Acquisitions in England, United Kingdom

Worldwide Clinical Trials completed its acquisition of Catalyst Clinical Research, an oncology-focused contract research organization (CRO) and functional service provider (FSP), to expand oncology and biometrics capabilities and broaden its global footprint. The combined organization will have approximately 4,400 employees operating in more than 70 countries; financial terms were not disclosed. Catalyst was previously backed by QHP Capital, and Worldwide is a portfolio company of Kohlberg.

APPLIED Adhesives, a portfolio company of Bertram Capital, acquired Interlock Adhesives, a United Kingdom-based adhesive technology company. Headquartered in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, Interlock supplies adhesive solutions for packaging, labeling, and bookbinding, and the deal establishes APPLIED’s presence in the UK while keeping Interlock’s existing leadership team in place.

US-based education company EAB acquired Hybrid, a higher-education-focused marketing services provider, from UK private equity firm LDC. The deal follows LDC’s four-year investment period during which Hybrid expanded internationally across the UK, United States, and APAC and completed acquisitions including Prompt Marketing (2023) and Crisp Digital (2024).

Amgen acquired Dark Blue Therapeutics, a privately held biotechnology company based in Oxford, England, in a transaction valued at up to $840 million (including upfront consideration and future milestones). The deal adds Dark Blue’s targeted protein degradation oncology program, including lead candidate DBT 3757 (an MLLT1/3 degrader in IND-enabling studies) aimed at acute myeloid leukemia and potentially other leukemias, and will be integrated into Amgen’s research organization.

The Enact Fund, managed by private equity firm Endless, acquired GEO Specialty Chemicals UK Ltd., a Southampton-headquartered specialty chemicals manufacturer, from its U.S. parent CPS Performance Materials Group. Enact said the business was non-core to the seller and that the investment will provide capital and strategic support to accelerate GEO’s growth across specialty chemistries serving markets including coatings, lubricants, and medical devices.

LDC, a private equity investor within Lloyds Banking Group, backed the management buyout of Taking Care from AXA Health. Taking Care is a technology-enabled care provider offering personal alarms, smart home monitoring, and monitoring/emergency call response services for older people, and LDC’s investment will support continued growth and future complementary acquisitions.

Azul acquired Payara, a provider of enterprise-grade Jakarta EE (Java EE) application and microservices solutions for hybrid and cloud-native deployments. The deal expands Azul’s open-source, commercially supported Java application stack—strengthening its application server portfolio and go-to-market capabilities. Azul is backed by a majority investment from Thoma Bravo, with minority investments from existing sponsors Vitruvian Partners and Lead Edge Capital.

Maven's MBO Fund II (alongside other Maven client funds) committed up to £15 million to back Covestus, a consumer healthcare group headquartered in Cheltenham, to accelerate its buy-and-build strategy. The initial investment supports Covestus' acquisition of the oral care brands UltraDEX and Dentyl from Venture Life Group PLC, expanding Covestus' footprint in oral care across the UK and international markets.

ZenaTech, Inc. acquired Casado Design Ltd., a UK-based survey and design firm specializing in 3D modeling and scanning for telecom tower and infrastructure projects. The deal marks ZenaTech’s entry into the United Kingdom with its Drone-as-a-Service offering and expands its capabilities in the telecom infrastructure design and lifecycle management market.

Maven exited its investment in DPP, a Southampton-based mechanical and electrical maintenance contractor, through a sale to an undisclosed UK private company. The sale generated a return of approximately 2.1x to 2.5x cost for Maven VCTs and Maven Investor Partners.

NPK International Inc. acquired Grassform Plant Hire Limited in an all-cash transaction valued at £35.2 million (about $46.4 million) at closing, with potential additional earn-out consideration tied to improved performance through Grassform’s fiscal year-end on February 28, 2026. Grassform, headquartered in Ingatestone, England, is a U.K. ground protection and temporary roadway solutions provider with a fleet of over 20,000 composite mats; the deal is intended to expand and strengthen NPK’s U.K. rental and services operations.

ARC Building Solutions (ARC), a Leeds-based manufacturer of passive fire protection and thermal insulation products for the built environment, secured a significant investment from private equity firm LDC (part of Lloyds Banking Group). Existing investor Newable will reinvest alongside LDC to support ARC’s growth strategy, including increased production capacity and investments in systems and commercial teams.

Damen Shipyards Group announced the acquisition of Southampton-based I.M.E Group Ltd to expand Damen Services’ repair, maintenance, and lifecycle support capabilities in the United Kingdom. The deal builds on several years of collaboration between Damen Services and I.M.E following the launch of Damen’s UK Service Hub in 2021, strengthening Damen’s on-site engineering, docking, spare parts, and maintenance support for vessels operating in UK waters.

GENDA Inc. acquired Indigo NewCo Limited ("Indigo"), a UK amusement arcade operations business managed by its parent company, Inspired Gaming. The deal adds over 100 amusement arcades and more than 125 mini-locations across the United Kingdom, supporting GENDA’s expansion into Europe and its strategy of growing through acquisitions of arcade businesses. The transaction closed in Q4 2025.

Taylor Farms, a leading North American producer of salads and fresh foods, announced the acquisition of Natures Way Foods, a fresh prepared food manufacturer based in Chichester, England. The deal represents Taylor Farms’ first major expansion into the United Kingdom, with the companies planning to collaborate on quality, innovation, food safety, and sustainability as they broaden healthy, convenient product offerings.

Canopy Aerospace & Defense (Canopy A&D), a portfolio company of Trive Capital, acquired Tods Technology Ltd., a United Kingdom-based designer and manufacturer of advanced composite structures and acoustic materials for the maritime defense industry. The deal expands Canopy A&D’s global footprint and adds Tods’ capabilities in sonar domes, acoustic enclosures, and signature-management materials used across surface and subsurface naval platforms.

The Dains Group, an accountancy and advisory services firm backed by IK Partners, has acquired Curo, a Worcestershire-based professional services practice. The deal expands Dains’ audit, tax, accounting and advisory capabilities for UK and international clients, with Curo continuing to operate under the leadership of co-founders Anna Madden and Julia Gallagher.

LDC, part of Lloyds Banking Group, has made an investment in Bespoke Kitchen Foods, a Coalville, Leicestershire-based manufacturer of vegetarian and vegan products for the UK pub and casual dining market. The funding backs Bespoke’s management team to accelerate organic growth and pursue an acquisitive expansion strategy, supported by a debt facility from OakNorth.

Terumo Corporation agreed to acquire OrganOx, an Oxford-based medtech company that develops automated liver perfusion and preservation technology, at an approximately $1.5 billion total transaction value. OrganOx will continue to operate from Oxford as a standalone division within Terumo following completion, while existing investors including BGF and other backers exit and realize returns.

Dyer Engineering established a new engineering group, SST Group, supported by a £1.625 million equity investment led by NPIF II – Maven Equity Finance and the Finance Durham Fund (both managed by Maven Capital Partners). As part of forming SST Group, the business completed the acquisition of Washington-based precision engineering firm Q-Laser, which will continue to operate as an individual business within the group.

AVF and ErgoAV announced a merger to broaden their combined portfolio of AV mounting solutions, accessories, AV furniture, and smart office products across global markets. The announcement notes that US-based ErgoAV, a subsidiary of TV mount manufacturer Bestqi, acquired UK-based AVF in June 2025 and is now integrating the businesses while keeping the AVF and ErgoAV brands distinct.

SWIF Maven Equity Finance, through the British Business Bank's South West Investment Fund, invested £1.5 million in Bath-based Blueskytec. The funding will support Blueskytec’s full-scale deployment of its hardware-based cybersecurity technology, alongside recruitment and expanded manufacturing and business development.

Allegion plc, through one of its subsidiaries, has acquired UK security solutions provider UAP Group Limited, a Bury, England-based designer and supplier of residential door (and window) hardware. The deal expands Allegion’s core mechanical portfolio and strengthens its UK presence within its Allegion International segment. Maven Capital Partners exited its investment in UAP through the sale; financial terms were not disclosed.

Wright Industries acquired Exception PCB Ltd, bringing the printed circuit board manufacturer back into United Kingdom ownership. Exception PCB will be integrated alongside Wright Industries’ other investments under the Connexion Technologies group to expand advanced UK manufacturing capability and support high-reliability end markets such as aerospace and defence.

Onecom, a UK business communications technology and cloud communications specialist backed by private equity firm LDC, has acquired Gradwell Communications. Gradwell provides cloud communications services (including hosted voice, SIP, unified communications via 3CX and Microsoft Teams, and connectivity), and the deal expands Onecom’s geographic reach and customer base across the UK.

FundApps, a London-based compliance monitoring and reporting technology (RegTech) platform for financial institutions, announced a significant growth equity investment from FTV Capital to accelerate product innovation and business expansion. The transaction provides a full exit for existing investor Scottish Equity Partners (SEP), and includes FTV representatives joining FundApps’ board; financial terms were not disclosed.

Latus Group, backed by NorthEdge, has acquired Yorkshire-based Peritus Health Management, a provider of occupational health, health surveillance, and occupational hygiene services. The transaction is Latus' third acquisition since NorthEdge’s initial investment in July 2024 and is intended to expand Latus’ UK capacity, including mobile health surveillance and occupational hygiene capabilities.

UK private equity firm NorthEdge has acquired/invested in Oak Engage, a Newcastle-headquartered employee engagement and intranet SaaS platform. The transaction represents an exit for Maven (via Maven Investor Partners and Maven’s regional funds), which backed Oak Engage in 2018 and realized a reported 2.1x return. NorthEdge’s backing will support Oak Engage’s continued product and go-to-market investment to accelerate growth in the employee engagement tools market.

Integrated Polymer Solutions, Inc. (IPS), a portfolio company of Arcline Investment Management, acquired Oldham Seals Group Limited (Oldham). Oldham designs and manufactures highly engineered elastomeric and polymer products for demanding naval ship and submarine applications, and the deal is intended to provide additional resources and scale to support customers globally.

Cranswick acquired sausage manufacturer James T Blakeman & Co (Blakemans) for £32 million, completing the deal on 16 May 2025. The Staffordshire-based business produces raw and cooked sausage products for the foodservice sector, and the acquisition is expected to increase Cranswick’s production capacity and strengthen its supply capabilities in food service.

Bridges sold GEV Wind Power, a specialist services provider to the wind energy industry, to sector-focused investor Certek. GEV Wind Power is headquartered in Hessle, East Yorkshire and provides global wind turbine maintenance services, including rotor blade repair, via operational hubs across North America, the UK & Europe, and Australia. Transaction terms were not disclosed, and Certek is supported by Macquarie Group.

Obsequio Group acquired Hampshire-based Premier Fire Security Limited to strengthen its fire safety offering and expand its presence on the South coast of England. The deal adds Premier’s capabilities in fire and intruder alarms, CCTV, access control and fire extinguishers, supporting Obsequio’s buy-and-build strategy backed by Beech Tree Private Equity.

European fintech myPOS has acquired UK-based payment solutions provider UTP Group Ltd to expand and strengthen its payment and support offering for SMEs in the United Kingdom and across Europe. UTP will bring its direct sales force and established customer base, while clients are expected to see no immediate service changes and will gain access to the myPOS platform over time.

Wilson Partners has acquired Rutland-based Max Accountants to strengthen its regional presence and expand its focus on high-growth sectors, including early-stage technology and life sciences clients. The deal is Wilson Partners’ first acquisition of 2025 and adds the Max Accountants team to further scale its specialist support for start-ups and high-growth businesses.

Clio, a cloud-based legal technology provider, has acquired ShareDo, a UK-based provider of cloud-based enterprise software for large law firms. The deal expands Clio into the enterprise legal market and supports international growth and product innovation for large-firm case and matter management solutions.

The Compleat Food Group has acquired The Real Yorkshire Pudding Co for an undisclosed sum as part of its strategy to become the United Kingdom's number one chilled prepared food company. The Real Yorkshire Pudding Co, founded in 1992 and based in Thorne, South Yorkshire, produces own-label and branded Yorkshire puddings and related products, and will be integrated into Compleat’s broader portfolio with planned investment in its site and brand.

Obsequio Group acquired UKAS-accredited Environtec Ltd to add asbestos compliance capabilities and broaden its one-stop compliance services offering. The deal expands Obsequio’s geographic footprint with its first office in Scotland and brings Environtec’s national client base into the group. Existing Environtec shareholders Paul Shaw, Dan McGuire, and Ricci Price will remain with the business, while Matthew Dennis is stepping down.

Alianza, Inc. completed its acquisition of Metaswitch from Microsoft, following a definitive agreement announced in December 2024. The deal expands Alianza’s cloud-native communications offerings and positions the combined company to serve more than 1,000 communication service providers while supporting Metaswitch’s existing products and integrating technology into a unified portfolio.

Lynx Equity Limited (Lynx) acquired Formwise Washrooms Limited, a UK-based manufacturer, installer, and supplier of bespoke washroom and changing facility products. Formwise’s directors Tim Jupp and Steve Robinson will remain in their roles to support continuity and integration, with expected synergies alongside Lynx’s London-based portfolio company Day2 Interiors.

Bramble Foods Group, backed by private equity firm LDC, announced the acquisition of Whitakers Chocolates, a Yorkshire chocolatier founded in 1889. The deal expands Bramble Foods Group’s branded ambient foods and confectionery portfolio while keeping Whitakers’ management team led by William Whitaker in place.

SWIF Maven Equity Finance, part of the British Business Bank’s South West Investment Fund, invested £750,000 in Tom Parker Creamery. The funding will support the company’s relocation to a larger facility to expand production capacity, provide working capital, increase headcount, and enable further product development.

Build A Rocket Boy, an Edinburgh-headquartered game developer and publisher led by Leslie Benzies, announced the acquisition of UK-based independent studio PlayFusion. Following the deal, PlayFusion CEO & CTO Mark Gerhard will join Build A Rocket Boy as Co-CEO alongside Benzies as the combined studios aim to accelerate development of AAA games and next-generation immersive entertainment platforms and tools.

Imagine Learning acquired Pango Education, a London-based generative AI platform built for educators, to enhance Imagine Learning’s AI-driven, standards-aligned K–12 curriculum and instructional solutions. The deal terms were not disclosed, and Pango’s technology will be integrated to help teachers personalize lesson plans and assessments, streamline workflows, and respond to evolving curriculum standards.

EQT (via the EQT Active Core Infrastructure fund) and Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC agreed to jointly acquire a majority stake in Calisen Group, a UK smart metering and energy transition infrastructure company. The stake is being purchased from funds managed by BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners, Goldman Sachs Alternatives’ infrastructure business, and Mubadala Investment Company, with Equitix remaining a minority investor. Reuters reported the deal values Calisen at about £4 billion and is subject to customary conditions including regulatory approvals.

PervasID secured £3.25 million in growth funding, including £750,000 invested by Maven. The round was backed by the Finance Durham Fund and NPIF II – Maven Equity Finance (both Maven-managed), with co-investment alongside EIS investor Parkwalk Advisors, to support PervasID’s expansion and further R&D in RFID tracking and related software/data analytics.

DwyerOmega, a portfolio company of Arcline Investment Management, has acquired Process Sensing Technologies (PST), a UK-based provider of advanced measurement and monitoring solutions for process-critical applications. PST was sold by AEA Investors’ Middle Market Private Equity team and Battery Ventures; financial terms were not disclosed. The deal expands DwyerOmega’s sensing and instrumentation offering and strengthens its position across multiple end markets and geographies.

PCE Automation Ltd acquired Olmec-UK, a north Lincolnshire-based vision inspection and web conversion provider, with the deal finalized in November 2024. The acquisition expands PCE’s capabilities in the Life Science and medical device markets by adding vision inspection and web conversion expertise and establishing an additional UK site/sales hub.

New Era Energy announced the acquisition of Commercial Fuel Solutions (CFS) Limited, a UK-based provider of refuelling infrastructure and the UK’s leading independent AdBlue supplier. The transaction expands New Era Energy’s fuelling and lubricants offering with CFS’s hydrogen and low-carbon AdBlue expertise, strengthening its sustainable fuels and infrastructure capabilities across the United Kingdom.

FPE has led a buyout of Point74, a Food Lifecycle Management software provider serving the food manufacturing sector. Following the transaction, Point74 will continue to be led by its existing management team and plans to accelerate product/technology development and go-to-market investment to drive growth in the United Kingdom and internationally.

Source 1 Solutions, a global managed service provider headquartered in Clearwater, Florida, has acquired YouCall-IT, an IT solutions and services company based in Kent, England. Source 1 Solutions will retain 100% ownership while both companies keep their current personnel, with the integration focused on expanding YouCall-IT’s proprietary third-party management software and strengthening global/European service delivery and engineer dispatch capabilities.

Simpro Group, a global provider of field service management solutions, acquired BigChange, a Leeds, United Kingdom-based job and field service management software company. Great Hill Partners, which acquired BigChange in 2021, partially exited in the transaction while retaining a minority stake in BigChange to continue supporting its growth.

Nomios, a European cybersecurity and secure network services provider, has acquired Dionach, a UK-based cybersecurity services firm headquartered in Oxford. Backed by Keensight Capital (majority shareholder in Nomios since November 2023), the deal expands Nomios’ capabilities in penetration testing, cybersecurity audit, and compliance, and strengthens its UK market presence.

Osmose Utilities Services, Inc., a provider of structural asset management and grid resiliency services for the electric utility industry, acquired Associated Utility Supplies Limited (AUS). AUS supplies specialist equipment and services—including pole restoration products and technology—to distribution network operators in the United Kingdom and Ireland and will remain headquartered in Huddersfield, England. Osmose is a portfolio company of EQT Infrastructure.

Storj acquired PetaGene, the creator of the distributed mount client cunoFS, to expand its distributed cloud capabilities for AI and data-intensive workflows. The combination adds high-performance file-system access and mount functionality alongside Storj’s distributed object storage and on-demand GPU compute, strengthening offerings for media & entertainment and other data-heavy industries. PetaGene will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Storj and continue supporting existing products and customers.

Group 1 Automotive, Inc. announced it has acquired Soper of Lincoln BMW/MINI, expanding its U.K. dealership operations in Lincolnshire, north of London. The acquired business is expected to generate approximately $125 million in annual revenues. The company noted it has acquired an estimated $3.9 billion of annual revenues year-to-date in 2024 following this and other acquisitions.

Rubicon Partners completed a majority acquisition of Jacopa Limited, a supplier of water and wastewater treatment products and services across the UK and Ireland. Jacopa, headquartered in West Bromwich, provides design, supply, installation, maintenance, hire and servicing of water/wastewater treatment equipment to municipal water companies. Jacopa’s founders Alex Lloyd and Pete Sargent will remain shareholders and continue in their executive roles to support ongoing growth under Rubicon’s ownership.

Spectra Medical Devices, LLC, a portfolio company of QHP Capital, closed its acquisition of XL Precision Technologies Ltd. (XL-PT), making XL-PT a wholly owned subsidiary. The deal combines Spectra’s procedural needle manufacturing scale and commercial reach with XL-PT’s precision micro-component engineering and advanced manufacturing capabilities to strengthen their medical device CDMO offering. Rubicon Partners Industries, which acquired XL-PT in 2008, sold the business.

Vesta Software Group Limited has acquired MachineMax Ltd, a provider of operational efficiency software for the mining and construction industries. MachineMax had been solely owned by Shell for the past three years, and Shell will remain a strategic partner to MachineMax as a customer and reseller following the transaction.

Biocomposites acquired the remaining shares of Laboratorios SL S.A. and Synergie Ingénierie Médicale S.A.R.L., obtaining full control of the SYNICEM™ and Subiton product ranges. The acquired companies manufacture SYNICEM™ and Subiton antibiotic bone cements and preformed antibiotic-loaded spacers used in infection management for orthopaedic procedures.

Maven has sold a significant majority stake in compliance and digital preservation software provider MirrorWeb to MainSail Partners, a US growth equity firm. The transaction generated returns for Maven-backed funds, with Maven VCTs retaining a minority equity holding in MirrorWeb post-transaction while NPIF Maven Equity Finance exited fully.

Onex Corporation announced that its Onex Partners Opportunities Fund has agreed to acquire Farsound Aviation Limited, a global supply chain solutions provider serving the aerospace engine MRO market, in partnership with Farsound’s management team led by CEO Chris Knott. AGIC Capital, which acquired a majority stake in Farsound in July 2019, is selling the business to Onex for undisclosed terms. Farsound is headquartered in Brentwood, England and provides procurement, supply, and inventory management of consumable hardware components for aerospace engine overhauls.

ebate Software Limited acquired e-bate Limited, a rebate management software provider founded in 2019. Following the acquisition, ebate Software Limited is forming a strategic partnership with Enable to enhance technical capabilities, security, and financial stability for e-bate Limited customers.

Inspired Pet Nutrition (IPN), an independent UK pet food company controlled by CapVest Partners, announced it will acquire Butcher's Pet Care (BPC), a leading UK manufacturer of wet dog and cat food. Financial terms were not disclosed, and completion is expected in the fourth quarter of 2024. The combined group is expected to generate approximately £350 million in gross sales, and IPN plans to appoint Arthur van Benthem as CEO of the enlarged business.

Palatine has exited its majority investment in Direct Tyre Management (DTM) via a secondary buyout by Caledonia Private Capital. Headquartered in Blackpool, DTM provides independent tyre management services to fleet operators, using smart technology to monitor, predict, and prevent roadside failures.

H.B. Fuller Company has acquired HS Butyl Limited, the United Kingdom’s largest manufacturer and distributor of butyl tapes used for waterproofing and sealing applications across construction and other end markets. The deal expands H.B. Fuller’s position in specialty construction tapes and strengthens its presence in the European waterproofing tape market, leveraging its existing butyl tape capabilities and global distribution network.

Equistone Partners Europe made a significant minority investment in QuestGates, the United Kingdom’s largest independent provider of complex loss adjusting and claims solutions. QuestGates’ management team, led by CEO Chris Hall, will continue to lead the business and remain majority shareholders, with the investment intended to support QuestGates’ organic and acquisitive growth strategy, subject to customary regulatory approvals.

Inflexion has invested in Cutwel, a UK specialist value-added cutting tool distributor serving the precision engineering industry, partnering with the management team led by CEO Adam Gillard. The transaction represents an exit for NorthEdge Fund II, which sold its stake after supporting Cutwel’s growth since its initial investment in 2018; Inflexion’s investment is being made through Enterprise Fund V.

LDC has exited its investment in Hill Biscuits, selling the UK biscuit manufacturer to Cerealto UK. Cerealto UK is a portfolio company of Davidson Kempner Capital Management and Afendis Capital Management; financial terms were not disclosed.

Centrica agreed to acquire ENSEK, a Nottingham-headquartered provider of digital transformation services and the Ignition billing and customer account management platform for the energy sector, for an undisclosed amount. The deal builds on the companies’ strategic partnership initiated in August 2021 and was subject to regulatory approvals, exchanging earlier in 2024 and completing in September 2024. LDC (part of Lloyds Banking Group) exited its investment in ENSEK through the transaction.

Stonepeak entered into and completed an agreement to acquire a minority, non-controlling stake in The AA, investing £450 million via a combination of common and preferred equity at an implied enterprise value of approximately £4 billion. The AA’s majority shareholders, TowerBrook Capital Partners and Warburg Pincus, remain in control following the transaction. Proceeds are being used to strengthen The AA’s balance sheet, including repayment/redemption of £180 million of its Class B3 secured notes.

n2 Group, the parent company of NAG, completed the acquisition of STAC, a financial technology performance specialist and research/community organization serving the financial services industry. STAC will operate as an independent business within n2 Group, joining existing group companies NAG and VSNi to support long-term growth in advanced and scientific computing capabilities for financial services technology.

Maven has invested in Cheltenham-based Covestus, a consumer healthcare and pharmaceutical products buy-and-build operator. The funding, which includes capital from Maven Investor Partners and SWIF Maven Equity Finance, supports Covestus’ growth strategy and has enabled its acquisition of the probiotic food supplement brand Probio7.

Karnell Group AB has acquired 90.1% of NE Engineering LTD, a UK-based precision engineering company focused on CNC milling and turning of small, complex components. The deal includes an option for Karnell to acquire the remaining shares and a performance-based earnout tied to NE’s results in 2024 and 2025, while NE’s founders retain 9.9% and continue in management.

Macfarlane Group PLC, via its wholly owned subsidiary Macfarlane Group UK Limited, has acquired 100% of Polyformes Limited for up to £11.5 million in cash, including an earn-out of up to £4.8 million over two years. Polyformes is a UK-based foam design and conversion business focused on specialist protective packaging applications, and its directors will remain with the group following the acquisition.

NPIF – Maven Equity Finance, managed by Maven, made a follow-on investment of £650,000 in Cheshire-based intelligent automation specialist Traverse Associates as part of a larger funding round. The round also includes commitments from Traverse management and Mal Barritt (Chairman of Traverse and CEO of Traveltek). The funding will be used to accelerate growth of Traverse’s proprietary intelligent automation technology, Cognitive Flow.

Vetnique Labs, backed by Gryphon Investors, has agreed to acquire U.K.-based Lintbells, the owner of the YuMOVE pet supplements brand, from private equity firm Inflexion (Inflexion Enterprise Fund IV). The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2024 and financial terms were not disclosed. The deal supports the combined company’s global expansion in pet health and wellness, particularly across the U.S. and U.K. pet supplement markets.

HSL Compliance, based in the West Midlands, has acquired Lancashire-based fire and air compliance specialist RJ Urmson Group. The deal expands HSL Compliance into fire safety and air ventilation compliance services, complementing its existing water safety offering. RJ Urmson Group will continue operating under its current branding, led by Robert Urmson and Christina Urmson.

Accrofab, backed by Endless LLP’s Enact Fund III, has acquired RTI Advanced Forming Limited from Howmet Aerospace in a carve-out transaction. RTI will be separated from Howmet and gradually integrated into the Accrofab group, expanding Accrofab’s aerospace precision-engineered components capabilities and increasing group turnover to approximately £50m.

Tech Soft 3D acquired Theorem Solutions, a provider of CAD data translation, publishing, and extended reality (XR) solutions for engineering and manufacturing use cases. The deal expands Tech Soft 3D’s HOOPS ecosystem by adding Theorem’s CADTranslate, CADPublish, and TheoremXR offerings; financial terms were not disclosed. Tech Soft 3D is backed by Battery Ventures.

Virrtue, a finance and accounting business process outsourcing (BPO) company, acquired UK tech-driven accounting services provider Virgate to expand its presence in the United Kingdom and Europe. Virgate, headquartered in Gloucester, England, will continue operating under its existing name as a subsidiary of Virrtue.

Orbis Protect has completed the strategic acquisition of Vigilance Properties Limited, a technology-enabled specialist security services company, to expand Orbis’s security solutions offering across the United Kingdom. Vigilance will join the Orbis group while retaining its identity and management team, enhancing the combined group’s technology-led security and close protection capabilities. The acquisition was supported by financing provided by Ardian.

Halma has acquired MK Test, a global provider of safety-critical high-voltage electrical systems testing solutions serving aerospace, rail, and commercial EV markets. The business was sold by Synova after a decade-long investment during which Synova supported MK Test’s product re-engineering, technology development, and international expansion.

The Marygold Companies, Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary Marygold & Co. (UK) Limited, completed the acquisition of Step-By-Step Financial Planners Limited, a financial and investment advisory firm. Step-By-Step is based in Rugeley, Staffordshire, England and manages approximately US$33.7 million in assets under management; transaction terms were not disclosed.

Endless LLP has acquired Enablelink, a UK-based metal recycling business founded in 2007 that processes over 300,000 tonnes of ferrous and non-ferrous material annually. The acquisition is intended to strengthen Enablelink’s market position and provide additional capital to support growth and management succession, with Operations Director Josh Long becoming Managing Director following Roy Millard’s retirement.

LDC-backed Hybrid, an education media and marketing services company, has acquired Crisp Digital, an AI-led full-stack digital development, hosting, and maintenance agency. The deal expands Hybrid’s tech-enabled capabilities and service offering for higher education clients, with Crisp Digital founder Matthew Crisp becoming Hybrid’s Director of Technology.

Ethos Partners LLP completed the buyout of Norwegian Log Buildings Limited, a UK-based designer and manufacturer of premium bespoke log cabins and buildings. The transaction, equity-funded by Ethos Partners’ principals and HNW investor base, supports the management team led by Ed Taylor and Paul Williams and provides an exit for founding shareholders Mark Chatfield and Nick Forrester.

Keyloop entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Automotive Transformation Group (ATG), an automotive technology provider focused on omnichannel retail solutions. The combination is intended to create a more integrated technology portfolio that connects the consumer automotive journey and accelerates digital transformation for automotive retailers and OEMs.

Evergreen, a group of managed IT services companies, announced it has acquired Digital Origin, an IT services company headquartered in Milton Keynes, England. The deal marks Evergreen’s second expansion into the United Kingdom managed services provider (MSP) market and supports Digital Origin’s next phase of growth. Knight Corporate Finance served as exclusive advisor to Digital Origin on the transaction.

Bain Capital Tech Opportunities agreed to make a majority investment in finova, a UK-based mortgage and savings origination and servicing software provider. Bain Capital Tech Opportunities also agreed to acquire Iress’ U.K. Mortgage Sales and Originations (MSO) software business, combining the two platforms to broaden product capabilities for mortgage originations and servicing customers.

RedBird IMI, a joint venture between RedBird Capital Partners and International Media Investments, agreed to acquire and later completed the acquisition of London-based television production and distribution company All3Media for £1.15 billion. All3Media was purchased from joint owners Warner Bros. Discovery and Liberty Global, with regulatory approvals obtained in the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany. Following closing, Jeff Zucker became chairman of All3Media’s board while CEO Jane Turton and COO Sara Geater continued to lead the company.

BAE Systems has acquired Malloy Aeronautics, a British developer of heavy-lift, all-electric uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) serving civil and military customers. Malloy’s ~80-person team will continue operating from its site in Berkshire and will join FalconWorks, the R&D unit within BAE Systems’ Air sector, to further develop Malloy’s portfolio including the T-650 heavy-lift UAS.

Sun Environmental Services Group (SunEnviro) acquired Advance Demolition (ADL), a skip hire, waste management, and demolition business based in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire. The deal expands SunEnviro’s geographic reach into Hertfordshire and Greater London and adds demolition services to the broader group.

Cadence Equity Partners has made a majority investment in SCCI Group Limited, a provider of design, installation, and maintenance services for next-generation networks, in-building networks, and fire & life safety systems. Headway Capital Partners is partnering with Cadence on the transaction. Existing majority investor Lonepiper will retain a minority stake, and SCCI’s management team (led by CEO David Fogelman) will hold an increased minority ownership stake post-transaction.

Bramble Foods Group, backed by private equity firm LDC (part of Lloyds Banking Group), has acquired The Bay Tree Food Co, a branded chutney, relish, sauce and jam manufacturer. The Bay Tree Food Co founder and CEO Emma Macdonald will remain with the business to support its next phase of growth as part of the Bramble Foods Group.

BGF has made a multi-million-pound investment in Akula Living, a marine-grade outdoor furniture manufacturer serving major hospitality and cruise operators. The funding is intended to accelerate Akula Living’s continued global expansion, and BGF will support the business with board involvement following completion.

Comply365, LLC and Vistair Limited completed a merger to form a combined global provider of compliance, safety, and data intelligence technologies for the aviation, defense, and rail industries. The transaction also included a strategic growth investment from Insight Partners and Liberty Hall Capital Partners, with Vistair CEO Rob Morgan named CEO of the combined company and Comply365 CEO Tom Samuel named Vice Chairman to lead integration.

Glory Global Solutions (International) Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of GLORY Ltd, announced plans to acquire 100% of Flooid, a cloud-based unified commerce and retail POS software provider. Flooid will be acquired from Inflexion Private Equity Partners, subject to shareholder approval and completion of a share purchase agreement.

Mayfair Equity Partners is backing a management buyout of TrustedHousesitters, taking a majority stake alongside the management team in a deal valuing the business at over $100 million. Existing investor Rockpool will exit its stake and reinvest alongside Mayfair; additional terms were not disclosed.

LDC has agreed to exit its investment in Cakesmiths through a sale to Onore (formerly Boncolac), a European frozen pastries and snacking products player headquartered in France. Cakesmiths will continue to trade under its existing brand within the Onore Food Group, led by CEO Chris Ormrod and the existing management team. Onore is backed by private equity firm Waterland, and the transaction is expected to complete in January 2024.

NFP, an international insurance broking and consulting firm, acquired Advanced Insurance Consultants Limited (AIC), an independent insurance broker based in Hemel Hempstead near London. The deal closed on December 15, 2023, and AIC’s entire team will join NFP, supporting expansion of NFP’s commercial insurance offering across London and the wider South East.