Business News Round Up (01/07/2020)
Northern Powerhouse ‘remains active’ among PE deals
The Northern Powerhouse regions have continued to remain active in the private equity market in the first half of 2020, according to new data, despite the impacts of the global pandemic.
The latest report from CMBOR at Imperial College Business School, sponsored by Equistone Partners Europe and Investec Corporate and Investment Banking, shows that 18 transactions were completed across the North West, North East and Yorkshire in the first six months of the year.
These totalled £1.5bn.
The region closed the gap on the capital in terms of deal volumes, with 20 transactions completed in London during the same period.
Despite the impacts of lockdown, each of the trio saw as many or more deals complete during H1 2020 as during the same time the previous year.
Sebastien Leusch, investment director at Equistone Partners Europe, said: “While the lockdown period has undoubtedly hit the private equity deals market, we saw strong activity before the onset of the pandemic.
https://www.insidermedia.com/news/north-west/northern-powerhouse-remains-active-among-pe-deals
Scottish transport group receives £9m group funding deal
BIBBY Financial Services (BFS) has provided a £9m group funding facility to support the re-finance of Currie European Transport Ltd, a transport and storage solutions group made up of seven trading companies across Scotland, England, the Netherlands and France.
The group, which is headquartered in Dumfries, Scotland, is using the funding to support an ambitious acquisition led growth strategy.
The funding included a £1.5 million CID facility to support the acquisition of Laser Transport International Ltd, a haulage company based in Kent with a turnover of £18m, bringing the Group’s total turnover to £75m.
The facility has already allowed the successful acquisition of Laser Transport International Ltd, and the increased working capital will support Currie Group’s continued growth plans across the UK and Europe.
https://scottishbusinessnews.net/scottish-transport-group-receives-9m-group-funding-deal/
Fears for NW jobs as aircraft maker announces 15,000 redundancies
Aircraft maker Airbus has announced plans to axe 15,000 jobs from its global workforce, including 1,700 in the UK.
The manufacturer employs more than 6,000 staff at its wing-making plant in Broughton, near Chester, as well as approximately 4,500 at its Bristol operation, Filton.
Airbus said these plans will “contribute to safeguarding the company’s future”.
The measures to “adapt its global workforce and resize its commercial aircraft activity” is in response to the COVID-19 crisis.
Airbus expects to achieve all 15,000 redundancies by the Summer of 2021.
Consultations has begun already to start implementing the cuts by Autumn this year.
The company has targeted 5,000 redundancies in France, 5,100 in Germany, 1,700 in the UK, 1,300 at other Airbus worldwide sites, and 900 in Spain.
M&Co considering options including sale of business
Scottish value fashion retailer M&Co, which previously traded as Mackays, is looking for new backers which include a sale of the Renfrewshire-based business.
The family-owned company, which employs 2,700 staff, is understood to have suffered a £50m revenue shortfall as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
Sources say its is working with Deloitte and is understood to be considering options including a partial sale or full sale via a pre-pack administration.
https://dailybusinessgroup.co.uk/2020/07/mco-considering-options-including-sale-of-business/