Date: Tue 30th June, 2009
Venue:
Number of Guests Attended: 120
The recent uptick in deals activity in the South West leant this year’s Dealmakers event a positive air despite looking back on a quiet 12 months.
With more than 120 dealmakers in attendance at the Bristol Marriott Hotel City Centre, nearly all of the region’s key players were in the room, and there was plenty of candour about how difficult it remains to get deals away.
But there was also a palpable sense that, when next year’s event comes around, the landscape will be different and offer up more to celebrate. So it was a night for cautious optimism, and for celebrating those who have managed to pull off deals during a sticky 12 months.
Two awards were up for grabs – for the deal and dealmaker of the year, respectively – and the night’s big winner was Deloitte.
The business consultancy’s corporate finance partner Martyn Gregory was named Dealmaker of the Year for his involvement in several key transactions.
And the Deal of the Year also had a Deloitte flavour: last summer’s management buyout of Wiltshire-based egg company Stonegate, which proved a popular winner on the night.
The Stonegate deal was an MBO by husband-and-wife team Richard and Pam Corbett, which was put together with the backing of Lloyds TSB and advice from the corporate advisory team at Deloitte. Legal help came from TLT Solicitors led by John Wood, with help from competition law specialist Bill Hull.
