Electric Business

Careers site Indeed has acquired ClickIQ, an automated job advertising tech platform. ClickIQ’s technology manages, tracks and optimises the performance of clients’ recruitment advertising in real-time, to reach both active and passive jobseekers. It has offices in Godalming and Aberdeen. Indeed reported turnover of £14.6m for the 2017 calendar year, up more than 75% from the previous year.

Angela Viney Conveyancing Services and Linda Heald & Co Property Lawyers have merged. Established nine years ago in Sowerby Bridge, Linda Heald specialises in the investor and buy-to-let market in England and Wales. Angela Viney meanwhile has more than 30 years’ experience. Viney herself was one of the first ever licensed conveyancers in England and Wales, and has served as Chair of the profession's regulatory body, the CLC.

BGF-backed web hosting company Miss Group has acquired global cloud wholesaler Ilait. Founded in 2006, Ilait provides white-label services such as email, web hosting, domain registration, dedicated servers and VPS services. In August 2018, Miss Group received £6.4m investment from BGF, with a further £13m in June to accelerate global expansion. This acquisition adds more than 35,000 customers to the group.

French green service provider idverde has bought Assist Group, a specialist in grounds maintenance, arboriculture and highway services in the North West and Midlands. Based in St Helens, Assist has annual sales of £14m and employs over 200 people. Its acquisition improves idverde’s national coverage and boosts its headcount to more than 3,000.

Bon Bon’s (Wholesale) has acquired hf Chocolates, a leading importer, distributor and wholesaler of fine chocolates and novelties. The companies specialise in supplying luxury confectionery to department stores, retailers and visitor attractions. Bon Bon’s hopes to create around 10 jobs through the acquisition.

Brennan Industries has acquired Miric Engineering, a manufacturer of standard and special fittings and adaptors based in Hucknall near Nottingham. The deal expands Brennan’s global manufacturing footprint to five centres, improving its offering to customers in the UK and rest of Europe.

Legal and financial services specialist SSB Group has made its first acquisition, of Bedfordshire-based firm Legacy Protection. The deal sees Legacy Protection's founder Paul Crowther take on the role of managing director of SSB Compliance.

Nationwide Stainless, a stockist and supplier of stainless steel based in Sheffield, has changed hands in a £4m MBO. Managing director Steve Laybourn has bought the firm, with funding from Lloyds Banking Group and alternative finance provider Caple.

Sanderson Recruitment has acquired the UK recruitment division of digital transformation group Sopra Steria, boosting its revenue past £550m and headcount to more than 300. The UK recruitment sector grew by 11% to £35.7bn last year. Sanderson also recently secured a sizeable shareholding in international recruitment consultancy iKas Global, providing it a foothold in the APAC region.

Edgbaston-based branding agency Orb has purchased Superdream from administration. The deal is backed by Elonex Group and sees Hannah Moreton and Aaron Jones take up positions in Orb's management team as Head of Client Services and Head of Digital, respectively.