Acquisitions in Wales, United Kingdom

Toshiba America Business Solutions has acquired Youmebee, Ltd., the maker of the cloud-native print management platform directprint.io. The deal strengthens Toshiba’s vendor-agnostic cloud print management offering, with Youmebee continuing to operate as a stand-alone entity and rebranding as Coreza (with directprint.io to become Coreza Print).

Rocscience, a Toronto-based geotechnical and engineering software provider, acquired Rockfield, a UK-based developer of advanced numerical modelling software and services. Rockfield (founded 1985; Swansea headquarters) is known for its finite element and discrete element analysis software, including the ELFEN product suite, serving clients in energy, mining and other complex engineering sectors.

Hanover Investors acquired Llanelec Precision Engineering, a Wales-based manufacturer of precision-machined components for the defence and aerospace sectors. Hanover will partner with existing CEO Spencer John to support Llanelec’s growth plans, investing via Hanover Active Equity Fund III.

Teledyne Technologies Incorporated agreed to acquire, and subsequently completed the acquisition of, select aerospace and defense electronics businesses from Excelitas Technologies Corp. for approximately $710 million in cash. The transaction includes Excelitas’ Optical Systems business (Qioptiq brand) based in Northern Wales, United Kingdom, and its U.S.-based Advanced Electronic Systems business, which will be integrated into Teledyne’s Aerospace and Defense Electronics segment and operate as Teledyne Qioptiq.

Wales-based Tŷ Nant acquired the Fonthill Water and Decantae Mineral Water brands from US-based Primo Water for undisclosed terms. The acquisition broadens Tŷ Nant’s premium bottled water portfolio, packaging formats, and market reach across the UK and Europe, including entry into the water cooler segment.

Unical Aviation, Inc., an aftermarket aerospace parts supplier backed by Platinum Equity, acquired ecube Solutions Limited, a global provider of end-of-life aircraft storage, disassembly/part-out, and transition services. ecube will operate as an independent unit within the Unical Group and continue to be led by CEO Lee McConnellogue. The transaction represents Baird Capital’s exit from its 2020 investment in ecube.

LMS365 acquired Weekly10, a performance and engagement management company, to expand its learning, engagement, and performance capabilities integrated with Microsoft 365. The deal was completed on August 8, 2023 as a cash-and-shares transaction, and Weekly10 founder Andrew Roberts will join LMS365 as Executive Vice President of Product.

ATL Technology acquired the manufacturing operations of Gyrus Medical Limited from Olympus Winter & Ibe GmbH (Olympus Surgical Technologies Europe). The acquisition adds Gyrus’ device outsourcing and engineering capabilities and expands ATL’s manufacturing footprint in Europe, with Gyrus based in Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom.

Idwal Marine Services, a Cardiff-based provider of tech-enabled inspection, fleet monitoring, and data services for the global commercial shipping sector, secured a significant investment from private equity firm LDC. The investment supports Idwal’s growth plans, including further development of its technology platform and expansion of its international footprint, as Idwal operates as an independent company following its origins as a division of Graig Shipping PLC.

QuestionPro, a provider of online survey and research software, acquired the assets of doopoll, a Wales-based multilingual real-time engagement platform. doopoll’s features and customers will be integrated into QuestionPro’s research and experience management platform, strengthening QuestionPro’s physical presence and client base in the United Kingdom.

Molecular Devices, LLC announced the acquisition of Cellesce Ltd, a biotechnology company specializing in contract development and manufacturing of large-scale patient-derived organoids (PDOs) for drug screening. The deal expands Molecular Devices’ 3D biology solutions portfolio by adding Cellesce’s proprietary bioprocessing technology to support industrial-scale organoid production and high-throughput screening workflows.

UL Solutions has acquired Cimteq Ltd, a Wrexham-based specialist in cable design and manufacturing software. The transaction marks Foresight’s successful exit from its October 2018 investment in Cimteq through its North West regional fund; financial terms were not disclosed.

TiG Data Intelligence acquired ThirdSpace, a Cardiff-based identity management and cybersecurity specialist, in March 2021. ThirdSpace continued operating under its own brand until TiG completed its integration and rebranded the combined business as Kocho in 2022, positioning cybersecurity at the core of its digital transformation and managed services offering.

SCHOCK, a Triton Fund V portfolio company and German manufacturer of premium quartz composite kitchen sinks and mixer taps, acquired UK kitchen sink and tap supplier The 1810 Company effective March 31, 2022. The 1810 Company will continue to operate under its current management team, and the deal is intended to expand SCHOCK’s sales footprint in the United Kingdom. The purchase price was not disclosed.

Inflexion agreed to sell its investment in Alcumus, a technology-led risk management and compliance solutions provider, to funds advised by Apax Partners LLP. The transaction values Alcumus at over £600 million and marks Inflexion’s exit after a six-year partnership that included significant M&A and international expansion.

Banyan Software, Inc. announced the acquisition of Atamis Ltd., a provider of end-to-end strategic sourcing and procurement software. Atamis, headquartered in Cardiff, Wales, serves government and private sector clients across the United Kingdom and Ireland with tools for spend analytics, e-tendering, contract management, and supplier performance monitoring.

The Travel Chapter Group has acquired FBM Holidays, a self-catering holiday lettings agency based in Tenby, Wales. FBM Holidays will become The Travel Chapter Group’s core brand in West Wales, expanding the group’s reach across Pembrokeshire and the wider region. The deal marks The Travel Chapter’s fifth acquisition since ECI’s investment in 2019.

HSL Compliance, part of SGI Compliance Group backed by LDC, has acquired Albany Oak Limited. Albany Oak, based in Llanelli, Wales, is an independent water and effluent treatment specialist. The deal expands HSL Compliance’s capabilities into industrial water treatment and strengthens its environmental compliance service offering, supported by LDC follow-on funding via SGI.

Elysian Capital III LP, through its investee company Wholebake Limited, acquired Deeside Cereals I Limited from Agrotech Impex PTE Limited. Deeside Cereals, based in North Wales, manufactures private label breakfast cereals and cereal bars for major food retailers. The deal is positioned as Elysian’s first add-on acquisition following its acquisition of Wholebake in July 2021, creating a combined group in the bar and cereal categories.

ACT Genomics has acquired MC Diagnostics (MCD), a North Wales-headquartered specialist molecular diagnostics company, as it enters the European precision medicine market. The companies previously partnered on fusion genechips built on MCD’s ALDAS platform, and plan to continue developing products leveraging this technology.

TSG, a European provider of technical services for responsible mobility solutions, announced the acquisition of Prime Fuelling Systems Limited. Prime Fuelling, based in North Wales in the United Kingdom, provides bespoke fleet installations and services, including installing and maintaining AdBlue facilities to support Euro 6 emissions standards. The deal strengthens TSG’s fleet capabilities and supports its growth strategy in the UK market.

Novo Holdings A/S agreed to acquire (and subsequently announced it had acquired) BBI Group, a diagnostics and life sciences products and services supplier, from Exponent for an enterprise value of over GBP 400 million. Novo Holdings will become the majority shareholder, with the transaction subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions. BBI is headquartered in South Wales (Crumlin, Wales) and supplies reagents and diagnostics development/manufacturing services globally under the BBI Solutions brand.

Sterling Pharma Solutions, a global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) backed by GHO Capital Partners LLP, acquired UK-based ADC Biotechnology (ADC Bio). The Deeside, North Wales site will be rebranded into Sterling’s network, expanding Sterling’s bioconjugation and antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) development and manufacturing capabilities.

Baird Capital acquired an interest in eCube Solutions Limited ("eCube"), a provider of aircraft storage, disassembly, parts re-use, and recycling services. The investment is intended to support eCube’s continued growth in the United Kingdom and expansion of capacity in continental Europe, with plans to expand into North America.

LDC-backed Onecom, the UK's largest independent business telecommunications provider, has acquired Cardiff-headquartered Glamorgan Telecom Group for an undisclosed sum. The deal strengthens Onecom’s presence in South Wales and the South West and expands cross-selling opportunities by combining Glamorgan’s fixed-line telephony capabilities with Onecom’s mobile and cloud-based services.

GCP has made an investment in GTS, a specialist manufacturer of technically differentiated adhesives, flexible laminates, and insulation materials. The investment is intended to support GTS’ growth plans, including expansion tied to electric vehicle battery manufacturing and other applications in renewable energy and power generation.

H.I.G. Capital portfolio company Vernacare acquired (carved out) the Infection Prevention business from Frontier Medical Group, including the Sharpsafe, Clinisafe, and eXchange brands. The acquired business provides sharps and clinical waste disposal solutions to customers across the UK and Europe and operates from Blackwood, Wales. Financial terms were not disclosed.

ARCHIMED, a European private equity healthcare specialist, has acquired Direct Healthcare Group (DHG) from NorthEdge. DHG develops and manufactures pressure care products and related medical devices used to prevent issues such as pressure sores, and will continue pursuing a buy-and-build strategy under ARCHIMED with additional funding committed for future acquisitions. DHG is headquartered in Caerphilly, South Wales, and operates across the UK and internationally.