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The Wire

Private equity deal news and insights from the London newsroom

Dec 16, 2024

 

PE goes for frozen food as consumers demand convenience; IK to buy accountant from Horizon Capital

Morning all, Craig McGlashan here with the Europe Wire from the London newsroom.

 

With the end of the year fast approaching thoughts are turning to what food to stock in fridges to get through the festive period. This morning, we take a look at what’s been driving private equity interest in food and beverage companies this year.

 

Next we have IK Partners becoming the latest private equity firm to invest in an accounting business, as it agrees to acquire a majority stake in a company from Horizon Capital.

 

Finally, we have Lonsdale Capital Partners investing in two new healthcare buy-and-build platforms in the private homecare and dental sectors.

 

Changing tastes

The food and beverage sector has had to adapt to changing customer spending due to inflation and interest rates, writes PE Hub’s Nina Lindholm this morning. Private equity has managed to find attractive trends within the market, despite these challenges, and the sector has seen plenty of deal activity in 2024.

 

Find out the trends in the premium version of the Wire.

 

Accounting play

Private equity firms are snapping up accounting companies at a rapid clip.

 

This morning, IK Partners agreed to acquire a majority stake in Dains Accountants, a provider of accounting and business advisory services in the UK, from Horizon Capital.

 

Read about more recent accounting deals in the premium version of the Wire.

 

Buy-and-build

Lonsdale Capital Partners has invested in two new healthcare buy-and-build platforms in the private homecare and dental sectors.

 

Find out more in the premium version of the Wire.

 

OK that’s a wrap from me today. Nina Lindholm is on holiday the rest of this week so I’ll be on Europe Wire duty tomorrow, while MK Flynn will bring you the US edition today as usual.

 

Cheers,

Craig

 

Read the full Wire commentary on PE Hub ...

Today's must reads

> Food and beverage M&A fed by consumer demand for healthy, convenient choices More...
> Entertainment deals driven by content, music catalogs and talent handlers More...
> Electronic health records attract private equity: 5 deals More...
> AI, payroll automation and employee benefits digitization spark PE interest in 2024   More...
> Industrials M&A activity to increase ~25% in 2025, bankers say More...

Also of note (may require subscriptions)

 

Lone View’s Rishi Chandna on finding opportunities with a debut fund: The firm closed its debut fund on $850m earlier this year and is set to explore a market ripe with opportunity as sellers, for various reasons, seek liquidity in 2025. (Buyouts)

 

Japan’s Ant passes halfway mark in first close on latest secondaries fund: The fund will be managed by Ant Solutions Partners, a newly formed spinoff of Ant Capital’s Solution Investment Group. (Secondaries)

 

BlackRock hits $1.1bn first close on fifth infra solutions fund – exclusive: Global Infrastructure Solutions is targeting $2.5bn and for the first time has a dedicated secondaries sleeve. (Infrastructure Investor)

 

Investment is second only to politics for climate impact – Morrison’s James Shaw. Morrison operating partner James Shaw wants to deliver 150 million tonnes of carbon reductions by 2030 – an amount equal to New Zealand’s contribution under the Paris Agreement. (Agri Investor)

 

Carlyle raises $7.1bn for its third opportunistic credit fund: Credit Opportunities Fund III is Carlyle’s largest-ever credit fundraise, with ‘robust appetite’ for the strategy. (Private Debt Investor)

Deals

> IK snaps up UK’s Dains Accountants from Horizon Capital   More...
> Lonsdale Capital backs two new healthcare platforms More...
> Food and beverage M&A fed by consumer demand for healthy, convenient choices More...
> Orix Capital-backed National Underground Group sells Tri-State Utilities and Pipe Vision More...
> Platinum Equity completes acquisition of Polli More...
> ONCAP sells Pure Canadian Gaming to First Nations partnership More...
People
> Flexpoint Ford-backed Clearstead Advisors names Knapp as president/CEO More...
> Olympus Partners promotes Bettegowda to COO More...
> TPG co-founder David Bonderman passes away at 82 More...

They said it

“Suppose inflation remains cool and interest rates stabilize. In that case, we can expect to see a continued resurgence in dealmaking, particularly from private equity, which has been patiently waiting for the right moment to re-enter the market.”

— James Scallan, managing director, Houlihan Lokey

 

Today's letter was prepared by Craig McGlashan

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