Exeter Rugby Group up for award

By Mark Stevens

Exeter Rugby Group have been shortlisted for the prestigious Company of the Year title at the upcoming South West Dealmakers Awards 2014.

The evening - which takes place on Thursday, 26 June 2014 at Thistle Grand Hotel, Bristol - recognises the region's top corporate finance professionals, funders and lawyers in 11 different categories.

This year, the premier networking event for the professional services sector promises to be bigger and better than ever as confidence returns to the dealmaking community.

Miri Thomas, editor at South West Business Insider, said: "Acquisitions, buyouts and funding deals are vital to the economy. They help to ensure that companies in the South West are fully financed and competitive. The Dealmakers Awards are the ideal opportunity to celebrate with the people who are making those deals happen."

The unveiling of the shortlist follows an intensive period of voting, with dealmaking firms across the South West casting their nominations for those whose skill, creativity and determination to get the right deals done have stood out over the past 12 months.

Once again this year, the voting process was given an additional layer of scrutiny by a panel of independent judges.

Exeter Rugby Group have certainly caught the attention of many with the way they worked with partners Prydis, Isca Ventures, Michelmores and Barclays Bank in raising over £7.5 million with the Chiefs 2020 Bond to help the current redevelopment of Sandy Park Stadium.

Commenting, Exeter Rugby Group chairman and chief executive Tony Rowe OBE (pictured) said: "From our point of view the challenge initially for us was how to raise the £7.5m to carry out the redevelopment works. As a company we were somewhat going into unknown territory, but thanks to the help of Prydis, Isca Ventures, Michelmores and Barclays Bank we were able to devise the Chiefs Bond 2020 and with it raise the necessary funding.

"Throughout the process a lot of hard work was put in by individuals and companies across the board and I suppose the proof is in the pudding that not only did we reach our target, but we have been able to allow supporters of the Chiefs and rugby in general the chance to invest in the Rugby Club and Sandy Park's future, as well as receiving significant returns on their investments.

"As a company we are not only excited by the redevelopment that is taking place at Sandy Park, but we believe we will have a facility that will be the envy of many across the whole of the South West."

Exeter Rugby Group will be battling for the Company of the Year award alongside Advanced Insulation, Good Energy and Loungers

South West Dealmakers Shortlist 2014

COMPANY OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by: Close Brothers

Advanced Insulation
Exeter Rugby Group
Good Energy
Loungers

CORPORATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by: Grant Thornton

Burges Salmon
Foot Anstey
Michelmores
Thrings
TLT

VENTURE CAPITALIST / PRIVATE EQUITY HOUSE OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by: Willis

Business Growth Fund
HIG Capital
Inflexion
Isis
LDC

BANKING TEAM OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by: GoIndustry DoveBid

Barclays
HSBC
Lloyds
RBS / Natwest
Santander

ALTERNATIVE FINANCE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR

Aldermore
Crowdcube
Lloyds Commercial Finance
RBS Invoice Factoring

CORPORATE FINANCE ADVISORY TEAM OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by: Aldermore

Deloitte
Grant Thornton
Isca Ventures
PwC

TRANSACTION SERVICES AWARD

Deloitte
KPMG
Grant Thornton
PwC

YOUNG DEALMAKER OF THE YEAR

Alex Garfitt – Business Growth Fund
Peter Naylor – TLT
Joe Priday – Prydis
Matt Stoate – Foot Anstey
Small Deal of the Year (Sub £5m)
Shortlisted:
Manuplas (acquisition by Advanced Insulation)
Versarien (acquisition of 2-D Tech)
Woods Group (management buyout)
Sub10 Systems (investment by Business Growth Fund)

DEAL OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by: Eclipse

Cablecom (secondary buyout backed by Inflexion Private Equity)
Kondor (management buyout supported by HIG Capital)
Succession (sale of majority stake to Inflexion Private Equity)
Watson Petroleum (sale to World Fuel Services)

DEALMAKER OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by: Foot Anstey

Mark Champion – Isca Ventures
Martyn Gregory – Deloitte
Mark Naughton – Grant Thornton
Paul Oldham – Business Growth Fund