Byotrol, the manufacturer of antibacterial chemicals used to prevent superbugs, is to acquire the business and “certain assets” of ByoFresh. The company supplies pet grooming and hygiene products and has been working with Byotrol’s technology since 2006. The cash and shares deal will enable ByoFresh's managing director, Paul Foden, to earn up to £1.75m if the company reaches certain performance targets over the next three years. In the year to 30 June 2009 unaudited results indicated a turnover of £650,000 against an operating loss of £92,000. It is expected that ByoFresh will “make a positive contribution in the next financial year”. Click here for Insider comment.

Nine businesses in the region have made The Sunday Times Deloitte Buyout Track 100, which ranks Britain’s 100 private equity-backed companies with the fastest-growing profits. Topping the list of North West companies was payroll services provider Parasol in Warrington, at number 14. Other companies included Blackburn-based Promethean; Tangerine Confectionery; Ultimate Products; Air Energi; Protocol Skills; Integrated Dental Holdings Dental; OSS Group; and Stewart Group. The businesses have combined profits of £94m and employ 14,000 people.

Before announcing its annual results in March, AIM-listed organic waste company TEG Group, based in Chorley, said it expects 2009 to have been the most successful year in its history. Despite operational difficulties and adverse weather conditions, the company said the second half of the year was particularly successful with significant growth in revenues. It added that the outlook for 2010 was “very positive”. TEG won a share of the £3.8bn Greater Manchester Waste PFI contract last year and confirmed that its construction programme was on schedule.

The number of UK businesses going into liquidation fell 1.7 per cent to 4,566 in the fourth quarter of 2009, down from 4,648 in quarter three. The figure was also a drop of 1.1 per cent on the same period a year ago. Matt Dunham, North West regional chairman of the insolvency trade body R3 and a partner at Grant Thornton, said the statistics reflected what was being seen on the ground. “The past few months were relatively quiet for insolvency practitioners because the time to pay scheme has kept some businesses from going bust, and banks broadly continued to lend their support.” However, he said businesses need to be aware of an insolvency lag as creditors attempt to collect money owed and policymakers phase out support measures.

Indian multinational Essar Group has confirmed that it is still in talks with Royal Dutch Shell to buy the Stanlow oil refinery in Ellesmere Port. Shell yesterday reiterated its plans to sell 15 per cent of its global refining capacity, or 560,000 barrels a day, as part of a restructuring programme to improve profitability and efficiency. The announcement came as Shell announced a 69 per cent fall in annual profits to $9.8bn, from $31.4bn. The company is also set to shed 1,000 jobs.

Warrington law firm Forshaws Davies Ridgway (FDR) has successfully re-tendered to be on the legal panel of national regeneration and housing body the Homes & Communities Agency (HCA). Deborah Hodd, head of commercial at FDR and a public sector law specialist, said: “We have worked with the HCA and its forerunner, the Commission for the New Towns and English Partnerships, for many years but we are delighted we have once again been able to show the level of skill and experience required.”

Garratts Insurance Brokers in Preston, which has traded for more than 130 years, has opened a new office in Lancaster. The firm said it had been looking to expand in the area for some time to build its existing client portfolio. Directors Richard Garratt and John Grindley will run the office.

The Manchester office of Euro RSCG Biss Lancaster has been appointed to handle the PR for national bakery chain Greggs. The agency will work with Mediavest Manchester, Gratterpalm in Leeds and digital agency Steel on a series of campaigns, product launches and regional PR tactics. The account will be managed by a team of five, led by director Melissa Hinds.

Six people in Manchester and Cheshire were arrested yesterday in connection with a £2m VAT repayment fraud linked to the construction industry. The operation by criminal investigators from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), supported by police forces across the regions, resulted in 12 arrests including others in Staffordshire and Suffolk. HMRC said that paperwork including bank accounts and computers were seized as well as live ammunition, CS spray and an imitation firearm. Adrian Farley, assistant director of criminal investigation for HMRC, said: “The arrests are a result of many months of investigation across the UK to unravel what is believed to be a major fraud.”

The Innovations Technology Access Centre (I-TAC) at the Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus was officially launched yesterday. Managed by the Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC), I-TAC provides small businesses and researchers from the North West and further afield with affordable, flexible access to scientific equipment that had only been readily available to corporate giants and academics until now. STFC has remodeled existing laboratories to create a range of fully equipped laboratories.

Scruffs Workwear has appointed Chorlton PR agency Democracy to launch its Man Tips campaign with a combination of old school press tactics and some of that new-fangled social media stuff. Man Tips is a “cheeky campaign developed with advertising agency CBJWT, featuring been-there-and-done-that Uncle ‘Arry,” who has wise words for the nation’s tradesmen when ladies become overwhelmed on seeing them in their Scruffs gear. We’re not sure whether this is outrageous sexism or whether to get ourselves some rigger boots and hi-viz ties.

Best wishes for the future to OBI Property, the consultancy founded by former WHR men Will Lewis, Dominic Horridge and Gary Scorah, which has officially opened for business this week. The name reflects offices, building consultancy and investments – their respective fields of expertise, which is quite smart. But not as smart as the trio’s moody, overcoat collars-up publicity photos, which have a touch of the arthouse gangster flick about them. Brilliant stuff.

Heart-warming press release of the week goes to Mangoletsi Alfa Romeo in Knutsford, where Roy Jefferies this week retired after 42 years with the business, in which time he’s flogged £30m of Alfa parts. Asked why he had stayed so long, he said: “Working with Alfa Romeo cars and my Mangoletsi colleagues.” As his leaving gift Roy got champagne, an Alfa watch and a £5,000 bonus, which he intends to spend on a new car. We think we can take a wild guess at what sort of motor he might fancy.