Rockworth News

UK lower mid-market continues to strengthen

September 30, 2011

The volume and value of deals in the the UK lower mid-market completed in the first three quarters of this year has increased year on year for the past three years. According to Lyceum Capital and Cass Business School’s UK Growth Buyout Dashboard, a quarterly analysis of UK-headquartered private equity deals in the £10m (€11.6m) [...]

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The Budget—what impact on Private Companies and M&A in 2011?

March 29, 2011

The March budget provided many interesting announcements relevant to Rockworth clients.  The rate of income tax relief available to investors under the Enterprise Investment Scheme will go up from 20% to 30% and the annual investment allowed will increase from £500k to £1m (as of 2012). Coupled with the existing exemption from Capital Gains Tax [...]

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UK M&A Deal values on the up

March 21, 2011

Multiples for good quality private companies involved in UK M&A deals increased in 2010 and are likely to continue to rise this year, driven by interest from both trade and private equity buyers, various research shows.  One survey suggests Private equity firms on average paid 12.2 times multiples for companies in 2010, compared to 11.6 in [...]

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Sale of marketing business Core (Blimey) Ltd

January 28, 2011

Client Business The Core was founded in Hull in the early 1990’s by Alistair Whiteley.  Whilst his co-founder left the business, Alistair continued to grow The Core and in 2006 brought Nick Green in as Managing Director.  Nick had worked with the team on numerous occasions in his prior role managing various brands within Unilever. Subsequent [...]

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Capital Gains Allowance

June 22, 2010

Entrepreneurs Relief – the Capital Gains Allowance at a rate of 10% for qualifying shareholders has been extended to £5m. Capital Gains Allowance – entrepreneurs relief raised to £5m Whilst the head-line Capital Gains Tax was raised to 28% in the emergency budget leaving an individuals capital gains allowance at £10,100, the coalition government have [...]

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UK Capital Gains Tax

March 25, 2010

Whilst there was not a great deal coming out of yesterday’s budget, the one small piece of good news for those involved in M&A was the doubling of the ‘Entrepreneurs Relief’ threshold that applies to uk capital gains tax.  The level has been moved from £1m to £2m, whereby business vendors who have held their [...]

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Rockworth advises technology MBO of telemetry business, Arkessa

March 3, 2010

Background Vianet PLC was a leading Aim-listed telecoms business offering wireless connectivity and telemetry primarily to the vending market-place.  In December 2008 the Vianet business was acquired by another Aim-listed company, Brulines PLC, with the strategic intent to bring together the two companies operations within the vending and leisure markets. Opportunity Following the acquisition it [...]

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New Site Launched

February 5, 2010

Rockworth today launches its refreshed website.  We hope you find the various articles, in particular within the Knowledge Bank and Sector areas, interesting.  We would be very interested in receiving any feedback you may have.

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Sale of MOT Models Limited to Vedior NV

February 5, 2010

Background Founded in 1984 by husband and wife team, Mike and Helen Illes, MOT Models focussed on the provision of commercial models to photographers, advertisers, designers and production companies primarily in London, but also in continental Europe.  MOT has four commercial divisions – commercial, fashion, junior and character – and generates annual bookings in excess [...]

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Sale of Groupe Rubicon to AG Barr PLC

February 5, 2010

Background Having built up a relationship with the founder and co-owner Naresh Nagrecha, we both investigated the market for potential acquisition opportunities and monitored the prospect of a sale of the business.  In early 2008, it was decided it would be the right time to formally begin the sale process. Client Business Rubicon was founded [...]

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