WPP’s Kantar Retail to acquire minority interest in retail consultancy GME in the UAE

April 16, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Kantar Retail, WPP’ss wholly-owned insight and consultancy business, has agreed to acquire a minority interest in G.M.E.FZ-LLC (“GME”) based in Dubai, subject to regulatory approvals.

Founded in 2007, GME offers retail insight and consultancy services to clients across all business sectors. The business employs 16 people and clients include Arla, BP, Heineken, J&J and Samsung. GME has been Kantar Retail’s franchise partner in Dubai since 2007 and now becomes a full member of the Kantar Retail network.

GME’s revenues for the year ended 31 December 2011 were approximately AED 9.5 million, with gross assets at the same date of approximately AED 2.6 million.

UAE, Dubai

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Fugro acquires marine survey and environmental consultancy specialist EMU

March 23, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

International geological consultancy Fugro has acquired UK-based marine survey specialist EMU for an undisclosed sum.

EMU is an independent marine survey and environmental consultancy specialist with annual revenues of over EUR 20 million. Based in Southampton, it also has premises in Portsmouth, Edinburgh, UK, Dinard, France and Perth, Australia. The company conducts ecological, geophysical, sediment sampling and hydrographical surveys, laboratory analysis, and provides environmental consulting and reporting services. It currently employs 150 highly-qualified and experienced surveyors, oceanographers and marine environmental scientists.

EMU has a broad client base in the oil and gas, renewables, engineering contracting, marine aggregate and government markets. The company will further internationalise its business, supported by Fugro’s global network.

The acquisition will contribute to Fugro’s strategy to provide its clients with fully-integrated solutions. EMU’s specialist services will further enhance Fugro’s capability to support clients’ projects from concept to completion.

The Netherlands, Leidschendam

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M&C Energy Group acquire Coleman Hines

March 7, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Just months after global energy consultants M&C Energy Group opened their first US office in Atlanta, Georgia, it has moved quickly to expand its USA footprint and strengthen its market position with the acquisition of energy consultancy service Coleman Hines, headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona.

Coleman Hines, founded in April 2000, provides energy consultancy services to many National Fortune 500 clients at nearly 35,000 sites covering all US states and Canada, particularly in the retail, restaurant, and commercial sectors. They will become part of M&C Energy Group’s growing worldwide organisation which already has 18 offices in 13 countries and clients in 40 countries.

Mark Dickinson, CEO M&C Energy Group, said: “Bringing M&C Energy Group and Coleman Hines together now creates an exciting prospect within the energy consultancy sector in North America. Not only will they increase our reach in North America, but Coleman Hines provides M&C with a number of exciting products and services specifically developed for the local markets, which will strengthen our portfolio of services. While M&C is a well-known industry-leader around the world, the North American market is relatively new to us and bringing Coleman Hines on board will strengthen our foothold and market position there.”

UK-based mid-market growth investor, Lyceum Capital, acquired M&C Energy Group for £22 million in 2010 and, since then, has implemented a rigorous programme of operational enhancement and supported a number of strategic acquisitions.

Dan Adler, Partner at Lyceum and M&C board member, said: “Coleman Hines is a well-established energy advisory firm of scale with an outstanding client retention rate and a highly progressive management team. The company’s services are closely aligned to those of M&C and so it presents the ideal platform for the wider Group to develop its North American proposition and gain market share in the country’s growing energy consultancy sector, which remains highly fragmented. The US is a key market for M&C’s services and, with a number of significant contracts already in the pipeline for the enlarged business, there is a compelling case for the firm’s North American expansion.”

The addition of Coleman Hines the latest in a line of acquisitions by M&C. In 2010 they acquired Utility Masters Ltd in the UK (a deal brokered by Fusion Corporate Partners), ETT GmbH in Germany, Creative Energy Solutions in Australia, and Encore International Ltd in the UK and in Hungary (also brokered by Fusion Corporate Partners).

Recently M&C added a Brisbane office to their Australian operation to complement their existing Melbourne office. A New Zealand office is expected to open in the Spring of 2012.

UK, Dunfermline & USA, Phoenix, AZ

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Parsons acquires environmental consultancy firm O’Connor Associates

February 3, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Parsons, an engineering, construction, technical, and management services firm has acquired O’Connor Associates, a environmental consultancy firm in Canada. O’Connor Associates will be integrated into Parsons Environment & Infrastructure. O’Connor Associates was founded in 1979 and reported revenues of CAN$34.9 million in 2010. It around 200 employees and maintains six offices across Canada with its headquarters in Calgary, Alberta. O’Connor Associates customers include Imperial Oil, Suncor Energy Products, 7-Eleven, and Hydro One.

“O’Connor Associates will accelerate our growth strategy and expand our environmental service offerings. We look forward to joining forces with O’Connor Associates’ exceptional employees, and we welcome them to our team,” said Chuck Harrington, Parsons’ Chairman and CEO. “Because there is little overlap in our customer bases, this acquisition provides a framework to leverage both Parsons’ and O’Connor Associates’ talent and customer relationships into untapped geographies and/or service offerings.”

USA, Pasadena, CA & Canada, Calgary, Alberta

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UK private equity investment in the £10M-£10OM market grows by 44%

January 18, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Data from the Lyceum Capital and Cass Business School UK Growth Buyout Dashboard shows that the UK has reinforced its position as the preeminent market for private equity investment in Europe, with activity in its lower mid-market having continued its strong recovery in 2011 to pre-recession levels of almost 100 deals.

Highlighting the segment’s robustness despite macro-economic challenges, the UK Growth Buyout Dashboard, revealed 44 per cent growth in the total number of transactions last year to 91, compared to 63 in 2010 and 34 deals in 2009.

The quarterly data, which analyses UK-headquartered private equity control deals in the £10 to £100 million enterprise value space, also shows that total deal value has more than trebled over the past three years, with aggregate values in excess of £3.4 billion last year compared to over £2.2 billion in 2010 and just above £1.0 billion in 2009.

Technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) was the stand-out sector – a trend which is likely to continue, driven by growth in innovative IT solutions such as cloud computing and mobile business applications. 26 TMT deals completed during 2011, contributing to 29 per cent of completed transactions, compared to 11 a year earlier and just four in 2009.

Click here to read the full UK Growth Buyout Dashboard.

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A Fusion Deal : Energy specialist Utilyx sold to MITIE Group

January 10, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Fusion Corporate Partners are pleased to announce our first deal of 2012. The sale of leading energy and carbon management specialist Utilyx Holdings Limited to MITIE Group PLC, the strategic outsourcing and energy services company.

Utilyx provides a number of services relating to its clients’ energy demands including strategic planning, procurement and risk management, all of which are designed to manage the business impact of energy consumption and rising energy costs.

The acquisition of Utilyx will complement and enhance MITIE’s existing CarbonCare energy services capabilities. The energy services market is significant for MITIE, with 35% of the Group’s revenues derived in this area. MITIE is ranked as the second largest energy services company in the UK, providing a full range of integrated services that help its clients manage their energy use and carbon footprint. MITIE’s energy services proposition supports all the key energy issues facing businesses and public sector organisations across the UK. These include business continuity through security of energy supply, value through cost reduction, reduction of carbon emissions and renewable energy.

As a leading consultant on corporate carbon and energy strategy, Utilyx counts a range of major UK energy users among its clients, from the industrial, commercial and public sectors. Utilyx has excellent high-level working relationships with numerous blue-chip companies including Scottish Water, Iceland and McDonald’s. It has excellent strategic relationships across the fast-growing energy services market and also provides specialist services to generators and developers of renewable energy projects.

Established in 2000, Utilyx purchases a significant proportion of the UK corporate energy market on behalf of its clients. The business has a deserved reputation for excellence and innovation, having introduced a number of new products and concepts to the market, including flexible risk managed electricity purchasing, open-book agreements and end-user Power Purchase Agreements.

Utilyx has annualised revenues of over £7m and is well placed to support MITIE’s progress in the growing energy services market in the UK. The total consideration for the acquisition will be up to £16.2m. Initial consideration of £15m was paid in cash on completion and the balance (capped at a maximum additional payment of £1.2m) will be paid in cash, dependent on future business performance. The proforma EBITDA of Utilyx is £1.7m and it is expected the acquisition will be earnings neutral in the first year of ownership.

Ruby McGregor-Smith CBE, Chief Executive, MITIE Group PLC, commenting on the transaction, said: “We are delighted to have acquired Utilyx. There is no doubt that the need for all organisations to use fewer natural resources is changing our marketplace. Energy management is integral to what we do and this acquisition forms part of our considerable investment to further develop MITIE’s energy services capability.

Chris Bowden, Chief Executive Officer of Utilyx added: “We are excited by the opportunity this presents for us and our clients. The energy sector is fast-moving and by bringing together our expertise and experience, we will be in an even stronger position to help our clients meet the challenges and opportunities that the new low-carbon economy .

Paul Kelly, Director at Fusion, said “We were delighted to work with Chris and his team at Utilyx. They have built a great business and the fit with MITIE is excellent. The energy services sector has become an important part of the Fusion business. This our sixth energy services deal. Besides private equity interest, we are seeing an increase in acquisition interest from large energy management, FM, environmental services and building services companies. We expect to continue to be active in the sector for some time to come.”

Previous Fusion energy services deals:

UK, London & Bristol

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Deloitte acquires Übermind

January 9, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Deloitte has acquired Übermind, an innovative mobile agency.  Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Mobile technologies are rapidly reshaping the nature of business. This represents a significant opportunity for companies to develop new interaction models with customers, employees and stakeholders,” says Janet Foutty, national managing director, technology, Deloitte Consulting LLP.

Based in Seattle, Wash., Übermind’s mobile strategy, engineering, design and creative talent transform the way companies use mobile solutions, using disruptive technologies to create inspiring and intuitive mobile applications designed to both strengthen brand and transform the business. Übermind complements Deloitte with extraordinary talent, tools and assets that are customized to the mobile development lifecycle, including proprietary frameworks and methodologies.

“By leveraging the strength of Deloitte’s global access, industry insight and deep talent, this acquisition allows us to provide even greater insight into the business and technology issues facing organizations today,” says Shehryar Khan, chief executive officer of Übermind, Inc. “Übermind’s complementary industry footprint enhances our collective ability to deliver tailored solutions to meet clients’ specific needs.”  Khan, along with Übermind founder Donald Brady, joins Deloitte Consulting LLP as principals.

For more information here

USA, Seattle, WA

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Redpoint to merge with Baringa Partner’s Energy Advisory practice

December 13, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Redpoint Energy and Baringa Partners are planning to merge to create an organisation in the European energy space.  Baringa is a management consultancy that specialises in the energy, financial services and utilities markets in the UK and continental Europe. Redpoint is a specialist energy consultancy, advising clients on investments, strategy and regulation across Europe’s power, gas and carbon markets. The merger, likely to happen in Spring 2012.

Explaining the decision to merge, Phil Grant, Director at Redpoint said: “Redpoint Energy and Baringa Partners share a common set of internal and external values, have worked closely together since Redpoint’s foundation in 2004, and already have an element of cross-ownership.”

Mohamed Mansour, Managing Partner at Baringa, said: “The energy landscape in Europe is changing dramatically, with policy responses to environmental and security of supply concerns, evolving supply and demand side technologies, and dramatically changing global market dynamics. Our clear shared vision is to be the advisor of choice in helping our clients shape, define and deliver change in European Energy markets.”

UK, London

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MITIE acquires access and disability consultancy Direct Enquiries

December 8, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

MITIE, the strategic outsourcing and energy services company, has acquired a majority stake in access and disability consultancy company Direct Enquiries Holdings Ltd.

Direct Enquiries provides a range of services to major companies and public sector organisations, allowing them to minimise their risk and maximise the benefits of embracing equality.   Direct Enquiries provides Part M and BS 8300 audits around access for disabled people, supported by compliance reviews covering fire risk and health and safety.

The company also operates free to use online directories, Directenquiries.com, Inclusivebritain.com and Inclusivelondon.com – the Mayor of London’s official information portal for the 2012 games and its legacy. These sites provide access information for people with specific access requirements such as disabled and older people and parents with children.

The acquisition provides a strong platform for growth in the compliance, risk assessment, disability and access industries, as well as providing significant cross-selling opportunities within MITIE’s existing service offering.

Direct Enquiries has an annual turnover of approximately £1.4m from a wide range of public and blue chip private sector clients, including John Lewis, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Intercontinental Hotels Group and the Metropolitan Police. The initial consideration is £0.3m, paid in cash on completion, with further consideration payable in cash up to a maximum of £8.3m depending on financial performance over a five year period.

MITIE’s investment has been financed through its Entrepreneurs Fund and provides the management team with an incentive linked to future performance based on the MITIE model.  More information on MITIE’s Entrepreneurs Fund can be found at http://www.mitie.com/entrepreneurs.

Ruby McGregor-Smith, Chief Executive, MITIE Group PLC, commenting on the acquisition, said: “We are all delighted to have acquired a majority shareholding in Direct Enquiries through our Entrepreneurs Fund. This acquisition demonstrates our continued commitment to and interest in disadvantaged groups, whilst recognising the increasing importance of building compliance legislation and risk management to our clients.”

UK, Bristol & Bracknell, Berkshire

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Trinity Consultants acquired by Gryphon

December 7, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Trinity Consultants, an international environmental consulting firm that specialises in industrial air quality issues, has recapitalised with financial partner Gryphon Investors, a San Francisco-based middle market private equity firm. Trinity management and employees maintained significant ownership in the transaction. Gryphon bought a controlling interest in the firm from Sentinel Capital Partners, majority owner since 2007. John E. (Jay) Hofmann, Trinity’s President/CEO since 2001, will remain at the helm.

According to Hofmann, “Trinity’s management team is confident that Gryphon will make an excellent partner going forward. From the beginning, we were impressed by how well they understood our business and supported our growth objectives.”

Trinity Consultants was advised by investment banking firm MHT Partners. Gryphon was advised by investment banking firm Lincoln International.

USA, Dallas, TX

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