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The top man at support services giant Enterprise, which operates a joint venture with Liverpool City Council, has not ruled out a return to the stock market, following the 3i-backed take-private of the company in 2007 - valuing the operation at £620m. Chairman and chief executive Owen McLaughlin told Insider: "The one thing you know about private equity is that from the day it comes on board, you know it's going to leave. We're under no pressure to do something quickly, but when we do something one of the options for us will be an initial public offering. At this moment in time, we think it will." It is thought that 3i would retain a stake in the company following any flotation. You can read the full interview with McLaughlin in the June issue of Insider, out now. 
Co-op hopes high for Somerfield takeover The boss of Manchester-based trading giant The Co-operative Group has given his clearest indication yet that the takeover of rival retailer Somerfield will take place. Chief executive Peter Marks told Insider that, although there are hurdles to overcome, there is a very good chance of the deal going through this summer. "With any big transaction like this the regulators take a very keen interest, so we have to satisfy the regulators that this is good for the consumer," he said. "We can do that very easily because we think this is great for the consumer - I think there is a very good chance of this happening." The transaction is thought to be worth around £1.7bn with the acquisition of 900 stores.
Europe is moving a step closed to greener, cheaper home energy thanks to AIM-listed Energetix, the developer of new and sustainable alternative energy products based at Capenhurst Technology Park near Chester. It has signed heads of terms for a collaboration agreement with an as yet unnamed major European supplier of heating technology to jointly integrate the company's Genlec micro-CHP (micro combined heat and power) unit into a wall-mounted boiler for the European domestic heating market. The units have already been integrated into wall-mounted boilers manufactured by Dutch manufacturer Daalderop. By using a Genlec-enabled micro-CHP boiler a typical UK home will save an average of £150 per year.
Pipe dreams at UU As part of its long-term plans to ensure our water remains on tap, United Utilities (UU) is proposing a 54km water pipeline linking Liverpool and Bury. The £125m scheme will involve laying a new pipeline from Prescot reservoir in Merseyside to Woodgate Hill reservoir in Bury, Greater Manchester, and will take around two years to complete. Described as a "vital" project by the quoted company, the plans are being discussed with over 200 landowners and eight different councils along the proposed route. UU, which earlier this month announced underlying operation profit up 7 per cent to £677m, hopes to be in a position to start work on the scheme early in 2009, for completion by spring 2011.
Barclays strong as new recruit arrives Barclays Commercial Bank, which has moved to new Liverpool offices at 20 Chapel Street alongside new arrival Barclays Wealth, has bolstered its position in the city with the appointment of Simon Robb as relationship director. Robb, who will join another recent recruit, Giles Barton, brings with him corporate banking experience from Bank of Ireland and Bank of Scotland. Michael Hartig, corporate director at Barclays, said: "Barclays is demonstrating that it remains active in the market despite challenging economic conditions."
Consolidate to survive in the entertainment business Entertainment and media companies need to consolidate in order to optimise growth over the next five years, according to a report released today by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Findings indicate that the UK market should enjoy growth of 5.8 per cent to reach $152bn in 2012. Nick Boden, head of the technology, entertainment and media sector group at PwC in the North West, said: "We are seeing new business models take shape for entertainment and media companies. Some, such as the film industry, have experimented with alliances in the past, but those are just the initial skirmishes in a new world of strategic cooperation. No single company will be able to successfully go it alone."
Liverpool-based Nobles Construction has been appointed by West Lancashire Golf Club to refurbish its clubhouse in a deal worth £1.2m. The club, one of the ten oldest in England, has commissioned Nobles to enhance its club-house facilities to offer new changing amenities, improved player's entrance, upgraded and extended kitchens and function rooms and a new professional golf shop.
Villafont buys out Battman Altrincham housebuilder Villafont has agreed to buy the Battman & Sons garden centre in Timperley as it continues its diversification into the care home sector. The 112-year-old business will close at the end of June. With co-director David Battman retiring, son Duncan said: "Now seemed a perfect time to close and bow out together. We both felt that the site should serve the community and we are confident we have found the right buyer." The site will now house a care home and medical centre.
Funding for new resi scheme in Rochdale A former cotton mill near Rochdale is set to be redeveloped following an injection of funding from Barclays Commercial Bank. Huddersfield-based developer Ãber Massclusive (UK) has secured a £3.4m funding package to build 23 residential units at the Clegg Hall Mills site, which is being transformed in three phases. The scheme has been drawn up in conjunction with architects at Mason Gillibrand in Lancaster.
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