M&A Deal Summary

Phones 4u Acquires Dial-a-Phone

On February 25, 2008, Phones 4u acquired retailer Dial-a-Phone from Equistone for 9M GBP

Acquisition Highlights
  • This is Phones 4u’s 1st transaction in the Retail sector.
  • This is Phones 4u’s largest (disclosed) transaction.
  • This is Phones 4u’s 1st transaction in the United Kingdom.

M&A Deal Summary
Date 2008-02-25
Target Dial-a-Phone
Sector Retail
Buyer(s) Phones 4u
Sellers(s) Equistone
Deal Type Add-on Acquisition
Deal Value 9M GBP

Target

Dial-a-Phone

London, United Kingdom
Dial-a-Phone is one of the UK's largest direct retailers of mobile phones and accessories, operating various websites and a call centre in North London.

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Buyer(S) 1

Buyer

Phones 4u

Newcastle-under-Lyme, United Kingdom
Category Company
Founded 1996
Sector Distribution
DESCRIPTION

MobileServ, operating under the Phones 4u brand, is a independent multi-channel mobile phone distributor among the youth market in the UK and the largest provider of mobile phone insurance in the UK.

DEAL STATS #
Overall 1 of 1
Sector (Retail) 1 of 1
Type (Add-on Acquisition) 1 of 1
Country (United Kingdom) 1 of 1
Year (2008) 1 of 1
Size (of disclosed) 1 of 1
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2013-10-25 Lifestyle Services Group

Berkshire, United Kingdom

Lifestyle Services Group is the biggest single provider of packaged account products and bespoke services to the retail banking sector and manages the largest number of mobile phone insurance customers in the UK on behalf of its clients. It partners UK High Street banks and mobile networks assisting 8 million of their customers.

Sell £107M

Seller(S) 1

SELLER

Equistone

London, United Kingdom

Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor

Category Private Equity Firm
Founded 1997
PE ASSETS 9.6B EUR
Size Mega
Type Sector Agnostic
DESCRIPTION

Equistone is a private equity firm that invests in small to mid-sized companies valued from €50 to €500 million. Equistone targets companies operating in the fields of services, healthcare, financial services, and consumer/travel. The Firm looks to invest €25 to €200 million in a variety of transactions, including buyouts, growth capital financings, recapitalizations, and take privates. Equistone was formed in 1997 and is based in London, England.

DEAL STATS #
Overall 77 of 192
Sector (Retail) 7 of 11
Type (Add-on Acquisition) 30 of 67
Country (United Kingdom) 40 of 84
Year (2008) 2 of 6
Size (of disclosed) 58 of 58
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2008-02-24 Kurt Geiger

London, United Kingdom

Kurt Geiger is a retailer of designer footwear and accessories. Kurt Geiger has a portfolio of attractive brands (including Kurt Geiger London, KG, Miss KG and Carvela) and operates over 80 stores globally and 240 concessions within some of the world’s most prestigious department stores including Harrods, Selfridges, House of Fraser and Debenhams and partners with leading international brands. Kurt Geiger was founded in 1963 and is based in London, United Kingdom.

Sell £95M
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2008-03-18 MRH

Epping, United Kingdom

MRH is the second largest independent forecourt operator in the U.K. with 439 stations operating under the BP, Shell, Esso, Texaco, JET and Murco fuel brands. MFG offers the Murco brand through a network of 200 dealers and its retail offerings include Subway and Costa Coffee.

Buy -
Mergr

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