Thompson named Dealmaker of the Year
Steve Thompson of Liberty Corporate Finance has won the coveted Dealmaker of the Year prize at Insider's Central & East of England Dealmakers Awards 2010. Thompson was presented with the award in front of 200 peers and professionals at a gala dinner in the Jurys Hotel, Milton Keynes. Broadcaster Gyles Brandreth was compére for the evening, which also raised money for the Stroke Association. Collecting the prize, Thompson said: "I accept this on behalf of myself and Simon Hill. I am very optimistic and think the market is coming back. We have good talent in Milton Keynes and there will be plenty of deals in the future." The award was sponsored by Barclays Corporate, and also shortlisted were Richard Booty – The Royal Bank of Scotland, Mike Hughes – Grant Thornton, Mark Standish – Mazars and Laurence Whitehead – MacIntyre Hudson.
The Awards
Entrepreneur of the Year
Winner: Nick Harding, Prasepe
This is a new category this year that has been added to recognise entrepreneurialism in the region. These guys bring new business, jobs and investment to the area and should be commended for that. Prasepe has been a rapidly-growing business over the last year-and-a-half and is a quoted AIM-listed company based here in Milton Keynes.
Shortlisted: Doug Cross, Flybird Systems, Richard Lowden, Green Motion
Sponsored by: Coutts and Co
Deal of the Year
Winner: Secondary buyout of Amtech Group (Shoosmiths, Grant Thornton, BDO and Lloyds TSB)
Despite other nominated deals being bigger, Amtech won because it was a truly local deal, done at the worst of times against the odds. It was one of the few sizeable equity bank buyouts to happen in the region in the last year. It was a full management buyout rather than coming from debt funding – and you don’t see that very often these days.
Shortlisted: Sale of the Gadgetshop and associated assets to WH Smith plc, SAI Global UK’s acquisition of Northamptonshire based Foodcheck Ltd, £130m tertiary management buyout of U-POL
Sponsored by: Venture Structured Finance
Private Equity Team of the Year
Winner: LDC
LDC have been so active this year both regionally and nationally that the award had to go to them. Described by one voter as “the most important PE player covering this region”, as well as selling a number of investments they have put money into the region.
Shortlisted: Sovereign Capital Partners, Key Capital, Catapult Venture Managers, Graphite
Sponsored by: Centric Commercial Finance
Asset Based Lender of the Year
Winner: Venture Finance
A firm that prides itself on offering creative funding solutions, Venture has built up a strong profile here against some big competition.
Shortlisted: KBC Business Capital, Lloyds Commercial Finance
Corporate Bank of the Year
Winner: Lloyds TSB
Lloyds has repeatedly demonstrated over the last year that they are open for business. Steve Lyons and the team were commended by many voters for their ability to be flexible and work with the region’s firms on some complex transactions.
Shortlisted: HSBC, The Royal Bank of Scotland, Barclays
Sponsored by: BDO
Corporate Law Firm of the Year
Winner: Shoosmiths
It was very close again this year, but Shoosmiths just clinched it. People who voted for the firm said that it has really stepped up this year and adapted well to the changing economic climate.
Shortlisted: Denton Wilde Sapte, Tollers, EMW
Corporate Finance Advisory Team of the Year
Winner: Mazars
Mark Standish and his team have had a very busy year. People who work with Mazars say that they are a firm that are always happy to help and are always looking for solutions – all in all a great firm to do business with.
Shortlisted: Grant Thornton, Liberty Corporate Finance, MacIntyre Hudson
Sponsored by: KBC Business Capital
