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Our round-up of M&A transactions in industrial manufacturing

Turning the spotlight on notable recent transactions in industrial manufacturing.

February 13, 2020

Through our projects and deep research into the industrial manufacturing sectors, our specialist team takes a look at the transaction highlights that give an insight and overview into recent M&A activity in sub-sectors such as industrial components, distributors and automation solutions.

January 2019

Pichon, a French manufacturer of slurry tankers and muck spreaders, was bought by Danish counterpart Samson Group for an undisclosed consideration.

July 2019

Indutrade, a highly-acquisitive Swedish industrial conglomerate with subsidiaries across fluid & mechanical solutions and industrial components bought Natgraph (£10m sales), a UK-based industrial print applications specialist.he start of 2019 Pichon, a French manufacturer of slurry tankers and muck spreaders, was bought by Danish counterpart Samson Group for an undisclosed consideration.

September 2019

Rubix Group, a UK-based supplier of industrial maintenance, repair and overhaul products and services acquired Germany-based Lerbs, a distributor of PPE, fastening and welding technologies as part of a strategy to expand its product range. Indeed, since September Rubix has made a number of acquisitions, and in the UK it bought Peter Campbell (Sales) Ltd, a supplier of metal cutting tools.

October 2019

Lancashire-based ELE Advanced Technologies, which designs diesel power generation units, was acquired by private equity firm LDC.

French group Manitou acquired its UK dealer, Northamptonshire-based Mawsley Machinery (£19m sales, 27 employees). The transaction enabled Mawsley’s main shareholder to exit, and was part of Manitou’s continuing strategy to develop its position in material handling, equipment distribution and aftermarket services in the UK.

November 2019

Sweden-based manufacturer of forestry machines Eco Log acquired ELFAB, a forestry equipment dealership also based in Sweden, in order to develop its sales and aftermarket position. Following the deal, Eco Log CEO Magnus Sandstrom said his company is planning international expansion, potentially buoyed by further acquisitions.

December 2019

Swedish manufacturer of front end loaders and accessories for farm tractors, Alo (owns the Quicke and Trima brands, which you may be familiar with), was acquired for £230m by JOST Werke, a German manufacturer and supplier to the truck and trailer industry.

The continued growth of Finland-based crane manufacturer, Konecranes, which is expanding organically and by acquisition. For example, at the end of last year it took a 50% stake in Singapore group MHE-Demag, in order to strengthen its market position in southeast Asia.

MARCO (£15m sales), a Kent-based innovative pack house and factory floor solutions designer, was bought by Canadian automation solutions provider ATS Automation Tooling Systems for £32m.

 

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What our clients say

  • QuestGates is a complex business and we had very set ideas of what we wanted to achieve. Rockworth were patient and supportive throughout and were always available to support and help, challenging where need be but always looking for solutions not problems. We could not have achieved the investment that we wanted without their advice.
    Chris Hall
    CEO, QuestGates
  • Thank you all for your excellent and urgent support in finalising our deal.  I appreciate that it was all rather late in the process - but you never flinched once. Your ability to get up to speed so quickly and provide great intervention and solid guidance is a credit to your professionalism. I was particularly impressed with your patience in providing expert help at a time when our stress levels were running high.
    Stewart Hollington
    Director, Analytical Services International
  • Time and time again as we went through the process, I was relieved that we had Rockworth at our side. They have excellent contacts and were able to unearth a wide range of suitors for the business.
    Neil Cameron
    Co-founder, CHL Software
  • The relationship we have built with Rockworth over the last five years helped to lay the foundations of a smooth and successful transaction. Selling a company I have built up over the last 20 years comes with some mixed emotions. It has been quite a journey. But I am delighted with the outcome that Rockworth helped to achieve, and I am looking forward to seeing the business continue to thrive under new ownership.
    Dr Donald Gibb
    Founder, The Birth Company
  • Thank you for your hard work and trustworthy advice on this deal - your focus and patience have been incredible. I've been hugely impressed at all stages on how you've guided me through this process, and how you've kept cool heads when it must have been very challenging to do so. Extremely happy to recommend Rockworth.
    Andy Crysell
    Founder & CEO, Crowd DNA
  • Thank you everyone at Rockworth for your guidance, advice and pragmatism during what has been a very quick turnaround. It has been a pleasure.
    Andy Whittard
    Managing Director, Cherwell Laboratories Limited
  • Rockworth provided the support, experience and the technical knowledge that we needed to secure a successful sale.  Lawrence and his colleagues are all high calibre individuals, and I would certainly recommend them.
    Alice Watson
    Founder, Porge Research
  • During the whole process the team at Rockworth was always available to answer questions, no matter how banal, and held our hand throughout. I can honestly say that without the Rockworth calm hand on the tiller I am not sure we would have got through it in such an easy manner.  
    David Bilton
    Director, CadCam Technologies Limited
  • We chose to work with Rockworth on the basis of their approach, networks and reputation. Lawrence and his team provided excellent support throughout the entire sale process and enabled the company to achieve an outstanding result. Whilst there was a great deal of complexity at times, it was managed with great care and my colleagues and I enjoyed working together with the Rockworth team throughout. I would have no hesitation in using Rockworth for future transactions and would recommend them very highly to others.
    Martin Lucas
    MD, Kittiwake Developments Ltd
  • I would like to thank you and the team for the major contribution you made to the sale of Cromptons Healthcare. It turned out to be a very complicated deal and I have to say I was staggered by the commitment and effort that was required from us all. I was impressed by both the professionalism and the support that Rockworth provided, which proved to be absolutely essential to me. I had not fully appreciated beforehand just how necessary that support would be.
    Martin Calhoun
    Owner, Cromptons Healthcare Ltd
  • Lawrence, many thanks to you and the members of the Rockworth team for achieving such a great result. It is the best possible outcome we could have achieved, both for ourselves as shareholders, and for our staff, ensuring not just the continuation of the company but positioning it for further growth. We were very pleasantly surprised at the range of potential acquirers that you introduced us to - we had no idea initially of the types of acquirer that you would manage to find from outside our direct industry.
    David Black
    Managing Director, Young Black IS Ltd
  • Rockworth was the ideal guide and partner in our search for a buyer for our company. Their process, insight and people skills were the perfect antidote for our inexperience and were a major factor in achieving the smooth path to our desired outcome. From the start their approach suited our needs as a privately owned company with limited resources to run the business and undertake a transaction. They were invaluable in helping us understand what was needed and what we might reasonably expect. I cannot recommend them highly enough.
    Tim Champion
    Managing Director, H.Squared Electronics Limited
  • From initial preparatory work and advice through the deal process and to final completion, we found your work to be invaluable. I was particularly impressed with the careful and thorough management of the due diligence process: the consistency and detail-oriented manner in which this work was carried out was much appreciated and ensured that the deal completed smoothly, even accounting for the different languages and countries involved.
    Fabio Antoniazzi
    Founder, La Credenza Ltd
  • As a family-owned business, it was extremely important to us that we had an advisor who took care and paid attention to the detail of our business. Lawrence and his team demonstrated real commitment to the deal, both in researching appropriate potential acquirers and following this through in a diligent and extremely supportive manner. I know that without Lawrence and his team we wouldn’t have achieved the successful outcome that we did.
    Rachel Bush
    Owner, Bush & Company Rehabilitation Ltd

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