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North West gets £1.14bn M&A
boost from overseas
THE North West continues to provide a
home for overseas strategic bidders after the value of inbound M&A activity
reached £1.14bn in the first 6 months of 2015, according to the latest research
from Deloitte.
The firm's North West Cross-Border Deals Radar revealed that the value of
inbound activity has doubled in the first six months of this year; increasing
from £577m in 2014 to £1.14bn in 2015. Inbound deal making, where overseas
buyers are tapping into the UK market, has gained momentum now that the UK's
economic position is more stable since the outcome of the general election.
While the collective value of deals soared from H1 2014 to H1 2015, the volume
of inbound activity fell from 30 deals to 17 over the two periods.
A standout deal this year was from US laboratory supply giant Thermo Fisher
Scientific after it acquired Heysham based research chemicals supplier Alfa Aesar for £256m.
Other key transactions included US private equity firm HIG Capital making a £65m
swoop for Chester's Grosvenor Shopping Centre; and the takeover of Blackburn
education technology firm Promethean World by NetDragon Websoft, a listed
business in Hong Kong.
John Breheny, corporate finance director at Deloitte, said:- "Renewed
confidence and a fear of being left behind has encouraged companies to return to
deal making. The North West boasts a large number of high quality businesses
with strong management teams, so it is no surprise that overseas buyers are
investing in companies in the region. The latest figures are a positive sign for
the North West economy and we expect activity levels to grow over the coming
months."
Outbound deal volumes, where UK investors target overseas assets, decreased in
the 1st 6 months of 2015. There were 13 deals (worth £145m) in 2015,
compared to 19 deals (worth £2.01bn) in 2014. However, last year's deal value
was dominated by AMEC's £1.9bn takeover of US listed rival Foster Wheeler, in a
blockbuster deal for the Knutsford-based company.
Notable outbound transactions in the last 6 months include Manchester's PZ
Cussons acquiring a stake in Nigeria based Numtricima for £21m; and
Chester based data intelligence company GB Group attaining the remainder of its
stake in San Francisco based Loqate for £10.1m.
The research is based on data from Experian Corpfin, the global information
services company.
Appeal for witnesses to violent disorder - Ainsdale Train Station
THE British Transport Police (BTP) are
appealing for help from the public to identify individuals who started fighting
on a train travelling from Southport to Liverpool, on Saturday, 11 July, at
around 6.40pm. The incident occurred after the Orange Lodge parade was held in
Southport and the investigating Officer Sgt Nicola McVey told us that:-
"Officers were called to Ainsdale Station, to a train, that had departed
Southport heading to Liverpool. Disorder had broken out on board the service
which resulted in a large scale fight. We want to hear from anyone who might
have witnessed the trouble and are keen to speak to anyone who saw what
happened. Incidents like this intimidate and scare other passengers and will not
be tolerated. It is vital we find those responsible." Anyone with
information is asked to contact British Transport Police on:- 0800 40 50 40, or
text 61016, quoting reference PSUB/B4 of 15/07/2015. Information can also be
passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on:- 0800 555 111. |
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Views wanted over use of new
public space in Woolton
PEOPLE are to be asked for their ideas
on how to use three acres of new public space in Woolton. The private
woodland has been handed over by the Trustees of St Julie's Catholic High School
as part of the development of a new £20 million home for pupils which was
recently approved by Liverpool City Council's planning committee.
The Council is holding a consultation with the local community, asking for ideas
for the use of the site and what they would like to see. The consultation will
include feedback forms delivered to the local community and a drop in event.
Proposals could include a children's play area, woodland trail, cycle routes,
trim trail and woodland management if deemed appropriate.
Councillor Malcolm Kennedy, Cabinet member for regeneration, said:- "This
piece of woodland was previously out of bounds and not available for public use.
This is a great opportunity for the local community to have a say and input into
the plans and will be an integral part of the improvements to the area when the
new school is built. We are looking forward to working with the local community
to come up with ideas for the use of the new open space."
People with views can email
bsf@liverpool.gov.uk or write to:- Liverpool
Schools Investment Programme, Liverpool City Council, Municipal Buildings,
Liverpool, L2 2DH, by 31 August 2015.
During the receipt of suggestions and ideas, options will be worked up by a
landscape architect and an arboriculturalist who cultivates and manages trees,
hedgerows and shrubs.
The ideas will be presented to the community at a drop in session held on:-
Tuesday, 15 September 2015, at St Julie's Catholic High School, from 4pm to 7:30pm.
The new school buildings are being sympathetically designed in line with the
Woolton Village Conservation Area, and will be further away from the Grade 1
listed Woolton Hall than the existing school.
The new complex will also include multi use games area and sports hall which
will be available for use by the local community, and will give the school more
outside play space than it currently has.
The project is part of the Liverpool Schools Investment Programme, which will
see at least 12 new schools built. It was devised as a rescue package following
the scrapping of:- 'Wave 6' of Liverpool's Building Schools for the Future (BSF)
project, and is 1 of the Mayor's key pledges.
The school is expected to be completed in the academic year 2016
to 2017. |
