous for the company. Founder Hayden Allen-Vercoe explains how and why he succeeded. Marketing & Sales / Monday, 20th June 2005

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