New tax law means more capital in buyers’ pockets, so sellers should get it while it’s good!

Benchmark International has successfully facilitated the sale of Waste Check Limited to Reconomy Limited.

Waste Check is a waste broker and management company specialising in the disposal of clinical and chemical waste materials for companies operating in numerous business sectors.

The acquirer, Reconomy, is a recycling and waste management service provider to the house building, commercial construction, infrastructure, and business & industry sectors. It was identified as an excellent fit for Waste Check, as it has allowed Reconomy to diversify into general and hazardous waste.

Reconomy has also been hot on the acquisition trail, acquiring companies in both 2015 and 2016, and through this and organic business growth the company achieved a revenue of £118m in 2016 and is predicting revenues of £135m by the end of 2018.

Chief Executive of Reconomy, Paul Cox, said: “This is an important acquisition for Reconomy, which enables us to extend our waste management offering into a broader range of industries and commercial sectors. We will continue to expand our business portfolio and invest in the companies we acquire to enhance both their technological and waste reporting capabilities. This will help ensure our customers receive the best possible service. Waste Check is a family-run business with an established reputation for delivering excellent customer service, so its culture will align very well with that of Reconomy. We are looking forward to a long and prosperous future together.” 

Commenting on the process, Mark Jenkins, director and shareholder at Waste Check said: “The support, direction and advice you [Benchmark International] gave us from all areas of your business was first class and professionally delivered. We would not have been able to conclude the deal at such a high value without the input of your entire team. The feeling of elation at completion was something we will always remember. A truly great decision we took to sell our company supported by a truly professional and knowledgeable team. We thank you all so much for the way you realised our dream after 10 years to sell Waste Check as a going concern, which will see it flourish further under its new owners in the waste management industry.”

Benchmark International would like to thank all parties involved and we wish them all the very best of luck for the future.

Reconomy website: https://www.reconomy.com/services/skip-hire  

It’s time to dispel the myth that it’s better to use an industry expert versus a mergers and acquisitions expert for the sale of a business. At times, sellers are apprehensive about engaging with a mergers and acquisitions firm that doesn’t specialize in one specific industry, and they say they would rather use an industry expert instead. This isn’t the best strategy for a seller who hopes to gain the most value for his or her business.

The mergers and acquisitions cycle is constantly changing. That’s why it’s important for mergers and acquisitions firms to stay on top of industry trends and stay abreast of any new developments. At Benchmark International, we are M&A professionals who work in all industries. Our business is selling businesses, and we understand the industry specifics.

Thomson Reuters released their review of the mid-market mergers and acquisitions industry for 2017. In this report is a list of the worldwide mid-market rankings for companies that completed deals valued up to $500 million. Benchmark International is pleased to be listed in the top 50, worldwide, for M&A deals valued up to $500 million. Businesses named on this list include KPMG, Ernst & Young, LLP Deloitte, Goldman Sachs & Co., JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, amongst others. With the distinction of being listed in the same category as M&A industry giants, Benchmark International is showing we are an invaluable asset to any business owner looking to exit his or her business.

As we embark on the year 2018, it is important to acknowledge the advantages of engaging your business for sale. Mergers and acquisitions was strong in 2017 and is expected to continue full steam ahead moving into 2018. You can count on Benchmark International to stay on top of current trends to bring you the highest level of professionalism in the sale of your business.

Worldwide mergers and acquisition activity will hit £2.4 trillion ($3.2 trillion) next year, as deal-making is elevated on an increasing global economic tide, according to recent forecasts.

A recent article in the Harvard Business Review made a perhaps surprising conjecture: that as far as mergers and acquisitions are concerned, those companies that focus on what they’re going to get from an acquisition are less likely to succeed, in terms of the deal outcomes, than those companies that focus on what they can give to the process.

Benchmark International is pleased to announce that a deal between Sui Generis and Milbank has been agreed.

We’ve recently been seeing at first hand the rise in medical and healthcare sector mergers and acquisitions both domestically and internationally, with Dublin-based Clanwilliam Group’s synergetic acquisition of Cheshire-based NHS technology provider Medisec (brokered by Benchmark International) the most recent example.

Benchmark International is pleased to announce that a deal between Levy Brothers & Knowles Limited (LBK) to NNZ has been agreed.

‘Green-washing’ is pretty much endemic in the business world, with every company worth its salt aiming to showcase its environmental credentials, whether rightfully or as a PR exercise.

There is still the chance for you to capitalise on the extremely low 10% capital gains tax rates which are on offer via Entrepreneurs’ Relief, whenever you fully or partially sell your company.

Technology-related mergers and acquisitions are set to remain robust over the next 12 months, according to the recent semi-annual leaders’ poll from law firm Morrison & Foerster’s global M&A team.

Health IT mergers and acquisitions are now gaining traction, and at a rapid rate. While there are a number of reasons for this, the ultimate driving force is the shift from fee-for-service to value-based care.

A fascinating report has been published by Intralinks who, in conjunction with Cass Business School in London examined 23 years of data from almost 34,000 companies worldwide to identify the factors that make companies attractive M&A targets.

In spite of the uncertainty surrounding the meat processing sector in Ireland, M&A activity involving participants within the sector has continued apace in 2017, with the conclusion of some notable deals.

Of all the obstacles inherent in the M&A process, something that’s often overlooked is ‘the people factor’ – that’s to say, understanding, planning and correctly valuing the HR and employment side of a business, as well as company culture – an aspect that’s crucial when two companies come together.

In a much-talked-about piece in the New York Times recently, Hernan Cristerna, Co-Head of Global M&A at JP Morgan Chase, diagnosed the global mergers and acquisitions market as alive and very much kicking – in spite of ongoing Brexit anxieties and considerable political uncertainty around the Trump administration.

Due diligence by potential buyers takes up a serious amount of time in any M&A process. Essentially, it’s designed to make sure the buyer knows exactly what it is that they’re buying – and in other cases, ‘reverse diligence’ helps the target company understand whether a potential buyer or merger partner is right for them.

Benchmark International is pleased to announce that after an exciting year of growth, we are expanding our international reach to Ireland.

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the sale of Furlong Business Solutions to Volaris Group.

Irrespective of the outcome and the eventual deal Britain strikes with the EU, there will be greater uncertainty for businesses in the near-term.

‘To err is human’, it’s said … but for sellers and buyers alike, the M&A process is surely not a good time to make mistakes.

It seems as though every other day, the headlines announce a new acquisition among major retailers. The giants in the industry are diversifying their products, sucking up more stock, and building mighty kingdoms that boutique and small business owners can’t even throw stones at. How can these smaller businesses possibly compete? First, take a look at what’s happening…

Disclosure schedules are an integral part of any merger or acquisition (M&A) transaction. They contain information required by the acquisition agreement—typically a listing of important contracts, intellectual property, employee information, and other materials as well as exceptions or qualifications to the detailed representations and warranties of the selling company contained in the acquisition agreement.

Timing is, without doubt, one of the most critical factors in mergers and acquisitions; a recent report found that it is, in fact, the single most reliable predictor in terms of creating real shareholder value.

Entrepreneurs, by nature, are people who spend a considerable amount of time looking for the next opportunity. And for them, 'the next opportunity' often includes a suitable time to sell their company.

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.

French rental car company, Europcar has made its fourth acquisition of the year in the form of Europe's largest low-cost car rental agency, Goldcar.

California-based Hewlett Packard Enterprise has been busy bolstering its portfolio to stay ahead in cloud computing, with even more acquisitions on the horizon.

Britain's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has given the go-ahead for the £11 billion merger of Scotland-based asset management companies Standard Life and Aberdeen Asset Management.

RPC, the international design and engineering company, has cited recent acquisitions in the last financial year as key factor in its profits more than doubling.

Benchmark International is proud to announce that it has, once again, been named ‘International Mid-Market Corporate Finance Adviser of the Year’ at the annual ACQ Global Awards.

A Manchester-based M&A specialist has expanded into South Africa with the opening of an office in Cape Town.

After years of approaches, US-based Huntsman Corp and Switzerland’s Clariant AG have announced that they will merge to create a chemicals manufacturer worth more than $14 billion.

Amazon has announced it will acquire upmarket grocer, Whole Foods Market Inc, for $13.7 billion in a deal that includes the company's debt. Expected to close late 2017, the deal will not only be the largest in the online retailer’s history, but also a major step in expanding into bricks-and-mortar retail.

Last week it was announced that German chemicals giant Linde have signed a formal agreement for a €70bn deal with US industrial gases company Praxair, despite worker representatives opposing the merger.

American computing giant Microsoft continues to expand its acquisitions of Israeli-based software companies, with a reported $100 million deal for cybersecurity start-up Hexadite.