Q1 I QUARTERLY HIGHLIGHTS
Insights to help you gain deal confidence
The pandemic caused profound and far-reaching economic disruption in both supply and demand. Even with an uncertain path ahead, COVID-19 forced us all to become solution-centric in record time. The companies we work with have what it takes to make the bold and innovative decisions required to shift their strategy rapidly.
M&A can play a significant role in preparing and accelerating recovery. Unconventional alliances, surrounding yourself with the right people and agile thinking helps your company stay ahead of the curve (and competition) in an era of perpetual unpredictability.
If you are a business owner or CEO looking for additional support, we have the professional resources to enable you to position your company and reset for growth.
Today, we want to share with you how we have collaborated closely — across borders, teams, industries and markets — to help entrepreneurs and companies get a grip on the current situation and reach their full potential.
Global deal highlights
ECM I Powering organizations with intelligent learning and streamlined solutions
Oaklins’ team in Australia acted as joint lead manager and bookrunner to Bigtincan on its recent placement. The team’s extensive network of institutional investors, together with its strong track record acting as lead manager and corporate advisor on a range of placements, ensured a successful raise for Bigtincan. Read more.
BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES I The new leader in office supplies and technology in Switzerland is born
Oaklins’ team in Switzerland assisted the board of directors of PEG Papeteristen Einkaufsgenossenschaft and OFFIX Holding AG as M&A advisor in the transaction with Office World Holding. Read more.
TMT I Managed network services provider in the UK secures minority investment
Systal Technology Solutions Ltd. (Systal), one of the UK’s fastest growing providers of managed network services, has sold a minority stake to Inflexion Private Equity Partners LLP; a move that will help Systal continue to accelerate its international growth. Read more.
HEALTHCARE I Preparing for the future with the right debt financing
Ace Pharmaceuticals (Ace) has been acquired by a consortium of Gilde Buy Out Partners, Gilde Healthcare, Quadrum Capital and Ace’s management. Financing for this acquisition has been provided by ABN AMRO Bank, ASR and Rabobank. Read more.
CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING SERVICES I Expanding geographical footprint in the road markings industry
Oré Peinture has been acquired by the Danish group Geveko Markings AB, the European leader in road markings owned by the Scandinavian investment company Solix. Read more.
INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY & COMPONENTS I Expanding automation capabilities into the high growth parcel sortation market
Leadec engaged Oaklins to provide buy-side advisory services on a retained search basis for the North American market. Read more.
FINANCIAL SERVICES I A partnership three years in the making
Oaklins’ team in Jacksonville acted as the lead advisor to the seller and the management of Coastal Insurance Underwriters in the preparation of the sale process and due diligence, the approach and parallel negotiations with potential buyers, and assisted them until closing. Read more.
ENERGY I The rise of an international leader in the gas and water smart meters sector
SIT S.p.A. has completed the acquisition of Janz-Contagem e Gestão de Fluídos S.A. (Janz), a consolidated Portuguese player specializing in the manufacture of residential water meters. Read more.
BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES I Consolidating the printing consumables chemicals market
Langley Holdings plc, via its German subsidiary DC DruckChemie GmbH, has acquired BluePrint Products NV and Hi-Tech Chemicals BV from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG. Read more.
Global insights publications
TMT I The cloud forecast: How will IBM’s entry impact the IoT landscape?
INTERNET OF THINGS SPOT ON: With IBM’s landmark acquisition of Red Hat underlining the importance of open source and hybrid cloud solutions in this dynamic market, Oaklins’ IoT specialist Jan P. Hatje investigates the rationale behind the tech giant’s groundbreaking decision to reach for the clouds. Read more.
AGRICULTURE I Building the next chapter of the greenhouse industry
HORTICULTURE SPOT ON: What seven key trends are driving greenhouse players to team up with strategic partners and investors to secure their place in the future? Oaklins' horticulture specialist Frank de Hek analyzes the sector's attractiveness for newcomers and the benefits their scale and breadth of experience bring to the industry. Our selection of illustrative case studies provides real-world examples. Read more.
Voice from China
QUARTERLY UPDATE ON THE M&A MARKET IN CHINA: An optimistic start to 2021 sees vaccine rollouts, leadership shifts and hope that international tensions will ease. The Chinese government’s strict disease measures have ensured numbers of new COVID-19 cases remain steadily under control. Despite the pandemic’s initial impact, China achieved positive growth in 2020 — the only country among the world’s largest 15 economies to do so — and GDP looks set to surge this year. Angela Chen from our Shanghai office reviews last year’s M&A activity and provides an on-the-ground forecast of what the new year holds in store. Read more.
TMT I Growth continues for the enterprise SaaS sector
ENTERPRISE SAAS SPOT ON: What's behind the surge in Nordic SaaS share prices? Oaklins' enterprise SaaS specialist Alpo Luostarinen explains why equity investment in the sector continues to scale new peaks, even in the face of the pandemic. Read more.
BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES I Deal flow surges as TIC passes the COVID-19 test
TIC SPOT ON:The thriving TIC sector continues to attract heavy investment from private equity due to increasing demand for global supply chain regulation and compliance, standardization and a strong focus on health and safety during the pandemic. Oaklins’ specialist Arjen Kostelijk casts his eye back over Q4 2020’s frenetic M&A activity to give a breakdown of relevant deals and looks forward to the future to see what’s driving the global TIC market’s 3.6 % CAGR growth forecast. Read more.
FOOD & BEVERAGE I Food ingredients sustain the market during the pandemic
FOOD INGREDIENTS SPOT ON: With sector players' multiples reaching new peaks after recovering strongly from the pandemic's initial impact, Oaklins’ food ingredient specialist Michele Manetti and his team analyze the latest market trends. Read more.
LOGISTICS I Post-COVID-19 recovery forming in M&A
DISTRIBUTION SPOT ON: A significant jump in distribution’s total M&A transaction value last year confirms the global market shows signs of life again, despite the cautious approach taken by companies at the onset of the pandemic when deal volume initially dropped. Oaklins’ distribution sector specialist Don Wiggins reports on noteworthy transactions and valuation trends, providing an overview of the sector’s four subgroups: healthcare, industrial & capital goods, consumer goods and food & beverage. Read more.
FOOD & BEVERAGE I AGRICULTURE I M&A Insights India
AN UPDATE ON THE M&A MARKET IN INDIA: How do you feed 17.7% of the world’s population during a pandemic? What lessons have been learned during lockdown? Could India take on the role of the world’s future supplier of organic sustainable produce? Can agro-tech enable smallholders to increase productivity and food security? Which investment avenues look most resilient? This issue of M&A Insights India focuses in particular on the Indian food & agri (F&A) industry’s response to the pandemic and how the sector’s future strategy with respect to the new normal translates to opportunities for emerging markets. Read more.
Global insights articles
AGRICULTURE I Investing in a safe and healthy future
Doug Kravet outlines key global trends in the rapidly growing organic and sustainable agriculture sector. He is Oaklins' organic & sustainable agriculture specialist and has successfully advised a wide range of companies across the agriculture supply chain over the past two decades. Read more.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY I Inhale courage, exhale fear
For International Women’s Day, we wish to take a moment to acknowledge the many challenges humankind and particularly women are facing today. Challenges can be hard but with the right tools and mindset, they can also be an accelerator for growth for ourselves and the people around us. We asked a selection of our many bright and ambitious female colleagues what their go-to quote or mantra is in difficult situations and asked Ailbhe Doyle and Melanie Berthelot a few additional questions. Read more.
INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY & COMPONENTS I Current M&A trends in the industrial machinery & components sector
Dr. Florian von Alten, leader of Oaklins’ industrial machinery & components team, in an interview with FINANCE Magazin. Read more.
