The likes of THG, Jet2 and Burnley FC have been involved in a series of deals across the North West over the last week or so.
Salford Red Devils, OpenMoney and Flight Story have also hit the headlines with high-profile deals.
Below, BusinessLive has rounded up 21 of the biggest deals from across the region from the last couple of weeks we feel you should not miss.
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If you have a new deal that you would like featured in our next round up, please e-mail jon.robinson@reachplc.com.
THG
One of Britain's richest men has acquired a £37m stake in online retail and software giant THG.
Brian Kennedy, who is a former owner of rugby union team Sale Sharks, has snapped up almost 3% of the group.
The deal means that Mr Kennedy is the sixth largest shareholder in THG behind Mr Moulding, Sofina SA, Balderton Capital (UK), Qatar Investment Authority and Jupiter Asset Management.
Burnley FC
An NFL legend and his soccer star wife have invested in Burnley FC.
JJ and Kealia Watt have taken an undisclosed stake in the club which recently won promotion back to the Premier League after one season in the Championship.
Mr Watt, a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, announced his retirement last year and has become a successful entrepreneur alongside Kealia, a former USWNT international soccer player.
OpenMoney
Jobs have been put at risk at OpenMoney after a takeover deal was agreed.
The Manchester fintech is undergoing what has been described as an 'essential restructuring' with employees at its headquarters and on the operational side of the business most affected.
BusinessLive understands that the company has been sold to entrepreneurs Will Mallard and Patrick Leahy.
Morecambe FC
A 20-year-old tycoon who is in the process of taking over Morecambe FC has invested further into the club.
Sarbjot Johal could become the youngest owner in the Football League if the deal is completed.
The League One club were put up for sale by Bond Group Investments in September as their owners battled the turmoil at their Premiership rugby side, Worcester Warriors.
Jet2
Jet2 is to invest in a new sustainable aviation fuel production plant which is to be constructed in the North West.
The agreement will see Jet2 plc, which encompasses the award-winning leisure airline Jet2.com, and Jet2holidays, invest an equity stake in the plant and expect to receive more than 200 million litres of SAF over a 15-year period.
The Fulcrum NorthPoint facility, being developed by Fulcrum BioEnergy, is a waste-to-fuels plant which will be located at the Essar Stanlow Manufacturing Complex in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire.
Distrelec
The owner of Footasylum has agreed to sell a components distributor headquartered in Manchester for €365m.
RS Group is to buy Distrelec from Aurelius Equity Opportunities in a deal that is expected to be completed in the third quarter of this year.
Distrelec moved its headquarters to Manchester in April 2020, having been founded in Switzerland over 45 years ago.
Naturecan
A CBD brand backed by former England cricketer Andrew Flintoff has acquired a £8m production site in the USA.
Stockport-headquartered Naturecan has added the IAH Oregon facility to its group of companies.
The business said it will now ramp up production of its global supplies of CBD oils, snacks, protein supplements, vitamins and balms as well as supplying CBD for other brands.
Seatfrog
A rail ticketing app that is hoping to take on the likes of Trainline has raised an extra £6m.
Seatfrog has secured the backing from the likes of Manchester-based Praetura Ventures as well as Pembroke Investment Managers LLP and Octopus Ventures.
The extra funding will allow the company to create new jobs.
Salford Red Devils
Rugby league club Salford Red Devils have announced plans to become wholly owned by their fans.
The side said the move would mean they would be the first 'community-owned elite rugby league club' in the northern hemisphere.
The 'Reds Rise Together' share offer will allow individuals to purchase a share in the club’s holding company – now a Community Benefit Society (CBS) – entitling them to a vote and eligibility to stand for election to the CBS board.
Flight Story
A marketing and communication company co-founded by Dragons' Den star Steven Bartlett has expanded into the US with the acquisition of a Los Angeles-headquartered business.
Flight Story, which has offices in Manchester and London, has snapped up Mint Performance Marketing for an undisclosed sum. The company has now been rebranded as Flight Performance.
The acquired marketing business also has offices in New York, Manchester, the Philippines and London and works with the likes of Missguided, TikTok and New Republic.
Begbies Traynor
Manchester-headquartered Begbies Traynor Group has bought the Lincoln-based chartered surveyors Banks Long & Co in a deal which could be worth up to £3m. The national business advisors and restructuring specialist said further acquisitions are also planned.
Banks Long & Co employs 38 staff and provides commercial property agency, property management, building consultancy and valuation services to clients across Lincolnshire and Humberside including public and private sector organisations.
It will integrate with Eddisons, the parent group’s property division, strengthening its regional presence across Eastern England and South Yorkshire.
Ball & Berry
Engineering, environment, design and regulatory consultancy Sweco UK has acquired Bolton-headquartered Ball & Berry.
Established in 2007 and with six offices in England, Ball & Berry provides approved inspector services in several sectors including commercial, residential, education, healthcare, hospitality, industrial and leisure.
Ball & Berry employs around 40 people and reported revenues of £3.4m in 2022.
This is the first acquisition for Sweco UK since it acquired MLM Group in May 2019.
Sweco was advised on the transaction by the Leeds offices of Squire Patton Boggs and EY’s transaction diligence and SPA teams, which were led by Paul Mann and Matthew Vernon, respectively. Ball & Berry was represented by Forbes solicitors, led by Jenny Burke.
Lookers
Greater Manchester car dealership group Lookers has announced the acquisition of the business and assets of Waterhouse Cars Limited, an automotive retail group based in Chelmsford, Essex.
The acquisition complements the Group's existing Volvo dealership in Colchester and adds 40 staff to the local team.
Following the completion of the transaction, Lookers has committed to invest £2m in the newly-acquired site.
Lookers has also announced a commitment to invest £2.3m in its existing Volvo dealership in Colchester.
Elektec
Greenarc, a nationwide fuel and clean energy services business, has bought Lancashire-based Elektec.
The purchase of the electrical contractor represents Greenarc’s third venture in less than nine months with the investment in Oxfordshire-based Heat Engineer Software Ltd in April and the acquisition of the recently-rebranded vehicle leasing and rental business Greenarc Vehicles completed in November.
The deal for Elektec, which was was established in 2017, was facilitated by Clarion Solicitors. Tax advice was provided by BHP Chartered Accountants and funding by Barclays Bank.
Kingsway Finance
Kingsway Finance, which is part of Praetura Group’s lending division, has announced a new £10m block discounting funding facility from British Business Investments.
The facility will enable Kingsway Finance to increase its funding capacity to small and medium-sized businesses across the UK.
British Business Investments is a wholly-owned commercial subsidiary of the British Business Bank.
Frost
Manchester fintech, Frost has closed it's latest fundraising round after raising £1.87m.
The e-wallet provider achieved its funding target nine days ahead of schedule.
A total of 184 investors contributed to the crowdfunding campaign.
Baines Wilson
Knights, the listed legal and professional services business, has agreed to acquire Baines Wilson an independent law firm based in Carlisle and Lancaster.
Founded in 1999, Baines Wilson has a strong corporate and real estate offering, alongside dispute resolution and employment practices.
The acquisition adds 24 fee earners to Knights’ existing 1,400 professionals across the UK.
Glider
A Lancashire property technology firm, whose software is used by many of the UK’s biggest construction companies, has secured a seven-figure loan to support its growth from NPIF – Mercia Debt Finance, which is managed by Mercia and part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, and Mercia’s SME Loans fund.
The funding will enable Clitheroe-based Glider to create 15 new jobs and meet growing demand.
Glider was founded by Nick Hutchinson and Steve Rukuts, two software engineers who had previously worked in construction and asset management.
Arnold Greenwood Solicitors
Kendal-based Arnold Greenwood Solicitors has merged with a long-established neighbouring practice.
Shirley M. Evans, based in Grange-over-Sands, will continue to practise in South Cumbria as the newest member of the Arnold Greenwood team.
Established in 1871, the Kendal firm covers a wide range of legal areas, including family and relationships, business and employment law, dispute resolution, and commercial property.
Zenith Eco Solutions
Zenith Eco Solutions, a Widnes-based plumbing, heat and air-conditioning installation business, has secured a £75,000 investment from NPIF - River & GC Microfinance, which River Capital manage in partnership with GC Business Finance as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund.
The company was established in 2018 by owners Liam Owens and Zac Corcoran.
The cash injection will assist it in expanding its skillset, creating up to six new jobs and help obtain accreditations that will allow the company to provide additional services that will assist in combating environmental issues while efficiently heating UK homes.
OCU Group
Stockport-headquartered OCU Group has entered into an agreement to acquire the Northavon Group of companies, including Northavon Group Limited, Northavon Holdings Limited, Northavon Water Services Limited, Hydrovein Limited, and Multivein Limited, along with their respective subsidiaries.
Northavon primarily operates in the water sector in the South of England and South Wales.
The acquisition will support OCU’s growth across the water and wastewater sector as the group continues to expand in water and energy-related opportunities.
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