Benchmark International has advised on the successful recapitalization of G.W. Shultz Tool, Inc.(GWS) by Addison Capital Partners (ACP) in partnership with the management team of GWS in an undisclosed deal.

Benchmark International has advised on the successful sale of Braille Battery, Inc. to Grafoid Inc. for an undisclosed sum.

July saw the UK’s total deal volume soar by almost 20 per cent, according to Experian Corpfin, recording the highest regional growth across the world.

Benchmark International is immensely proud to have been named ‘International Corporate Finance Adviser of the Year’ at Acquisition International’s 2014 Finance Awards.

Whilst discussing the state of the current M&A mid-market with business owners, the question arising most frequently is usually “is now the right time?”

Benchmark International were recently mentioned on Bloomberg TV in a feature revolving around Deal Nexus, an M&A platform which brings sellers and buyers together from around the globe.

Benchmark International has advised on the successful sale of Bailey Morris Limited to Indutrade for an undisclosed sum, the second acquisition of a Benchmark International-advised company by Indutrade within 12 months.

Benchmark International has advised on the successful sale of Universal Air Tool Company Limited (UAT) to P&F Industries, Inc. (P&F) for  seven times the Company’s EBITDA.

Benchmark International is proud to announce that it has reached a sponsorship agreement with Cannock Town Football Club (Under 9s).

Many business owners believe they can sell their business on their own, without using the services of an M&A adviser. That may be the case; however, this viewpoint fails to consider the negative effect on the business that the process of selling and the time it takes will have. Whilst a business owner could potentially sell without specialist advice, it’s highly likely that the eventual value received will be much lower – indeed, without an experienced M&A research, marketing and negotiating team behind them, it almost certainly will be.

When it comes to the motives and objectives of acquirers seeking to purchase a business, regardless of whether they are financial purchasers such as private equity groups, or strategic purchasers such as larger corporates looking for bolt-on opportunities, the key value drivers of the potential acquisition largely remain unchanged.

Glasgow-based confectionery and soft drink import and distribution specialist Dexters Confectionery Limited has entered a joint venture with Unex Private Equity in an undisclosed deal.

As part of Benchmark International’s commitment to making a positive impact on our local and wider environment, we actively participate in a number of environmental schemes.

“The primary drivers of middle-market deal flow, company and industry performance, capital availability, macro-economic conditions, and private equity values are more favourable to the private business seller than at any time since the mid-2000s.” That is the view of Andy Greenberg, CEO of private equity data resource specialist GF Data, an organisation well positioned to make a judgment, based on purely data-driven analysis.

Many business owners make one key mistake when selling their business: underestimating the value of their M&A adviser. Business owners will often marginalise their appointed M&A adviser to such an extent that it may seem their role is overly costly;however, whilst not all M&A advisers can justify their costs, a good one with strong credentials will surprise most of their clients by truly demonstrating the value an adviser can actually add.

Benchmark International is proud to have been named ‘Dealmaker of the Year’ at the Acquisition International M&A Awards 2014.

Risk is the most influential factor when buyers are deciding whether to make an acquisition or investment. In cases where an acquisition opportunity has greater growth potential than a comparative opportunity which represents lower risk, the majority of acquirers will pursue the latter.

Another milestone is set down as Benchmark International proudly announces that that our Twitter account has now surpassed the 1,000 follower mark.

According to data from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., bank lending has increased by $37 billion during the first three months of the year, the greatest jump in any first quarter since 2008.

Retained by Venturian Group and its shareholders of Miami Florida, USA, Benchmark International successfully facilitated the sale of the Company to Intelligent Living Inc.

Benchmark International has advised on the successful sale of Vibration Control Services to The Practice Care Maintenance Services Ltd, trading as PCMS Engineering.

Benchmark International’s corporate finance team was the proud recipient of the prestigious ‘Team of the Year’ award at the Insider Young Professionals Awards 2014, beating off competition from fellow nominees KPMG and Savills.

Acting on behalf of BlueForge LLC (“BlueForge”) and its shareholders of St Petersburg, Florida, USA, Benchmark International successfully facilitated the sale of BlueForge to ARGO Systems, LLC (“ARGO”).

Last night Benchmark International was proud to sponsor and attended the annual Private Equity Awards, hosted by RealDeals.

Benchmark International is delighted to announce the sale of Cable Accessories, based in Suffolk, to Dalroad Norslo, a Bedfordshire distributor of automation components.

Founded in 2001, Cable Accessories was set up to distribute products made by electrical parts maker Grote & Hartmann after the closure of its UK manufacturing facility. It was originally based in St Albans but moved to Leiston in December 2006.

Lower mid-market deals have been driving M&A activity through the first quarter of 2014, a trend that is yet to show signs of shifting. The primary reasoning behind this trend appears to be a matter of perceived risk.

Benchmark International has advised on the successful sale of Cable Accessories to Dalroad Norslo Group for an undisclosed sum.

Benchmark International’s corporate finance team has been nominated for the prestigious ‘Team of the Year’ award at Insider’s ‘Young Professional Awards 2014’.

No two companies are ever the same, as is the case with their owners. For this reason it makes no sense to adopt a ‘one size fits all’ approach when it comes to deal structures as a solution which may work for one company and the personal objectives of its owners may not be suitable for another.

At Benchmark International we always encourage that business owners to plan their exit in advance, as businesses which are ‘deal ready’ often attract the highest values.

Benchmark International has advised on the successful sale of Network Technology Solutions (UK) to Capita IT Services for an undisclosed sum.

The Chancellor, George Osbourne delivered his 5^th and final pre-election Budget yesterday with a continuing pro-business agenda underlying it.

George Osbourne’s 2014 Budget has picked up where its predecessor left off for business owners, many of whom should continue to benefit from the government’s commitment to ensuring Britain remains one of the world’s most hospitable business environments.

The majority of our clients instruct Benchmark International with the task of generating the highest possible value for their company. Although this is our primary objective in any case, it is fully understandable that an outgoing business owner would wish to secure maximum value for what is possibly their most significant asset – it’s human nature, after all.

Benchmark International is pleased to announce that one of its several recently completed deals, in which 4 Sight Consulting was successfully acquired by Wilde Analysis, has been selected by Finance Monthly’s editorial panel for their ‘Deal of the Month’ feature in the April edition of the magazine.

According to leading alternative assets industry data and intelligence provider Prequin, ‘dry powder’, typically defined as capital that has been committed to investment organisations which generally has to be invested within 7 years, has now reached record levels and is estimated to be just over $1 trillion.

Tampa-based, full-service data quality, data management and business intelligence provider, DataMentors LLC (www.datamentors.com), has received investment from Wakefield, MA-based private equity firm Brook Venture Partners (www.brookventure.com), along with co-investors Bay Capital (www.baycapllc.com) of Providence, RI and Ride’s Crossing Capital (www.pridescrossingcapital.com) of Wakefield, MA.

The middle-market is expected to drive M&A activity through 2014 according to M&A news (www.themiddlemarket.com). In a poll of M&A professionals including strategic buyers, private equity investors, investment bankers / corporate finance professionals, accountants and other advisers, it was highlighted that middle-market M&A, which saw a flurry of deals in Q4 2013, will accelerate through 2014.