Benchmark International Logo Blog Mergers and Acquisitions

Archives

Benchmark International (South Africa) Closes 9 Deals in 9 Weeks

Benchmark International’s South African office has experienced a sharp increase in deal flow and activity. The company reports having received 51% more non-disclosure agreements from interested parties and a 71% increase in the number of offers received for client businesses than in the corresponding period last year.

The volume of transactions concluded by Benchmark’s South African office confirms the positive trend identified in the recently published Intralinks Deal Flow Predictor, which relies on early-stage transaction forecasts compiled from data on M&A due diligence activity in virtual data rooms. The predictive models for the second half of 2019 suggested an increase in the number of deals to be announced in the order of 5% for the EMEA region.

Benchmark International—demonstrating this trend—is pleased to have facilitated the following transactions in recent weeks:

  1. The investment by way of share subscription in Shift South (Pty) Ltd, trading as SweepSouth, by MIH Holdings, trading as Naspers Foundry

  2. The sale of a majority interest in Counterpoint Trading 439 (Pty) Ltd to Shave and Gibson Packaging (Pty) Ltd

  3. The merger of two undisclosed prominent e-commerce companies

  4. The disposal of Groupline Projects (Pty) Ltd by Wonderstone Ltd who are in turn owned by the JSE listed group Assore Ltd to Mokoena Holdings (Pty) Ltd

  5. The sale of Muffin Mate Coastal (Pty) Ltd to Ekuzeni Supplies (Pty) Ltd

  6. The sale of Jordan Human Resources to Vinton Holdings (Pty) Ltd

  7. The sale of an undisclosed mining equipment manufacturer to an undisclosed Canadian equipment supplier

  8. The acquisition of Ciba Packaging (Pty) Ltd’s non-core flexible food assets by Lampac CC, trading as Packaging World

  9. The sale of Nology (Pty) Ltd and Nology Distribution (Pty) Ltd to a multinational technology holding company

Commenting on the transactions, Andre Bresler, Managing Partner at Benchmark International’s South African office, remarked, “The range of transactions is a testament to the maturing M&A landscape in South Africa as well as the depth of the Benchmark team as these nine deals represent a very broad spectrum of M&A activity—from a capital raise to a merger and both partial and full disposals. There are private equity and trade-buyer deals, cross-border and domestic transactions, an acquisition, and even the disposal of a non-core asset of a listed entity. It’s certainly an exciting time for M&A in South Africa with no significant slow-down expected; we anticipate a number of additional transactions to finalize in the last quarter too.”

READ MORE >>

Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated the Acquisition of Columinate (Pty) Ltd. to InSites Consulting (Pty) Ltd.

Benchmark International is pleased to have successfully facilitated the acquisition of Columinate (Pty) Ltd to InSites Consulting (Pty) Ltd.

Columinate (Pty) Ltd (“Columinate”) is a highly awarded marketing research agency that provides quantifiable information to businesses in order to improve decision-making. The brand conducts its work exclusively through digital means – a methodology pioneered by Columinate in South Africa and where the business continues to be a proven leader in the space. The company employs a highly skilled team of over 40 research professionals and boasts a loyal and well-curated client base consisting of a diverse collection of both local and multinational customers.

InSites Consulting (Pty) Ltd (InSites) is recognised among the top 100 largest and top 10 most innovative market research agencies in the world. The agency helps global brands to make better and faster marketing decisions, combining smart digital technology with contemporary marketing methodology. InSites is now present on four continents with eight client service offices in Belgium, the Netherlands, the UK, the US, Germany, Romania, Australia and South Africa.

 

Ready to explore your exit and growth options?

 

The transaction sets the groundwork for both businesses to leverage off each other’s mutually advantageous basket of services while instantly expanding InSites footprint and reach into South Africa and the broader African market.

Commenting on this, Andre Bresler of Benchmark International said: “This transaction evidences a defined trend whereby market leading businesses in all sectors have recognised the opportunities the African Market represents in the context of their own global clients and ability to service them internationally. Aside from the powerful synergies, the cultures of the two businesses are wholly aligned and we are equally delighted for Insites and Columinate both”.

On behalf of everyone at Benchmark International, we would like to wish both parties every success for the future.

READ MORE >>

Benchmark International Facilitated the sale of AVIS Forklifts (Pty) Ltd (AVIS) to Sky Investment Holdings (Pty) Ltd through its subsidiary Tailifts South Africa (Pty) Ltd (Tailifts)

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the sale of AVIS Forklifts (Pty) Ltd (AVIS) to Sky Investment Holdings (Pty) Ltd through its subsidiary Tailifts South Africa (Pty) Ltd (Tailifts).

AVIS is an independent forklift company, established in 1970. With over 40 years in operation, it is well recognised as a pioneer in the forklift rental industry. The company has grown to provide a comprehensive range of services regarding materials handling equipment including forklift hire, forklift sales, transport solutions and side lifter facilities. The company’s infrastructure is geared toward providing its customers with a cost-effective materials handling solution.

Tailifts prides itself on the manufacture and maintenance of tail lifts that can be fitted to column, cantilever, foldaway and retractable lifts suitable for any industry. In addition, Tailifts is the sole distributor in Southern Africa for Zepro, Waltco and Del lifts, market-leading brands in Europe, the USA and the UK respectively. The company boasts authorised service and fitment agents in all of the main centres within South Africa and engineering staff are trained and certified ECSA engineers as well as registered lifting machinery inspectors.

 

Ready to explore your exit and growth options?

 

The transaction sets the groundwork for both businesses to leverage off of each other’s mutually advantageous basket of products and services while aggressively nurturing their newly augmented and combined national footprint.

Commenting on this, Andre Bresler of Benchmark Corporate South Africa said: “This is yet another transaction that demonstrates in such active sectors going to market in a competitive process unlocks real value beyond the balance sheet for buyer and seller alike. I could not be more pleased to see such uniquely suited entities joining forces, it has been a privilege for Benchmark to have been selected to advise such an iconic brand.”

On behalf of everyone at Benchmark International, we would like to wish both parties every success for the future.

READ MORE >>

Benchmark International has successfully facilitated the transaction between Logicalis South Africa (Pty) Ltd and Clarotech Holdings (Pty) Ltd & Clarotech Consulting (Pty) Ltd.

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the completion of a transaction between Logicalis South Africa (Pty) Ltd and the Clarotech group of companies including Clarotech Holdings (Pty) Ltd & Clarotech Consulting (Pty) Ltd. The deal was concluded by the transaction team based at the mid-market M&A corporate advisory’s African headquarters in Cape Town, South Africa in August of 2018.

The Clarotech group of companies specialise in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) providing consulting, physical product and support services to businesses throughout Southern Africa. Operating since 2001, the company satisfies the need for advice, solutions and ongoing service. Clarotech’s aim is to simplify ICT by supplying relevant solutions of value through proven end-to-end methodology.

Logicalis is an international multi-skilled solution provider supplying digital enablement services. The business boasts a well-curated customer base where it advocates for some of the world’s leading technology companies including Cisco, HPE, IBM, CA Technologies, NetApp, Microsoft, Oracle, VMware and ServiceNow. The Logicalis Group has annualised revenues of over $1.5 billion, from operations in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific and Africa. It is a division of Datatec Limited, listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, with revenues of over $4 billion.

 

Ready to explore your exit and growth options?

 

The similarities in business strategy, culture and ethos between the two companies have made this acquisition a “natural fit”, says Colin Fair, Managing Director and owner of Clarotech. “For the past few years, the management team has been looking for a company who could be a partner for us, one that would allow us to create something special from the marriage. We have been seeking a 1+1=4 scenario that would benefit our customers and our staff. This is what Clarotech has found in Logicalis.”

Commenting on this, Andre Bresler of Benchmark Corporate South Africa said: “This transaction affirms many analysts’ predictions of a positive climate for M&A in the TMT sector for 2018. Whilst there was defined interest from both up and down the supply chain in this acquisition, the strong cultural fit and clear synergies offered by the ultimate acquirer were evident from the outset. It has been a real privilege to have a hand in such an outstanding result for such outstanding clients.”

On behalf of everyone at Benchmark International, we would like to wish both parties every success for the future.

READ MORE >>

Out of Africa: How the M&A Market is Evolving South of the Sahara

Benchmark International has recently opened a new office in Cape Town, South Africa (see 3rd July blog post), headed up by Andre Bresler and Dustin Graham. This is an exciting development for Benchmark International, in a dynamic evolving market.

READ MORE >>

Record 2016 for M&A against all odds

Despite major political disruption from events such as Britain leaving the EU and the election of a new president of the United States, 2016 is gearing up to be the biggest year for M&A deal announcements since 2007.

READ MORE >>
1

    Subscribe to Email Updates

    Recent Posts

    Follow Us on Twitter

    Archive

    see all