If you have children or know any young adults, you may have noticed them being even more engaged in their smartphones than usual. The reason is Pokémon Go – the gaming phenomenon that’s sweeping the world. Its popularity has added £11.1bn to Nintendo’s value within just one week and its share prices are at a six year high. We take a look at why Apps are making companies so profitable and attractive for investment.
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Why Apps Are Catching the Attention of Investors
Sport M&A Scores High
Love it or hate it, sport is everywhere, not only featuring on the back pages of our newspapers, but also dominating the front pages too. The business of sport generates massive revenue – it is estimated the global sports industry is worth almost $600bn, so it is no wonder it has sparked interest from investors over recent years.
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The Post-Brexit Mega Deals Opening The UK For Business
As the Brexit fallout clears from UK politics a new reality has set in. The new Prime Minister, Theresa May, has made it clear that the UK is still open for business. As if to emphasise that fact, only days after her official appointment, one of the UK’s largest and swiftest deals has been announced, demonstrating how the UK has maintained its attractiveness for investment from overseas companies.
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Benchmark International Advises On The Sale Of Jet Environmental Systems To Wozair Limited
Benchmark International is pleased to have advised on an agreed deal for the sale of Jet Environmental Systems to Wozair Limited.
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Benchmark International Advises On The Sale Of Web Age Limited To Cloudstream Technology Limited
Benchmark International is pleased to have advised on an agreed deal for the sale of Web Age Limited to Cloudstream Technology Limited.
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Benchmark International Advises On The Sale Of Oakwood Technology Group Limited To Thermotech Solutions Limited
Benchmark International is pleased to have advised on an agreed deal for the sale of Oakwood Technology Group Limited to Thermotech Solutions Limited.
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Consumer goods M&A up by $170bn
Amid worldwide market uncertainty and unprecedented political upheaval, it’s reassuring to know that there is some good news in the world of mergers and acquisitions. We take a look at how FMCG M&A over the last year has brought strength to the market.
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M&A and the Presidential Election
There are few things the M&A market likes less than political uncertainty and, following the results of the EU referendum and Brexit shaking up global markets, there is more to come in the form of the upcoming presidential elections in the US.
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Benchmark International Advises On The Sale Of Network Defence Limited To Novosco
Why The Appetite For M&A In Healthcare Stays Strong
M&A Activity Hits an All Time High
The corporate industry world has borne witness to some of the mega deals being signed throughout the year. Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer announced as $160 billion merger with Allergan. A deal that was, according to Bloomberg, “the largest ever deal in the history of healthcare industry and second biggest deal overall on record”.
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Increasing the Likelihood of a Successful Acquisition or Merger
In today’s environment of global competition, growth from within your company can only take you so far. One strategy is to expand through mergers and acquisitions, to enter a market or acquire innovation capability. It is risky as making a deal a success is one of the hardest tasks in business. So, how can you reduce the risks and increase the chances of carrying out a successful merger or acquisition?
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Record breaking M&A in China beats 2015 with six months to spare
In just six months, China has already beaten its outstanding M&A record in overseas deals from 2015. Last year, Chinese investors put forwards $111bn within foreign M&A deals and have, so far, spent $111.6bn in 2016.
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Big Data Means Big Deals
For a long time, big data has meant big business. In the first quarter of 2016, big data alone accounted for an estimated 70 per cent of M&A activity, according to a survey conducted by EY.
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M&A’s Silver Lining for the Brexit Vote
Regardless of which way the referendum goes this week, an end to speculation over the UK's membership of the European Union could pave the way for significant M&A activity across the FTSE All-Share.
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Letter of Intent for Mergers and Acquisitions
In a corporate merger or acquisition, it is imperative to make sure that both companies involved are on the same page in the early stages of the process. M&A is complicated and require costly resources, therefore it is important to know what each party is prepared to offer before proceeding with the transaction. One method to make sure that both parties are on the same page is to draft and produce a letter of intent (LOI), which outlines the deal points of the merger or acquisition and serves as a type of “agreement to agree”.
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How to Avoid Irrational Decision Making in M&A
When making decisions, most people tend to go with their gut feeling rather than relying on the accurate data available. People will not like to admit this, but as humans we find it very difficult to remain 100% objective. Inevitably, emotions become a factor when running a business which is natural as you must have some form of passion in order to run a company and make it a success. Particularly when it comes to a potential deal being made, emotions can outweigh cold hard facts.
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The Biggest Deals in Tech M&A
M&A within the tech sector saw a relatively slow start to 2016. However, analysts predict that the recent announcement of Microsoft’s intention to acquire professional social network LinkedIn for $26bn could trigger a tech M&A boom. So far, $209bn worth of deals have been announced, placing 2016 back on track to match last year’s record deal making.
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LinkedIn Deal Sparks Talk Of Another Tech M&A Boom
With the tech industry in the midst of a takeover boom, Microsoft’s $26bn purchase of professional social platform LinkedIn could be a turning point.
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Top Start-up Industries: The Future of M&A
It is true that the start-up businesses of today are likely to shape the M&A deals of tomorrow. In this blog, we take a look at the top industries for start-ups in 2016 and why investors should be keeping an eye on how these up-and-coming businesses develop.
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Top 10 Reasons Mergers and Acquisitions Fail
Lack of Urgency - Now, while the parties to a merger or acquisition cannot exchange commercially sensitive information prior to being under common ownership, there is more than enough critically important, legally permissible prep work to keep an integration team occupied for a few months before day one. However, the majority of chief executives are unaware of this and wait for clearance from the regulatory authorities. Speed is essential in the M&A game.
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How Technology-Driven Data Is Changing The Way Deals Are Made
For those who regularly engage in M&A, a large majority of them have begun to make technology-driven data analytics a crucial part of their toolbox, whether in the initial search for potential targets or other elements of the due diligence process. The term is one that is widely used for technology solutions to aid businesses interpret data as well as analyse business trends. Additionally, it provides a level of both sophistication and precision that was previously not there.
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Starting With Culture When Going Ahead With A Re-Org Or Merger
Activision recently completed its acquisition of King Digital, the company behind the highly popular mobile app Candy Crush Saga. $5.9bn was spent on an acquisition that is being deemed as a way of “accelerating Activision’s move into mobile gaming”. On paper this deal makes perfect sense, as both are highly successful and profitable. Complementary products and prowess, good income, what could go wrong?
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Will Apple Win The Content Battle Using M&A?
As one of the world’s largest companies and home to what is arguably the most successful consumer electrical product of all time, Apple which has forged a name as a technology giant, comfortably sits on a cash stockpile of $233bn. So, what does a company in this position do to continue on their path to technology and media world dominance? Recent rumours have surfaced that Apple is seeking to expand their empire through the acquisition of original content, breaking specifically into the television market.
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Communication is Key in M&A
The merging of two companies can, in any instance, create a significant amount of upheaval, worry or concern for the parties involved. Successfully integrating two organisations without any teething issues is by no means a simple process and, according to professional services giant PWC, the flurry of activity surrounding a deal means that good communication is often overlooked.
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Succession Planning In The Current M&A Market
This article has been produced to give the reader, some insight to developments within the mergers & acquisitions industry, as well as tips when considering funding.
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The Impact of the EU Referendum on M&A
The looming EU referendum has undoubtedly created much discussion and debate. While headlines have predominantly focused on two issues. Firstly, whether a Brexit would cause a dip in rates of employment and secondly, the position of influential figures and celebrities in the discussion.
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M&A Bridges the Gap Between Millennials and Television
Over the last few years, television has gradually lost its dominance as a source of entertainment, news and information. Viewers, and in particular the millennial generation, are now looking to digital platforms to access their favourite television shows, films, news broadcasts and sports fixtures. With this, television sets are slowly but surely becoming a thing of the past, as viewers increasingly turn to laptops, tablets and other mobile devices.
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How Business Owners Can Affect M&A Deals
At first glance, business owners are best-placed to oversee the sale of their company. After all, they are the ones who have been at the helm since the very outset and are likely to have an encyclopedic knowledge of the business’ history, finances, employees past and present and all of the key ingredients that have gone into its success.
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M&A Success: When Failure Is Not An Option
We often hear about the significant and market-changing deals that take place, however it is important to remember that there are those that don’t succeed. A study by the Harvard Business Review (HBR) showed that the average rate of M&A failure is at a substantial 80 percent.
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M&A Activity on the Menu
When it comes to M&A, the food and beverage sector has seen some interesting activity in the first quarter of 2016. This follows a record breaking 2015 which notably saw H.J. Heinz Company merge with Kraft Foods Group in a deal which is expected to result in the company posting revenues of around $28 billion.
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Why Cyber Security is Essential in M&A
As M&A activity increases worldwide, unfortunately so does cyber-crime. Now whilst the two are in no way related, there is no hiding the fact that there has been a number of high profile incidents in recent times, with major companies such as eBay, Target and Yahoo! all being the victims of such crimes.
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How M&A Impacts Your Staff
When businesses consider the possibility of a merger or acquisition, the benefits of the change are examined; improved profitability, availability of new markets and enhanced/strengthened competitive position. Now, while it is difficult to argue that these aspects of M&A can be extremely good for a company’s bottom line, the same may not be true for the business’ employees.
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Middle Market M&A
While there is much focus on large M&A deals, as well as a vested interest in start-up acquisitions, the middle market can at times be overlooked.
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Benchmark International Advises On The Acquisition Of Titan New Lifts Limited By Elevator Engineering Enterprises Limited
Benchmark International is pleased to announce that a deal has been agreed for the sale of Titan New Lifts Ltd to Elevator Engineering Enterprises Ltd.
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Good Health for M&A
2015 was recording breaking year for M&A healthcare, with over 1,400 transactions taking place and amounting to roughly £389 billion globally. We take a look at the recent surge in healthcare acquisitions and whether they are set to last.
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Benchmark International Advises On The Sale Of UPS Systems PLC & Data Centre Response Limited
Benchmark International is pleased to announce that a deal has been agreed between UPS Systems PLC and Data Centre Response Ltd.
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Benchmark International Advises On The Sale Of Spokemead Maintenance Limited To Bilby PLC
Benchmark International is pleased to announce that a deal has been agreed between Spokemead Maintenance Ltd and Bilby PLC.
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Benchmark International Advises On The Sale Of Programmable Systems Design Limited To Innovative Control Systems
Benchmark International is pleased to announce that a deal has been agreed between Programmable Systems Design Ltd and Innovative Control Systems.
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Benchmark International Advises On The Deal Between Tricorn Systems Limited And Valuechain.Com
Benchmark International is pleased to announce the successful sale of Tricorn Systems Limited to Valuechain.com.
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