A record month for M&A deals at Cripps: October 2024

Leading law firm Cripps has announced it completed 22 M&A transactions with a combined value of over £220m in the days leading up to the Labour Party’s first Budget, a record for the firm.

These deals took place across London and the South East and highlight the team’s dedication to delivering results for our clients, even under tight deadlines.

Our recent transactions spanned a diverse range of sectors, including asset-based lending, early-years education, manufacturing, technology, and insurance, reflecting the breadth and versatility of Cripps’ M&A expertise.

Key transactions included:

Acquisition of Optimum SME Finance Limited

Advised eCapital Commercial Finance Limited, a long-standing client, on their acquisition of Optimum SME Finance Limited, reinforcing our expertise in asset-based lending. The team managed a full due diligence process to meet the pre-budget completion deadline.

Sale of Children 1st Nursery to Storal

Advised the shareholders of Children 1st Nursery, a group of over 20 nurseries, on its sale to Graphite Capital’s portfolio company, Storal. Our team handled all aspects of the transaction including a pre-sale reorganisation, fully supporting the coming together of two leaders in the early-years education sector.

Sale of Capulus Limited to MX Underwriting

Supported the shareholders of Capulus Limited in its sale to MX Underwriting, Specialist Risk Group’s underwriting platform. The transaction included a pre-sale reorganisation, swiftly followed by the sale of associated entity One Claim Limited to align strategic interests.

This month also included two Franco-British deals and one involving the US and Ireland, showcasing our expertise in multi-jurisdictional coordination.

Julie Hughes, head of the corporate transactions team commented “This was a formidable effort by everyone in the team coming together to deliver such a large number of transactions and exceptional service to our clients across a number of our sectors. I am so proud of the team and delighted for our clients.”

Our team’s dedication and ability to manage complex transactions under tight timelines have once again proven instrumental in securing successful outcomes for our clients.

Learn more about our M&A expertise.