M&A Deal Summary

Hermes GPE Acquires Merlin Entertainments

On February 1, 2004, asset manager Hermes GPE acquired leisure company Merlin Entertainments from Apax for 73M GBP

Acquisition Highlights
  • This is Hermes GPE’s 1st transaction in the Leisure sector.
  • This is Hermes GPE’s largest (disclosed) transaction.
  • This is Hermes GPE’s 1st transaction in the United Kingdom.
Investment Fate
  • Merlin Entertainments was sold to a consortium of financial buyers in 2005 for 103M GBP.
  • Merlin Entertainments went public in 2013.

M&A Deal Summary

Date 2004-02-01
Target Merlin Entertainments
Sector Leisure
Buyer(s) Hermes GPE
Sellers(s) Apax
Deal Type Secondary Buyout
Deal Value 73M GBP

Target

Merlin Entertainments

Poole, United Kingdom
website
Merlin Entertainments is an European entertainments company operating in Europe. Merlin runs 124 attractions in 25 countries across four continents. Merlin Entertainments was formed in 1999 and is headquartered in Poole, England.

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Buyer(S) 1

Buyer

Hermes GPE

Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor

website


Category Asset Manager
Founded 2010
PE ASSETS 8.0B GBP
Size Mega
Type Sector Agnostic
DESCRIPTION

Hermes GPE is a global investor in private equity funds as well as direct co-investor. The Firm manages assets on behalf of institutional investors with a focus on private markets. Hermes GPE is headquartered in London.


DEAL STATS #
Overall 1 of 11
Sector (Leisure) 1 of 1
Type (Secondary Buyout) 1 of 7
Country (United Kingdom) 1 of 8
Year (2004) 1 of 1
Size (of disclosed) 1 of 3
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2005-04-01 The Works

Birmingham, United Kingdom

The Works is a discount retailer with a chain of stores throughout the UK. The Company was formed in 1981 and is headquartered in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Buy £51M

Seller(S) 1

SELLER

Apax

London, United Kingdom

Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor

website


Category Private Equity Firm
Founded 1981
PE ASSETS 60.0B USD
Size Mega
Type Sector Agnostic
DESCRIPTION

Apax Partners is a mega-sized private equity investment group, operating across the United States, Europe, Israel and Asia. Broad industry sectors of interest include tech & telecom, media, retail & consumer, healthcare, financial services, and business services. Apax will consider both minority and majority investment positions and prefers companies with strong market positions and growth potential. The Firm generally pursues platform acquisitions valued from €1 to €5 billion. Apax Partners was formed in 1981 and is based in London.


DEAL STATS #
Overall 6 of 163
Sector (Leisure) 1 of 2
Type (Secondary Buyout) 1 of 60
Country (United Kingdom) 2 of 23
Year (2004) 1 of 3
Size (of disclosed) 42 of 49
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2004-01-8 Novacea

San Francisco, California, United States

Novacea, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on in-licensing, developing, and commercializing therapies for the treatment of cancer.

Buy -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2004-02-13 New Look Retail Group

London, United Kingdom

New Look Retail Group Ltd. is a specialty retailer of value fashion apparel and is the second largest womenswear retailer in the UK and now has over 1,000 stores worldwide, in the UK and Republic of Ireland, Europe, the Middle East, Singapore, Russia, and Poland. New Look was founded in 1969 and is based in London, United Kingdom.

Buy -