8 Deals in 8 Days

Benchmark International’s UK offices have experienced a sharp increase in the number of deals completed since the beginning of 2021, notably completing 8 deals within 8 days.

Despite the impact of Covid-19 over the course of 2020, business operated as usual. Investment in online cloud-based platforms to ensure ease of communication between Benchmark International’s nine global offices positioned the company for remote working with minimal disruption. Supporting communication has led to upholding and surpassing the number of deals completed.

Further investment in the company’s thriving community of employees and expansion of the office network has further laid the foundations for the surge in deals experienced.

Industry-agnostic, the deals have included transactions in the construction, IT, manufacturing, consumer, education, and hygiene sectors. Employing a bespoke strategy for each client, buyers and deal structures have varied from strategic acquisitions by AIM listed companies, to management buy-ins (MBIs), and an acquisition by an employee ownership trust (EOT).

 

Information on the disclosed deals can be found below:

Acquisition of Kbiosystems by Porvair

Acquisition of Hymor Timber by National Timber Group (backed by Cairngorm Capital Partners)

Acquisition of The Bookyard by Restore

 

During this time period, Benchmark International has received excellent endorsements from satisfied clients, including:

“We are so glad we chose Benchmark to help us sell our company. They far exceeded our expectations. They found us the perfect buyer and stayed with us every step of the way. James Sloane was exceptional. Excellent at negotiation, project management and tackling all the difficult negotiations. We had a very tight deadline and we would not have achieved it without him. Thanks to everyone at Benchmark.”

Founders, Hymor Timber

 

“Over the years many colleagues and contemporaries voiced strongly that brokers were not to be trusted and that they would take your money and push you into the first offer even if it wasn't a fit for your business.

I might have agreed until I tentatively picked up the phone to Benchmark with trepidation to enquire about the process. From the first discussion with Tony Yerbury, I knew I was in excellent hands and if I was going to choose to use a broker to sell my business it was going to be Benchmark.

Which I did in September 2020. By the October we had agreed the Information Memorandum and Benchmark were exploring multiple potential suitable organisations. By the end of November, 20 plus organisations had shown an interest and of that I’d chosen 8 to progress with. By mid-December we had received 7 offers culminating with accepting an offer by Christmas Eve.

Every step of the way the Benchmark team, comprising of the bright, positive and proactive Erica Skittrall, alongside her colleagues Andrew Roberts and Jonathon Parkinson who are both consummate professionals and expert advisors, were by my side making sure that the negotiation was completed in the most fair and equitable way for my business to go on its next journey. By the 1st week of March 2021, following a short sharp but intensive due diligence process, the business sale was completed. If I had ever doubted using a broker, I am a convert, and if you are wavering to use a broker reach out to Benchmark first. I can't recommend them highly enough.”

Managing Director, Managed IT Services Company