Electric Business

Doncaster manufacturer MS International has announced a deal for Dutch firm Armada Janse from Armada Group. Established in 1935, Armada Janse is a provider of illuminated advertising, media facades, signage, public illumination and creative lighting solutions.

Huddersfield facilities management company Core Facility Services has merged with FM Energy. Core will take over FM Energy's portfolio of commercial and charity clients, and extend its range of energy purchasing, efficiency and bill validation services. The deal supports its sustainability management unit in particular. Core now employs 70 people in Yorkshire and expects to make a number of strategic hires over the next 12 months to strengthen all four of its business areas - energy, estates, waste and IT - as it begins to expand its footprint beyond Yorkshire.

Judicial services and debt recovery group Bristow & Sutor has acquired Credit Style. Established in 1977 and now a portfolio company of Sovereign Capital Partners, Bristow & Sutor employs over 450 staff to support commercial and local authority debt collection. The expanded group will manage c. 1.9 million cases per annum.

Stockholm-listed iGaming affiliate Better Collective has completed a deal for UK-facing odds comparison site mybettingsites.co.uk. The £2.2m deal will support Better Collective’s newly established UK office, adding local SEO knowledge to the team.

The world’s oldest travel company, Thomas Cook, has ceased trading after failing to obtain £200m of extra funding. The news puts 9,000 jobs at risk in the UK, and leaves 150,000 Thomas Cook customers potentially stranded overseas. The Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed the Government refused to step in to rescue the company, saying such a move would create a “moral hazard”. Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said the government should have made a “financial intervention” to give the situation “some breathing space”.

UK food producer Greencore has bought food-to-go company Freshtime, expanding its presence in a growing but competitive category. The £56m deal has been lauded as an ‘excellent strategic fit’ by Greencore CEO Patrick Coveney, increasing its capacity in a familiar business and customer set. Freshtime operates a single facility in Boston, Lincolnshire, and had gross assets of £22m at the end of 2018.

UK homeware supplier Scott Brothers has added more than 400 new products to its catalogue with a deal for H&L Russel. Established in 1888, H&L Russel is a leading manufacturer and supplier of garment hangers (with a Royal Warrant as suppliers to the Queen), as well as garment rails, clothes care products, kitchen utensils and laundry items.

Shard Credit Partners has announced £9.2m loan to support the MBO of Alexander Technologies Europe, a portable battery pack manufacturer. ATEL has been bought by President and CEO Michael Shirley from US private equity group Woodside Capital. Founded over 40 years ago, ATEL works closely with blue-chip OEM customers in the design and production of customised rechargeable battery packs.

Manchester and Stoke-on-Trent based firms Healthwork and Hobson Health have merged to create the largest occupational health firm in the North West. The combined firm has 125 employees and eight locations.

Welding equipment manufacturer and wholesaler Parweld has completed a management buyout. Parweld is a leading global brand in arc and gas welding torches, machines, consumables and protection equipment. The £16m turnover firm sells to a global customer base from its distribution centre in Bewdley, Worcestershire, and has a manufacturing facility in China.