Electric Business

London-based international tech services firm Equiniti has taken over Richard Davies Investor Relations. The deal is Equiniti’s latest investment in its complementary suite of services for corporate governance professionals, which includes investor relations, company secretarial, ESG, proxy analytics and solicitation.

Tamworth-based labelling and artwork management specialist Kallik has secured backing from UK growth equity investor FPE Capital. Kallik provides labelling and artwork management cloud software solutions to the medical device, pharmaceutical and chemicals sectors.

Manufacturer ComAp has agreed to buy the engine control division of UK business Industrial Power Units (IPU). IPU has been a ComAp distributor for two decades, led by group managing director Robert Beebee. Based in the Czech Republic, ComAp has said its new UK subsidiary will allow it to extend its reach in the power generation, renewables, marine and engine control markets.

Coveris has acquired Amberley Adhesives. A UK supplier of high-quality self-adhesive labels, Amberley will be integrated into Coveris' Labels & Board division. The acquisition adds a footprint in the personal care and home markets to Coveris' existing presence in the fresh, chilled and ambient segments.

APAC market leader TEG has officially expanded into Europe with the acquisition of UK-based promoter and venue operator MJR Group. MJR promotes 2,000 shows a year and owns and operates venues across the UK, such as Cardiff's Tramshed and The Mill in Birmingham, on top of having stakes in six other venues including The Warehouse in Leeds.

Euro Food Brands has sold the UK division of the illy coffee distribution business to illycaffè. The disposal includes the transfer of business, assets and staff and will see the Italian firm directly manage the UK distribution centres, although Euro Food Brands will continue to manage the supply of all retail and e-commerce retail customers on illycaffè’s behalf.

Endless-backed The Book People has sold online and mail order business Qwerkity to UK gifts and gadgets retailer Menkind. The Book People acquired Qwerkity in 2017, but has opted to refocus on its core business. Menkind has 60 permanent high street shops as well as an online store.

British Steel's TSP Projects has been bought by international transport consultancy Systra, saving hundreds of jobs. The deal will double Systra's presence in the UK, with TSP Projects' extensive experience of civils, electrification and track works complementing its existing UK rail engineering services. TSP has annual turnover of £35m and employs more than 400 people at fives offices in York, Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester and Reading. The deal includes over £70m of pension liabilities, and has no impact on continuing talks regarding the rest of British Steel, after it was pushed into

UK fintech firm Ipagoo has been purchased out of administration by Anglo-Dutch investment group Chairmans Financial, a month on from the suspension of its customer accounts. Chairmans has bought 100% of the firm as well as selected assets from its parent company Orwell Group, which developed Ipagoo's software. Ipagoo was launched in 2015 by former Goldman Sachs Asset Management director Carlos Sanchez, providing a multi-currency account that can be opened more swiftly than traditional banks.

Pharmaceutical and biotech product development consultancy Boyds has enhanced its clinical and medical affairs services offering with the acquisition of Blue Duck Consulting. Since 2013, Blue Duck provides expert preclinical and clinical drug development strategies and specialist monitoring and project management of clinical operations services in a range of therapeutic areas. Blue Duck was founded by Dr Karen O'Hanlon, a programme manager with 17 years' experience at firms including hVIVO and SRA Global Clinical Developments, and will join Boyds as director of clinical operations.