Acquisitions News: April 2010

Fri, 30 Apr 2010: Wiltshire-based Home of Choice has filed a request to be placed into administration after attempts to sell itself failed. The specialist mortgage network company had aimed to sell the business, which would have brought in new investment, enabling it to grow and build upon its broker services. Numerous bids had been placed to buy the firm, with the identification of a preferred bidder. However, the crunch came when Home of Choice failed to secure an extension of its overdraft facility, required to cover payments to brokers and employees. Home of Choice said it had been assured by an investor and its bank that the payments would be made on the 26th of April. A statement made by the company said: "Despite working our way through 2009 and placing the business in a position to be brought by a number of financial services groups, it has been impossible to complete the arrangements... We currently await the appointment of an administrator". Set up in July 2005, the company grew to be the largest of its kind, according to Home of Choice's website. It was created to address the requirements of mortgage intermediaries that were not being supported by ...
[more: Wiltshire-based Home of Choice has filed...]

Fri, 30 Apr 2010: UK Coal is selling off swathes of its land across the country after making a larger than expected pre-tax loss of £129m last ...
[more: UK Coal is selling off swathes of its la...]

Thu, 29 Apr 2010: Industrial Door Engineering, the Northwich-based industrial door manufacturer with 40 staff, has been acquired by Monsoon Industries of Australia for ...
[more: Industrial Door Engineering, the Northwi...]

Thu, 29 Apr 2010: WR Financial Management is to merge with Barrington Slimmings to create a combined Teesside-based financial services firm with 14 staff....
[more: WR Financial Management is to merge with...]

Thu, 29 Apr 2010: Swiss Post International has acquired MCM Direct, the Southampton-based direct marketing firm, for undisclosed terms....
[more: Swiss Post International has acquired MC...]

Thu, 29 Apr 2010: F&C Asset Management is to acquire Thames River Capital, the London-based asset management firm with 135 staff, for up to £54m....
[more: F&C Asset Management is to acquire Thame...]

Thu, 29 Apr 2010: SpaceandPeople is to acquire Retail Profile Holdings, the operator of retail merchandising units in 34 shopping centres, for £6.3m....
[more: SpaceandPeople is to acquire Retail Prof...]

Thu, 29 Apr 2010: Leach Distribution, the Rochdale-based haulage firm with 90 staff and 40 vehicles, has been acquired by Dachser of Germany for undisclosed terms....
[more: Leach Distribution, the Rochdale-based h...]

Thu, 29 Apr 2010: Several buyers are circling the well-known Drapers Garden office building in central London with German fund manager Deka at the forefront. ...
[more: Several buyers are circling the well-kno...]

Wed, 28 Apr 2010: Patriot Aerospace has reached agreement to acquire Coventry Airport, and plans to restart commercial flights and secure up to 400 jobs....
[more: Patriot Aerospace has reached agreement ...]

Wed, 28 Apr 2010: BGL Group of Peterborough has acquired the motor and home insurance operations of Bradford & Bingley, in order to expand its Junction division....
[more: BGL Group of Peterborough has acquired t...]

Wed, 28 Apr 2010: Lectec, the Lincolnshire-based instrumentation supplier, has been acquired by Engenda of Cheshire for undisclosed terms....
[more: Lectec, the Lincolnshire-based instrumen...]

Wed, 28 Apr 2010: Petrofac has acquired CO2DeepStore, the Aberdeen-based carbon dioxide capture and storage company....
[more: Petrofac has acquired CO2DeepStore, the ...]

Wed, 28 Apr 2010: Talbots Solicitors has acquired Tanfields, the Dudley-based law firm, for undisclosed terms....
[more: Talbots Solicitors has acquired Tanfield...]

Wed, 28 Apr 2010: General Physics of Stockport has acquired Marton House, the Bournemouth-based supplier of e-learning training services, for undisclosed terms....
[more: General Physics of Stockport has acquire...]

Wed, 28 Apr 2010: TAS Engineering Consultants, the Stockton-based supplier of control room simulators, has been acquired by GSE Systems of the US, and expects to double...
[more: TAS Engineering Consultants, the Stockto...]

Wed, 28 Apr 2010: Datamonitor has acquired Pack-Track, the packaging research firm, for undisclosed terms....
[more: Datamonitor has acquired Pack-Track, the...]

Wed, 28 Apr 2010: A commercial printing company allegedly involved in one of the UK's biggest DVD counterfeiting rings has gone into administration. Wembly-based B...
[more: A commercial printing company allegedly ...]

Wed, 28 Apr 2010: Value fashion retailer Peacocks faces being placed on the market or being refinanced as its owners look to pocket a £200m wind...
[more: Value fashion retailer Peacocks faces be...]

Tue, 27 Apr 2010: Baker Tilly is to merge with Robson Taylor, the accountancy firm with offices in Bristol and Bath....
[more: Baker Tilly is to merge with Robson Tayl...]