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Insider Lancashire Dealmakers Awards 2009
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Cowgill Holloway bags the double
A team from Bolton last night emerged victorious at Blackburn Rovers’ Ewood Park as accountancy firm Cowgill Holloway walked away from Insider’s Lancashire Dealmakers Awards 2009 with the title of Corporate Finance Advisory Team of the Year, an award sponsored by Napthens Solicitors. And later in the evening Ian Johnson, head of corporate finance at Cowgill Holloway, was named Dealmaker of the Year. Over 200 of the region’s advisers, funders and entrepreneurs gathered for the glittering awards ceremony, compèred by Insider editor Michael Taylor. Cowgill Holloway beat off a top shortlist to take the first award of the evening, competing against Tenon Corporate Finance, Moore & Smalley, PM+M and Pierce Corporate Finance. The award was collected by the firm’s enigmatic founder, Peter Cowgill. Cowgill Holloway has advised on top regional deals over the last year including the acquisition of Metals UK and the sale of Garic to Bibby.
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Our timing was perfect, says top dealmaker
Ian Johnson, head of corporate finance at Cowgill Holloway, was last night crowned Lancashire Dealmaker of the Year, beating off competition from regional rivals Oliver Burton of The Royal Bank of Scotland, John Daly of Tenon Corporate Finance, Jim Akrill of PM+M, John Green of Pierce Corporate Finance, and Daniel Milnes of Forbes Solicitors. The award was sponsored by Forbes Solicitors. Johnson admitted afterwards that the sale of plant hire company Garic to Liverpool-based group Bibby was a great deal, but probably would not have been possible this year. “We’ve had a great year, but we know it’s going to be tough and we just have to help clients work through this,” Johnson said. 
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Deal of the Year
Winner Sale of Garic to Bibby
There was tough competition in the shortlist this year with some mega deals in the running for this coveted prize. But the acquisition of plant and equipment hire business Garic by Liverpool-based Bibby Line Group is set to fire the business to the next level and maintain its impressive growth rate – turnover has doubled to £12m in the past four years. The award was collected by Lorne Entwistle, managing director of Garic.
Shortlist Buyout of Multipart; sale of Garic to Bibby; Brightspark acquisition by Merc; sale of Metals UK; buyout of Crown Paints
Sponsored by Lancashire County Council
Corporate Law Firm of the Year
Winner Forbes Solicitors
Lancashire is full of legal talent, but Forbes emerged victorious in what was one of the most fiercely contested categories. The firm has acted for both Blackburn Rovers and Burnley Football Clubs in the last year, as well as solid Lancashire companies like Horners Motors and Dutton Carpets.
Shortlist Marsden Rawsthorn, Napthens Solicitors, Forbes Solicitors, Taylors, Farleys, DWF
Sponsored by PM+M
Corporate Banking Team of the Year
Winner Barclays
Stanworth and his team at Barclays proved that they are the team to beat in Lancashire, despite competition coming from not one, but two teams at The Royal Bank of Scotland.
Shortlist The Royal Bank of Scotland (Blackburn), The Co-operative Bank, Barclays, Yorkshire Bank, The Royal Bank of Scotland (Preston)
Sponsored by Pierce Corporate Finance
Fund of the Year
Winner Rosebud Fund (Lancashire County Council and Enterprise Ventures)
In a category that could well see expansion in the next year, the Rosebud Fund won for its continued support to small businesses that need that vital lifeline. It has invested in the likes of Crowberry Consulting and Carpets Direct in the last 12 months.
Shortlist Rising Stars Growth Fund (Enterprise Ventures); Rosebud Fund, (Lancashire County Council and Enterprise Ventures); NW Business Investment Scheme (YFM Group)
Sponsored by Tenon Corporate Finance
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Young Dealmaker of the Year
Winner Oliver Burton, The Royal Bank of Scotland (Preston)
It’s not hard to notice that corporate financiers are getting younger and Lancashire has some fantastic talent coming through the ranks but only one could win this year. Burton, who also walked away with the Banker of the Year title: "“There are still opportunities out there, we do have money to lend."
Shortlist Oliver Burton, The Royal Bank of Scotland (Preston); Charlotte Wood, Forbes Solicitors; Tim Mills, Pierce Corporate Finance
Sponsored by Napthens Solicitors
Corporate Finance Adviser of the Year
Winner John Daly, Tenon Corporate Finance
Daly is responsible for the North West corporate finance team, operating out of Manchester and Chorley. His areas of expertise are disposals, flotations, acquisitions, due diligence and business exit grooming. It’s the second year in a row he’s scooped this award.
Shortlist Ian Johnson, Cowgill Holloway; John Daly, Tenon Corporate Finance; Paul Stringer, Cowgill Holloway; Craig Richardson, Dow Schofield Watts; Jim Akrill, PM+M
Sponsored by Marsden Rawsthorn
Corporate Lawyer of the Year
Winner Andrew Clare, Napthens Solicitors
With a wide range of experience in both domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, Clare takes the Corporate Lawyer of the Year award for the second year running. In addition to his mainstream practice areas, Clare also advises a number of Japanese companies in the UK.
Shortlist Daniel Milnes, Forbes Solicitors; Andrew Clare, Napthens Solicitors; David Southern, Marsden Rawsthorn; Peter Hine, Marsden Rawsthorn; Keith Melling, DWF; Elaine Hurn, Taylors
Sponsored by PM+M
Banker of the Year
Winner Oliver Burton, The Royal Bank of Scotland (Preston)
Burton received a huge number of nominations in this category in recognition for his work with such clients as Zoom, a CCTV company based in Wigan.
Shortlist Oliver Burton, The Royal Bank of Scotland (Preston); Dave Haslam, The Royal Bank of Scotland (Blackburn); Mike Newby, Barclays; Craig Carter, Yorkshire Bank (Blackburn); Rob Turner, Yorkshire Bank (Blackburn)
Sponsored by Pierce Corporate Finance
Entrepreneur of the Year
Winner Ian Griffiths, Metals UK
In what is a new addition to the awards list this year, Insider felt it was important to see who is making the greatest waves in the Lancashire business world and doing deals. Metals UK was taken over last year by US firm AM Castle & Co and Griffiths was at the forefront of the deal. He said: “Castle is the right partner to accelerate our growth.”
Shortlist Matt Riley, Daisy Communications; Nigel Haworth and Craig Bancroft, Ribble Valley Inns; Ian Griffiths, Metals UK; Trevor Bargh, Cityblock
Sponsored by Marsden Rawsthorn
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Flat Cap Award
Winner Sean Williams, Yorkshire Bank
This is the award where Insider seeks out the person from Lancashire’s corporate finance community who embodies the spirit of good humour, decency and the solid Lancashire values of hard work. In a sector that has received widespread condemnation during this past year, it may come as a surprise that our Flat Cap winner is from the banking sector. However, Williams has gained plaudits from his county compatriots for his gracious, gregarious and quintessential Lancastrian approach to business.
Sponsored by Freshfield
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