M&A activity boosts Clearwater

M&A activity across Europe is recovering although the Eastern European and Nordic economies have rebounded faster than traditional markets in the UK and Germany, according to a new report by IMAP, the global organisation of mergers and acquisitions advisory firms, represented in the UK by Birmingham-based Clearwater Corporate Finance.

The 2010 Annual Report, which provides a mid-year update on M&A activity in Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia, shows that internationally, IMAP’s advisers completed 179 transactions in 2009, whilst adding offices in Spain, Japan and India.  

It said Clearwater had advised on five cross-border deals in seven months as international buyers became increasingly active.

In addition to the situation in Europe, the report noted advisers in North America had seen an improvement in M&A activity so far this year when compared with 2009, and that now was the time for companies in North America to make overseas acquisitions.

Andy Moore, partner at Clearwater and a board member of IMAP, said: “In an economic environment like this, more than ever before, buyers and sellers need advisers that can provide ideas and insight to clients that wish to acquire or divest their business operations.

“IMAP’s 2010 Annual Report shows the strength of the organisation in enabling us to advise on complex cross-border deals – particularly where Far Eastern and North American multinationals are looking to grow and develop their businesses in Europe.”

The deals advised on by Clearwater include the sale of Danish cleaning supplies and equipment specialist Clean Care to global outsourcing group Bunzl, Swiss cosmetics manufacturer Mibelle’s acquisition of a majority stake in Bradford-based Hallam Beauty, and the sale of TAM International, the construction chemicals division of Coventry-based Norman Hay, to underground construction manufacturer Normet Group.

• Clearwater puts together major cross-border deal
• Clearwater secures the sale of healthcare businesses
  

Most recently in August, Clearwater advised on the sale of Dublin-based crop protection chemicals developer Agriguard to Mitsui Agriscience International (MASI), the Belgian-based subsidiary of Japanese company Mitsui & Co Ltd. Prior to this in June, the firm advised UK support services group DCC on the sale of its mobility and rehabilitation business to Patterson Medical Ltd, the Nottingham-based subsidiary of US business Patterson Companies Inc.