Rainmaker Awards
Summer 2024 marked the return of the Rainmaker Awards.The Rainmaker Awards brought together Yorkshire’s deals community to celebrate the best deals and teams from the past 12 months, as voted for by the corporate finance community themselves in a one firm, one vote system.The casual dress code, swapped the traditional tuxedos and long speeches for an evening that focuses on recognising and celebrating the best work from the year.The night provided an opportunity to network with the leading individuals and firms in the region.
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2024 Shortlist
Teams
Regional Legal Team
Clarion
Freeths
Gordons
Schofield Sweeney
Walker Morris
Ward Hadaway
National Legal Team
Addleshaw Goddard
DLA Piper
Eversheds Sutherland
Pinsent Masons
Shoosmiths
Squire Patton Boggs
Womble Bond Dickinson
Regional Corporate Finance Advisory Team
Azets
Castle Square
Dow Schofield Watts
Park Place Corporate Finance
Sentio Partners
Translink Corporate Finance
National Corporate Finance Advisory Team
Clearwater
EY
Grant Thornton
KPMG
PwC
Rothschild & Co
VC/Private Equity Team
BGF
Endless
Foresight Group
LDC
YFM Equity Partners
Debt Funder Team
HSBC
Santander
Shawbrook
TDC
ThinCats
Virgin Money
Asset-based Lending Team
Arbuthnot
BZ
Close Brothers
Shawbrook
Due Diligence Team
Cortus Advisory
Dow Schofield Watts
Grant Thornton
KPMG
PwC
RSM
Tax Advisory
Deloitte
EY
Grant Thornton
KPMG
RSM
Tax Advisory Partnership
Translink Corporate Finance
Deals
Private Equity Exit of the Year
LDC invested in The 55 Group, providing an exit for Maven Capital Partners
Addleshaw Goddard, Squire Patton Boggs, Gateley, DLA Piper, KPMG, Rothschild, DSW, PMSI, Better Faster Growth, Catalysis, Park Place, HSBC, Maven Capital Partners, LDC
International Deal of the Year
Assisi Pet Care Group acquired by Wind Point Partners providing a successful exit for Harwood Private Equity
Clarion, Shoosmiths, Reed Smith, Addleshaw Goddard, Reed Smith, Park Place, Tax Advisory Partnership, KPMG, Crescent Capital
Small Deal of the Year (up to £10m)
Operam Education, backed by BGF, acquires Provision Recruitment
Squire Patton Boggs, Nelsons Solicitors, Pinsent Masons, Gordons, BGF, HSBC, Connect Corporate Finance
Medium Deal of the Year (£10m-£50m)
LDC Investment in Boston Energy
SPG, Addleshaw Goddard, KPMG, Clearwater, Grant Thornton, LDC
Large Deal of the Year (over £50m)
LDC investment in Sheffield based student accommodation advertising platform, UniHomes.
Womble Bond Dickinson, Freeths, EY, Castle Square, Shoosmiths, HSBC
Individual
Rising Star of the Year
Megan Atack, Freeths
James Baker, BGF
Olivia Field, Ward Hadaway
Joshua Astill-Headley, Squire Patton Boggs
Thomas Hopwood, Addleshaw Goddard
Anthony West, LDC
Changemaker of the Year
Jessica Armstrong, Lloyds
Alexandra Fogal, EY
Carly Gulliver, Addleshaw Goddard
Linda Nguyenova, BGF
Rebecca Rennison, EY
Jeremy Thomas, Deloitte
Rainmaker of the Year
Chris Boyes, BGF
Richard Goldsack, Clearwater
Richard Hunt, Addleshaw Goddard
Paul Mann, Squire Patton Boggs
Amy Pierechod, Gordons
Dan Smith, LDC
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2023 WINNERS - Yorkshire
Teams
Legal
Addleshaw Goddard
Corporate Finance
Sentio Partners
VC/Private Equity
LDC
Funder
HSBC
Transaction Services
Grant Thornton
Deals
Small Cap (up to £15m)
YorkTest Laboratories secured a £10m investment from NVM Private Equity
Squire Patton Boggs, Walker Morris, Ward Hadaway, Mazars, PwC, NVM Private Equity
Private Equity Exit
Phoenix Equity Partners exited Nexus Vehicle Rental after its sale to Equistone
Addleshaw Goddard, Squire Patten Boggs, Rothschild & Co, PwC, Park Place
M&A
Hippo Digital acquired data consultancy The Data Shed
Grant Thornton, Squire Patton Boggs, Armstrong, KPMG, DWF, Vista Insurance, NatWest, Addleshaw Goddard
International
Irish utilities group Beauparc Utilities acquired Acumen Waste Services
Burges Salmon, Clarion Solicitors, BDO, Park Place Corporate Finance
Public Markets
Marshalls acquired Marley in a £535m deal, part-funded by a £187m placing and open offer
Pinsent Masons, Slaughter & May, Grant Thornton, Numis Securities, Rothschild & co
Private Company
Arc Inspirations received a £19m investment, from BGF to support the accelerated rollout of its Banyan Bar & Kitchen, BOX and Manahatta brands
Gordons, Squire Patton Boggs, KPMG, BGF
Individual
Rising Star
Hannah Kirkup - Key Capital Partners
Changemaker
Nicola McQuaid - NorthEdge
Rainmaker
Jonathan Simms - Clarion
2023 WINNERS - North West
Teams
Legal
Addleshaw Goddard
Corporate Finance
Clearwater International
VC/Private Equity
Palatine Private Equity
Funder
TDC
Transaction Services
Cortus Advisory
Deals
Small Cap (up to £15m)
Maven Capital Partners acquired ProofID for £15m
Clearwater International, Maven Capital Partners
Private Equity Exit
WestBridge took a majority stake in Alpine Fire Engineers, investing £18.7m, while Soho Square Capital exited.
Addleshaw Goddard, Pinsent Masons, BDO, Blick Rothenberg, Clearwater International. Grant Thornton, Jamieson Corporate Finance, Soso Square Capital, WestBridge, Shawbrook
M&A
RSK made seven acquisitions of consultancy businesses around the UK in six weeks
Dow Schofield Watts, Cortus Advisory, DWF
International
Fishawack acquired American healthcare advisers Avalere Health
Clearsight Advisors
Public Markets
Sun European Partners bought K3 Capital Group for £270m
Houlihan Lokey, Numis Securities Ltd, Addleshaw Goddard
Private Company
The Modern Milkman raised £50m in its Series C funding round
Willkie Farr & Gallagher, ETF Partners, Insight Partners, Praetura Ventures
Individual
Rising Star
Jacob Leone - LDC
Changemaker
Nicola Merritt - Cortus Advisory
Rainmaker
Andrew Feeke - MHA Moore & Smalley
2023 WINNERS - West MIDLANDS
Teams
Legal
Sponsored by Rhino Interiors
Shoosmiths
Corporate Finance
Clearwater International
VC/Private Equity
Sponsored by Kuboid
NorthEdge
Funder
HSBC
Transaction Services
RSM
Deals
Small Cap (up to £15m)
Premier Paper Group bought Wine Box Company
Gateley, Harrison Clark Rickerbys, BDO, Orbis Partners
Private Equity Exit
Palatine achieved a 5.8x return on its investment in CTS Group, through a sale to Oakley Capital
Palatine, Clearwater, Gateley, Browne Jacobson, Deloitte
M&A
Telecoms firm Wavenet, acquired OGL Computer Support Holdings and its two subsidiaries OGL Computer Support and CyberGuard Technologies
DWF, Squire Patton Boggs, Orbis Partners
International
Birmingham marketing tech firm Inspired Thinking Group (Team ITG) acquired New Zealand-based Brand Machine
Public Markets
Mercia Asset Management acquired Frontier Development Capital, for £7m and with a further £4m dependent on performance
Canaccord Genuity, Mercia Asset Management
Private Company
Friend MTS was backed by private equity firm NorthEdge
Alantra, Fredrikson & Byron PA, Freeths, Gateley, Squire Patton Boggs, Walkers, Appleby, BDO LLP, Friend LLP, KPMG, Keystone Partners, Mazars
Individual
Rising Star
Matthew Guest, Springboard Corporate Finance
Changemaker
Beth Mather, Gateley
Rainmaker
Sponsored by Michael Page
Sarah Taylor, Clearwater International
2022 Winners - North West
Teams
Legal
Addleshaw Goddard
Corporate Finance
Houlihan Lokey
VC/Private Equity
Foresight Group
Funder
Tosca Debt Capital
Deals
Deal under £15m
Apprentify acquired Netcom Training, backed by £5m investment from BGF
Private Equity Exit
DA Languages was bought by IK Partners, with Foresight exiting
Private Company
Matillion raised $150m in a funding round led by General Atlantic
Public Markets
Victorian Plumbing floated on AIM, raising nearly £300m
M&A
Inflexion bought ANS, to combine with existing investment UKFast
International
Blue Prism was acquired by US fintech giant SS&C for £1.24bn
Individual
Rising Star (under 35)
Peter Barkley - WestBridge
Changemaker
Beth Houghton - Palatine Private Equity
Rainmaker
Dominic Orsini - Houlihan Lokey
2022 Winners - Yorkshire
Teams
Legal
Clarion
Corporate Finance
Clearwater International
VC/Private Equity
BGF
Funder
HSBC
Deals
Small Cap (under £20m)
Sheffield Forgemasters was acquired by the Ministry of Defence
Private Equity Exit
The sale of Estio Training to BPP Education Group was the first exit from Palatine’s Impact Fund
M&A
Succession and growth finance raising for Carnaby Caravans
Rising Stars
Legal
Mae Salem, Squire Patton Boggs
Corporate Finance
Duncan Morpeth, Grant Thornton
Investment
Paul Denvers, Enact
Funder
Rebecca Rennison, EY
Individual
Changemaker
Rob Atkinson, Virgin Money
Rainmaker
Stephen Griffiths, Rothschild & Co
Summer 2024 marked the return of the Rainmaker Awards.The Rainmaker Awards brought together the North West deals community to celebrate the best deals and teams from the past 12 months, as voted for by the corporate finance community themselves in a one firm, one vote system.The casual dress code, swapped the traditional tuxedos and long speeches for an evening that focuses on recognising and celebrating the best work from the year.The night provided an opportunity to network with the leading individuals and firms in the region.
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CATEGORY SPONSORS
EVENT PARTNER | DATA PARTNER | AFTER PARTY HOST
2024 SHORTLIST & winners
Teams
Regional Legal Team
Brabners
Browne Jacobson
Hill Dickinson
JMW Solicitors
Napthens Solicitors
Pannone Corporate
National Legal Team
Addleshaw Goddard
DLA Piper
DWF
Eversheds Sutherland
Pinsent Masons
Squire Patton Boggs
Regional Corporate Finance Advisory Team
Cortus Advisory
Cowgills
Dow Schofield Watts
Hurst Corporate Finance
MHA
Rickitt Mitchell
National Corporate Finance Advisory Team
Clearwater
DC Advisory
EY
Grant Thornton
Houlihan Lokey
KPMG
PwC
VC/Private Equity Team
BGF
Foresight Group
LDC
Palatine
Praetura Ventures
WestBridge
Debt Funder Team
HSBC
OakNorth Bank
Shawbrook
ThinCats
TDC
Virgin Money
Asset-based Lending Team
Arbuthnot Latham
Close Brothers
Cynergy Business Finance
Praetura Commercial Finance Group
Secure Trust Bank
Shawbrook
Due Diligence Team
BDO
Cortus Advisory
Deloitte
Dow Schofield Watts
KPMG
Saffery
Tax Advisory
Alexander & Co
BDO
Claritas Tax
KPMG
PwC
RSM UK
Deals
Private Equity Exit of the Year
Anthesis acquired by Carlyle, with Palatine reinvesting
Eversheds Sutherland, Lazard, Deloitte
International Deal of the Year
Trawlers, the acquisition vehicle of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the Chairman of INEOS Group, acquired 25% of Manchester United
Latham & Watkins, Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison, Slaughter and May, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Cazenove, Raine Group LLC, Rothschild & Co - Red Football LLC
Small Deal of the Year (up to £10m)
Management buyout of Resulting IT backed by YFM
Brabners, Hill Dickinson, Alexander & Co, BDO, Blacksquare Advisory, Cortus Advisory, RSM, YFM Equity Partners, KPMG
Medium Deal of the Year (£10m-£50m)
Waterland Invests in Cumbria Waste Group
Dow Schofield Watts, Waterland Private Equity Investments, Pinsent Masons, Hill Dickinson, DWF
Large Deal of the Year (over £50m)
Apadmi secures investment from CBPE
Weightmans, CBPE, Addleshaw Goddard, Deloitte, PwC, Clearwater, Alantra
Individual
Rising Star of the Year
Ryan Brown, Browne Jacobson
Tom Chappell, TDC
Grant Goodwin, LDC
Greg Holmes, Palatine
James Kennedy, Cowgills
Katie Parker, Addleshaw Goddard
Rachael Taplin, Palatine
Changemaker of the Year
Beth Houghton, Palatine
Catriona Lang, Dow Schofield Watts
Nicola Merritt, Cortus Advisory
Lucie Mills, NorthEdge
Rebecca Rennison, EY
Lizzy Tindall, Eversheds Sutherland
Rainmaker of the Year
Claire Alvarez, Foresight Group
Giles Chesher, Squire Patton Boggs
Sam Davies, Cowgills
Gary Davison, TDC
Andrew Feeke, MHA
Michael Loudon, Clearwater
Nicola Merritt, Cortus Advisory
SUBSCRIBE
TheBusinessDesk has launched RAINMAKERS, a dedicated platform of insights, commentary and analysis of M&A and fundraising activity across the North.A serious upgrade to our regular daily news updates.
Summer 2024 marked the return of the Rainmaker Awards.The Rainmaker Awards brought together the West Midlands deals community to celebrate the best deals and teams from the past 12 months, as voted for by the corporate finance community themselves in a one firm, one vote system.The casual dress code, swapped the traditional tuxedos and long speeches for an evening that focused on recognising and celebrating the best work from the year.The night provided an opportunity to network with the leading individuals and firms in the region.
Sponsors
EVENT PARTNER | DATA PARTNER | charity PARTNER | AFTER PARTY HOST
2024 shortlist & Winners
Teams
Regional Legal Team
HCR Law
Higgs
Lodders
Mills & Reeve
The Wilkes Partnership
Wright Hassall
National Legal Team
Browne Jacobson
Eversheds Sutherland
Freeths
Gateley Legal
Shoosmiths
Squire Patton Boggs
Regional Corporate Finance Advisory Team
Clairfield
Cooper Parry
Evolve Corporate Finance
Heligan Group
Provantage
Springboard Corporate Finance
National Corporate Finance Advisory Team
Alantra
Clearwater
EY
KPMG
PwC
RSM
VC/Private Equity Team
Beech Tree PE
BGF
LDC
NorthEdge Capital
Palatine Private Equity
YFM
Debt Funder Team
FDC
HSBC
Santander
Shawbrook
Thincats
Virgin Money
Asset-based Lending Team
Close Brothers Group
HSBC
Leumi UK
PNC
Shawbrook
Due Diligence Team
BDO
Cortus Advisory
Grant Thornton
KPMG
PwC
RSM
Tax Advisory
Claritas Tax
EY
Grant Thornton
PKF Smith Cooper
PwC
RSM
Deals
Private Equity Exit of the Year
YFM-backed an MBO of Antser Group, with BGF completing its exit
Mills & Reeve, Freeths, Gateley, Shoosmiths, Roythornes, Claritas, Heligan, PwC, Cooper Parry Corporate Finance, Springboard Corporate Finance, EY, Crowe, YFM Private Equity
International Deal of the Year
Knighthead Capital Management took a 46% stake in Birmingham City
Squire Patton Boggs, Deloitte, Knighthead Capital Management
Small Deal of the Year (up to £10m)
Forward Glass was acquired by Cornwall Group
Higgs, Springboard Corporate Finance, Claritas
Medium Deal of the Year (£10m-£50m)
Palatine took a significant minority shareholding in the accountancy firm BK Plus
Eversheds Sutherland, Gateley, Irwin Mitchell, Cortus, RSM, Clearwater, Palatine, Shawbrook
Large Deal of the Year (over £50m)
Waterland-backed Cooper Parry acquired Haines Watts London
Clearwater, Waterland, Squire Patton Boggs
Individual
Rising Star of the Year
Mo Abbas, Freeths
Charlotte Casserly, Deloitte
Tom Joy, PKF Smith Cooper
Emily Parkes, Higgs
Hayley Simmonds, Mills & Reeve
Kieran Virr, Clearwater
Changemaker of the Year
Ayesha Ali, LDC
Satvir Bungar, BDO
Kelly Henney, PNC
Deepak Parekh, Shawbrook Bank
Janai Parker, Gateley
Rick Smyth, The Wilkes Partnership
Rainmaker of the Year
Helen Brocklebank, RSM
Rob Burden, Clearwater
Joe Dyke, Clearwater
Paul Franks, Beech Tree Private Equity
Sarah Taylor, Clearwater
Richard Thomas, Palatine
SUBSCRIBE
TheBusinessDesk has launched RAINMAKERS, a dedicated platform of insights, commentary and analysis of M&A and fundraising activity across the North.A serious upgrade to our regular daily news updates.
TheBusinessDesk.com is bringing the Rainmaker Awards to the East Midlands for the first time due to the awards' success in the North West, Yorkshire and West Midlands.The Rainmaker Awards will bring together the East Midlands deals community to celebrate the best deals and teams from the past 12 months, as voted for by the corporate finance community themselves in a one firm, one vote system.The casual dress code swaps the traditional tuxedos and long speeches for an evening that focuses on recognising and celebrating the best work from the year.The night will provide an opportunity to network with the leading individuals and firms in the region.
GRAB YOUR TICKETS
£165 + VAT - Single Ticket
£1500 + VAT - Table of 10
2024 SHORTLIST
Teams
Legal Team
Browne Jacobson
Flint Bishop
Freeths
Gateley
Howes Percival
Shakespeare Martineau
Corporate Finance Advisory Team
Bishopsgate Corporate Finance
Breeze Corporate Finance
Cooper Parry
DSW
Grant Thornton
Provantage Corporate Finance
VC/Private Equity Team
BGF
Foresight
Maven
Mercia
LDC
Palatine
Debt Funder Team
Beechbrook
HSBC
OakNorth
Shawbrook
ThinCats
Asset-based Lending Team
Close Brothers
IGF
Leumi UK
Shawbrook
Due Diligence Team
BDO
Cooper Parry
Cortus Advisory
PKF Smith Cooper
RSM
Tax Advisory Team
BDO
Claritas Tax
Cooper Parry
KPMG
PKF Smith Cooper
RSM
Deals
Private Equity Exit of the Year
Sale of Freshcut Foods by Perywn to Flywheel
Squire Patton Boggs, Stephens Corporate Finance, Perwyn, KPMGExit of Innovative Bites by Sculptor Capital and sale to A&M Capital Europe
Browne Jacobson, KPMGYFM exit of KeTech Group and sale to the Wescom Group
Browne Jacobson, Knights, KPMGYFM exit of DSP Group and sale to LDC 1506
Browne Jacobson, Gateley Legal, BDO, Alantra, CMS, YFM, PwC, LDC Exit of Evolution Funding by LDC and sale to Carlyle
KPMG, Arma Partners
International Deal of the Year
Sale of Serif to Canva
Gateley, Provantage Corporate FinanceSale of Riverside Medical Packaging to Sterimed Group
Provantage Corporate Finance, Gateley Legal, Browne JacobsonGroup Autajon Services SAS acquisition of Simply Cartons
Grant ThorntonAcquisition of Nu Chem Sciences by Sygnature Discovery
KPMG, Five Arrows
Small Deal of the Year (up to £10m)
Keysource Group acquisition of 2bm
Actons, Hill Dickinson, Breeze Corporate Finance, DSWFunding round of £7.5m into University of Nottingham spin-out, IsomAb
Shoosmiths, Mercia Ventures, Science Creates Ventures, BroadviewSale of Solutions For Retail Brands to Bamboo Rose and exit for Foresight Nottingham Fund
Gateley Legal, Cooley (UK)Dains' acquisition of HSKSG
Dains, DSW, Deloitte, HSBCAcquisition of Horsley Lodge Golf Club by Marc Brough of Cubowork
Browne Jacobson, Geldards, Cortus Advisory, Cambridge & CountiesFuel Learning £6m investment deal from Key Capital Partners (KCP)
DWF, Ward Hadaway, Key Capital Partners, Azets, RSM, Evelyn Partners, KBS Corporate
Medium Deal of the Year (£10m-£50m)
The sale of Riverside Medical Packaging to Sterimed Group
Browne Jacobson, Provantage Corporate FinanceLDC investment into Integrated Doorset Solutions
Browne Jacobson, RSM, Keystone Law, Claritas Tax, Magma, Cortus AdvisoryDains' acquisition of Magma Accountants
CMS, Knights, Dains, DSW, DeloitteThe sale of Buttress Group to H2 Equity Partners
Browne Jacobson, Eversheds Sutherland, Bishopsgate Corporate Finance, Hillier Hopkins, PwCBGF investment in Metpro
Browne Jacobson, Ansons, Evolve, Claritas Tax, Cortus AdvisoryBGF Investment in Troy UK
Gateley, Browne Jacobson, Burges Salmon, Santander, Beechbrook, Shawbrook, Breeze Corporate Finance, EY, PwC, Freeths
Large Deal of the Year (over £50m)
Sale of Serif Group to Canva
Gateley, Provantage Corporate FinanceExit of Innovative Bites by Sculptor Capital and sale to A&M Capital Europe
Browne Jacobson, KPMG, Stephens Corporate FinanceCooper Parry's acquisition of Haines Watts
Clearwater, Cooper Parry, Squire Patton BoggsHealthcare Business Solutions (UK) sale to AXA PPP Healthcare Group
Squire Patton Boggs, Grant ThorntonMattioli Woods sale to Pollen Street Capital
Ashurst, Slaughter & May, Walker Morris, Canaccord Genuity, Fenchurch Advisory Partners, Rothschild & Co, Singer Capital MarketsYFM exit of DSP Group and sale to LDC 1506
Browne Jacobson, Gateley Legal, BDO, Alantra, CMS, YFM, PwC, LDC
Individual
Rising Star of the Year
Amanda Betts - Provantage Corporate Finance
Matt Bolton - Browne Jacobson
Line Gauteplass - Foresight
Adam Huckerby - BGF
Hannah Tapsel - Mercia
Hannah Tessyman - Freeths
Changemaker of the Year
David Browne - Provantage Corporate Finance
Paul Kithoray - Cortus Advisory
Beth Mather - Gateley
Ses Memhi - Claritas Tax
Deepak Parekh - Shawbrook
Sandy Reid - Mercia
Rainmaker of the Year
Morgan Atherton - Bishopsgate Corporate Finance
David Bains - LDC
Paul Bevan - Breeze Corporate Finance
Nigel Blackwell - Browne Jacobson
David Browne - Provantage Corporate Finance
Sally Saunders - Provantage Corporate Finance
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TheBusinessDesk has launched RAINMAKERS, a dedicated platform of insights, commentary and analysis of M&A and fundraising activity across the North.A serious upgrade to our regular daily news updates.
