Benchmark International is pleased to announce the transaction between Essex-based ILS Holdings and Burnley-based EFS Global.

ILS Holdings is the parent company of subsidiaries Sussex Pallet Services and Independent Logistic Solutions, an East Sussex-based freight transport collection and delivery service firm that operates throughout Europe.

EFS Global provides warehousing, haulage, customs clearances, vehicle maintenance and logistics services across the UK and worldwide. It has over 32 depots, 600 vehicles and 1,000+ staff across its 25 companies in the group.

EFS Global's 23rd acquisition since 2015, the transaction further consolidates the group’s position in the South East after it purchased sister companies Eminence Transport Ltd and Floryn Ltd last year.

EFS Global has acquired the company's entire issued share capital, bringing on board a workforce of more than 40 people. It plans to implement a ‘business as usual’ approach with a strategy of building on what has already been achieved by ILS’ management team over the past few years.

The global wine industry is enjoying a ripe comeback following a few challenging years due to restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic. The strong comeback is expected to sustain into the future. In 2023, the global wine market is valued at $333 billion and is expected to grow annually at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2% between now and 2027. By 2027, a little over half of all spending, and 26% of volume consumption, will be for out-of-home consumption (e.g., in bars and restaurants).

The staffing industry has experienced steady growth over the past decade, which expects to continue in the foreseeable future. The lower middle market is an ideal space for mergers and acquisitions in the staffing sector, as this industry segment typically comprises small and medium-sized businesses. For staffing companies in this market, selling to a more prominent firm can offer a range of benefits.

The seller, Brookshire Learning Center, is an early childhood development institution that prepares children for learning in an engaging and secure atmosphere. Their numerous premier award-winning facilities stretching across Indiana, support the needs of families in local communities by superseding conventional daycare options. 

The architectural services industry comprises various companies that design and plan buildings and structures spanning residential, institutional, leisure, commercial, and industrial spaces. Key areas of expertise include knowledge of design, construction, zoning, building codes, and building materials.

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the acquisition of Dublin-based Macro Works by environmental consultancy APEM.

Macro Works is a landscape consultancy firm specialising in the landscape & visual impact assessment (LVIA) of proposed developments, particularly in large scale infrastructure projects such as wind farms, solar farms, road schemes, and water/electrical transmission. The company also produces photomontages, 3D visual simulations, glint & glare reports, and landscape design.

APEM provides independent environmental consultancy and expert advice to a wide range of industries including water, renewables, power & utilities, marine & ports, transport, construction, and development. The company provides digital aerial wildlife surveys, specialist marine, freshwater, terrestrial ecology, and geospatial services to organisations across the world.

APEM has offices in the UK, Ireland, Australia, Germany, and the USA. Since receiving private equity investment from WestBridge in 2019, APEM has seen its revenue grow from £10m to a forecast c.£60m in the current financial year, employing 540 people across five divisions.

Earlier this week, APEM announced it had secured a +£50m debt package and additional accordion from Tikehau Investment Management UK, with an additional £7.5m working capital facility from Virgin Money to accelerate its ambitious growth strategy.

Benchmark is pleased to announce the transaction between Electromagnetic Industries LLP and Olympic Controls Corporation. The reason for targeting was strategic expansion.

The value of the global packaging market forecasts to increase from $917 billion in 2019 to $1.05 trillion in 2024, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.8%. The market has seen consistent growth over the past ten years thanks to the expansion of new areas, changes in substrate choices, and shifting ownership dynamics. Also, many vendors in the packaging sector are working to grow their market share by building new production facilities for paper packaging. 

Vertical Integration

Vertical integration is a strategy that involves a company expanding its operations into other stages of its supply chain. This means that a company takes control of its suppliers, distributors, or both. Vertical integration can be achieved in two ways, either through backward integration or forward integration.

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the acquisition of electrical infrastructure specialists, Poise Group, by the BRUSH Group.

Rajic Agrawal, director at Poise Group, said this about working with Benchmark International: “What an amazing and professional group of people Benchmark have. This was my first time selling a company and without Benchmark we couldn't have done what we did. I have no words to describe their excellence in this field. Strongly recommend them to anyone.”

Poise Group is a design consultancy specialising in major infrastructure projects across a diverse range of sectors including rail, civil engineering, and electric vehicle charging.

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the acquisition of rc - research & consulting by management consult. 

Founded in 2002, rc - research & consulting, based in Bielefeld, Germany, is a well-known full-service market research institute. The company provides qualitative and quantitative research services to national and international companies. 

The manufacturing industry enjoys growth despite labor shortages, supply chain problems, and economic woes. 2023 holds many opportunities for the sector to capture more growth and turn risks into positives. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain issues are finally on track to ease this year. This is due to improved production and transportation capacity and replenishing inventories.

No matter what business you are in, we all know that life becomes much easier when we have our finances in order. Whether preparing for Tax season, doing an audit, or ensuring that your business is operating at its highest potential, having accountable financials is vital. This becomes especially true when you are trying to sell your business. Not only do your financials need to make sense to you, but they need to be as attractive as possible to potential buyers. A key to making this financial transition as smooth as possible lies in the hands of one person: your bookkeeper. 

After a very active year in 2021 and a reasonably robust market in 2022, M&A deal-making in the healthcare sector will soar in 2023 thanks to much corporate cash and private equity sitting on plenty of dry powder. Healthcare and health services companies are expected to actively explore M&A, divestitures, and other types of transactions, making it an attractive marketplace for parties.

We are proud to announce that our very own Brittney Zoeller, Global Creative & Brand Strategy Director at Benchmark International, has been named among the Top 10 Inspiring Women Leaders of 2023 by Industry Era Women Leaders magazine.

The global industrial distribution market was valued at $7.72 trillion in 2022 and is forecasted to reach $11.93 trillion by 2032, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.5%.

How do Economic Conditions affect the Lower Middle Market? 

The lower middle market is typically defined as companies with an enterprise value (EV) between $5 million and $100 million. A range of factors, including economic conditions, interest rates, and availability of financing, influences M&A activity in this market segment. In recent years, lower middle market M&A has been driven by several factors, including a strong economy, low-interest rates, and the availability of financing. Here are a few ways that current economic conditions can affect M&A activity in these key industries:

Benchmark International is pleased to announce that Cire Airos (Pty) Ltd. has successfully acquired controlling interest in Northridge. 

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) have come a long way since the days of tedious paperwork and manual processes. The evolution of technology has revolutionised the M&A landscape, making the once paper-intensive process more cost-effective, streamlined, and efficient. 

Don’t Delay

As a business owner, an exit plan is critical to preparing you and your company ready for retirement or your next act. Unfortunately, many business owners do not realize the importance of exit strategies, so they don’t feel like it’s worth taking the time to craft one. This is often a huge mistake. It doesn’t matter if you do not plan on selling or retiring soon. However, it’s wise to have an exit strategy for several reasons. 

If you are considering selling your company, you have several options for pursuing the sale, and you have quite a few decisions to make. And this is a journey you do not want to take lightly. You’ve worked so hard to build your business. When you sell it, you want everything right to get the value you deserve. In addition to extracting value, you want the process to be as painless as possible. These are the reasons you should consider having the representation of a reputable mergers and acquisitions firm. Partnering with the right M&A advisor can significantly affect your sale price. 

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the transaction between Integrity 1st, Inc and OneDigital, a portfolio company of Onex. This transaction creates a strategic expansion into the Colorado insurance market. 

In today's competitive business landscape, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) have become a strategic tool for companies to achieve their corporate objectives. This is because M&A can offer companies various opportunities, such as expanding into new markets, gaining competitive advantage, accessing new technologies, and achieving economies of scale. So let's explore how M&A can be crucial to attaining corporate strategy.

Benchmark International’s client Corptemps, Inc., is a staffing company located in Niles, Ohio. They have a fierce reputation for providing high caliber candidates to the manufacturing, warehousing, heavy industrial, clerical, and food production industries for over 20 years. They have become an integral part of the business community by assisting with screening, hiring, and human resource needs.

Benchmark International is delighted to announce the transaction between Redruth-based Feritech and Swedish-based Addtech Industrial Solutions, a business area in the Addtech Group.

The agreement is for 90% of the shares outstanding in Feritech.

Feritech designs, manufactures, and supplies turnkey engineering solutions for the geotechnical and subsea sectors through its extensive in-house manufacturing capabilities. Headquartered in Cornwall, the company has 21 employees and a turnover of approximately GBP 4.5 million.

C4 Laboratories (a provider of cannabis testing services) was recently acquired by SC Labs. SC Labs is a licensed and accredited cannabis testing agency with locations spanning: California, Colorado, Michigan, Oregon, and Arizona.

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the acquisition of Manchester-based Gottlieb by national packaging and labels services company, Macfarlane.

Established in 2001, Gottlieb is a supplier of packaging materials, hygiene products and warehouse equipment to a broad range of sectors including clothing retail, printing, and logistics.

Gottlieb, owned by A & G Holdings Ltd, has an experienced team of 15 employees, including two directors, all of whom will remain with the business following the acquisition.

Headquartered in Glasgow, Macfarlane is a listed company that was established in 1949. The company employs more than 1,000 people at 37 sites, principally in the UK, as well as in Ireland, Germany and the Netherlands. In 2022, Macfarlane reported revenue of 290.4 million GBP.

The acquisition highlights Macfarlane’s ‘buy and build’ strategy, aimed at delivering further stakeholder value. Meanwhile, Gottlieb’s customers will also benefit from the deal through Macfarlane’s range of protective packaging products and services.

The global equipment rental industry is rapidly expanding, with the global market size forecast to reach $120.7 billion by 2027. The equipment rental industry is set to experience significant growth in the coming years and is becoming an increasingly important part of the global economy.

Owner’s compensation is a key feature that is addressed in various ways in a CIM. Some variables affect how owner’s compensation is treated in a CIM. Some of these variables include how much salary the owner is receiving, the role of the owner in the business currently, and the owner's role following a transaction. Combining these variables will determine how owner’s compensation is addressed in the CIM. A key point that must be known is that distributions do not affect adjustments to owner’s compensation. Distributions do not affect the income statement of the business, so they are not to be considered when making adjustments for owner’s compensation adjustments.

Benchmark International is proud to have been honored with two new M&A Atlas Awards from the Global M&A Network:

• Industrial Services Deal of the Year as sell-side advisor for the sale of ARC Abatement to West Fork IP, an affiliate of Fernandez Holdings
• Consumer Services Deal of the Year as sell-side advisor for the sale of Classic Emporium, LLC, to Champion Xpress Car Wash

As well as understanding the fundamentals and financial aspects of any offer for your business, understanding ‘your buyer’ is critical to the success of the deal and your ongoing relationships post-completion. Whilst it’s not possible to know your buyer ‘warts and all’ at the start of the process, your team at Benchmark International will work with you throughout the process to build your buyer knowledge.

Step by step, we will work with you to ask the right questions at the right time, providing you with the information you need to make the all-important decision of who is the right buyer for your company, for your employees, and for you.

Several elements play into a successful merger or acquisition, from finance to sales and from operations to HR. Leading up to a transaction, it’s not uncommon for business owners to focus more on these elements and not the area of marketing as an important part of their M&A strategy.

Consider putting your company on the market for several reasons. The reasons can vary based on the stage of your business's lifecycle and what your goals for the future may be. No matter your situation, it is always a good idea to step back and look at the big picture to figure out your options. 

Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), based in Santa Clara, California, was the U.S.'s 16th largest bank until it failed after a run on its deposits in March of 2023, causing it to be seized by California's Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI), which operates under California Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency. The DFPI placed the bank into the receivership of the FDIC. It worked in offices in 13 countries and employed almost 9,000 people full-time. The bank was a subsidiary of SVB Financial Group, and then the bank's assets were transferred to Silicon Valley Bridge Bank, N.A., after its failure. It was also the largest bank by deposits in Silicon Valley, a region known for being rich in technology companies. The bank's customers included tech startups, venture capital firms, and wealthy technology players. It was the second-largest bank failure in U.S. history, following Washington Mutual's collapse in 2008. At the time of failure, it has $209 billion in assets.

Benchmark International has successfully facilitated a transaction between Florida-based JDI Ventures, Inc (“JDI,” DBA “Peak Performance Solutions”) and The Brydon Group, based in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Benchmark International is pleased to announce that flavoured coffee brand, Beanies, has joined forces with Greek counterparts, Cafetex, in a move it says could lead to significant turnover growth.

The North East-based label, which supplies major supermarkets and retailers, says the Paiania-based firm is similarly focused and the partnership creates synergies across a range of products within both firms' markets. It also brings an undisclosed cash investment, described as "significant" for Beanies, which will be used for sales and marketing activities.

Cafetex produces a number of flavoured coffee products including coffee pods – a market Beanies has just entered with the launch of compostable, Nespresso-compatible pods available in the UK and overseas.

John Evans, Beanies executive chairman, said: “Flavour coffee has experienced sustained growth on the high street in the 10 years since Beanies was created, notably through internationally known coffee shop specialists and fast food outlets. With this increased consumer interest, Beanies is in pole position to take advantage of this growth in the retail consumer sector."

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the transaction between peoplewise and Firebird Capital.

peoplewise is a business psychology specialist that combines a range of bespoke technology-led solutions, with a proven understanding of best practice techniques, to develop strategies enabling the long-term sustainable growth of organisations. 

Firebird Capital, founded in 2003, is a family-owned private investment company based in the UK and is focused on partnering with UK headquartered businesses that have ambitious management teams and a desire to grow. Firebird Capital’s client base spans the technology, healthcare, business services and financial services sectors.

Going forward, Firebird Capital's investment will be used to embark on a new phase of growth for peoplewise.

Benchmark is pleased to announce the transaction between Premiere Lawn Service, Incorporated, and Monarch Landscape Companies, a portfolio company of Audax Private Equity. The transaction creates a strategic expansion into the Washington state market.  

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the acquisition of St. Neots-based CWL by Marlow-based Atech.

Founded in 1992, CWL provides agile business solutions, including IT security and infrastructure to support digital transformation, focusing on the manufacturing, finance, retail, aerospace, and insurance sectors.

Atech is a leading Microsoft Solutions Partner, delivering complex, multi-platform solutions, cloud services and specialised managed security services to mid-sized enterprises. The acquisition of CWL forms part of Atech’s expansion strategy.