The Birmingham office of international accountancy firm Mazars has had a busy second quarter following its involvement in the LDC-backed Pertemps Network Group management buy-out earlier in the year.
Transaction services director David Preston and his team have provided due diligence on a series of transactions.
David believes that part of the reason for the increased activity during a difficult period for M&A is “Mazars’ decision to align itself with forward thinking growing businesses”.
The firm advised both Santander Corporate Banking in the West Midlands and plumbing specialist Davidson Holdings – the former was providing a funding package to allow the latter to acquire Talon Manufacturing.
The purchase of Gillingham-based Talon, a manufacturer and distributor of pipe clips and covers, complements Davidson’s existing brand portfolio specialising in delivering water management and water saving solutions for the commercial and domestic markets.
Mazars also advised Ecorys UK Ltd on the acquisition of the Harewelle Group.
Ecorys is an international provider of research, consulting and management services. It has representation in 13 countries and employs some 150 people across the UK. Northamptonshire-based Harewelle is an international consultancy which assists aid agencies in delivering development projects in countries including Zambia and Bangladesh.
The acquisition extends the core capabilities of Ecorys’s international consulting businesses and enhances its existing expertise in the areas of public sector reform, environment and climate change and grant fund management.
A third deal saw the Mazars transaction services team involved in the management buy-out of Godiva Bearings Group which has branches in Dudley, Newcastle and Shepperton. The transaction was led by managing director Tom Hamlett and funded by NatWest.
Mr Preston acknowledged that putting deals together continued to be difficult.
But he stressed: “Good business deals are out there and despite market perceptions we know funding partners are too.”