Cheshire chemicals distribution firm Multisol has been acquired by German industrial group Brenntag in a deal worth more than £112m, Nantwich-based Multisol, which had been looking to list on AIM last year, was advised by Warrington-based corporate finance house Dow Schofield Watts in the sale. Multisol distributes of lubricant additives and base oils throughout Europe … Continued

Insider’s Deal of the Month for May is the sale of Cheshire central heating business PH Jones to Centrica for £30m. The company carries out more than 8,000 central heating installations every year through 28 contracts within the social housing sector and more than 500 of the group’s employees will move over under the new … Continued

The former boss of PH Jones, the heating specialist that was sold to Centrica for £30m yesterday, has retained the metering division and expects rapid growth on the back of the nationwide roll-out of smart meters. PH Jones’ managing director Martin Jones and his brother Chris expect the unit, which accounted for around £15m of … Continued

A family-owned company which provides central heating services to the social housing sector has been sold to energy giant Centrica for £30m in cash. PH Jones, based in Malpas Cheshire, was founded in 1971 by Phil Jones, who began his career as a sole trader installing central heating sytems in 1963. His wife Brenda is … Continued

Centrica, the parent company of British Gas, has splashed out £30m on Cheshire central heating business PH Jones Group. The company is headquartered in Malpas and provides services to about 250,000 properties each year through its social housing business. Centrica said the cash deal was a “major step” in British Gas’ strategy to build its … Continued

Martin and Chris Jones have taken over the reins at Cheshire-based PH Jones’ utility services division after the company’s two other divisions – social housing and facilities management – were sold to British Gas owner Centrica in a £30m deal. The two deals have resulted in PH Jones founders, Phil and Brenda Jones, retiring from … Continued

A group of medical entrepreneurs who sold their last company for £60m has snapped up a Bolton-based chain of clinics and plan a huge expansion of the business over the next five years. Dr Newman’s Clinic, founded by a father and son in 1997, has been acquired in a £1.6m deal by a consortium which … Continued

Jonathan Boyers, head of corporate finance for the North of England at accountancy firm KPMG, was named Dealmaker of the Year at last night’s North West Deals of the Year Awards. Boyers also received the award for Corporate Financier of the Year, and advised the shareholders of TravelJigsaw on that company’s sale to Priceline – … Continued

Bridgepoint Development Capital has backed a management buyout of Building Automation Solutions (BAS). The Altrincham-based company, founded in 2006 following a buyout from Siemens, helps businesses reduce their energy costs and consumption. Managing director Brin Sheridan led the buyout. BAS designs, implements and supports management systems which help building owners to control, monitor and reduce … Continued

Altrincham building energy management firm Building Automation Solutions has changed hands in a buy-out worth £40 million. A management team led by chief executive Brin Sheridan has bought the business from Bob Savage and Steve Dalton, who had led its earlier spin-out from engineering giant Siemens in 2007. The pair have retained a stake in … Continued

By Chris Barry – Editor, North West Altrincham-based building management firm Building Automation Solutions has changed hands in a buy-out worth £40m. A management team led by chief executive Brin Sheridan and backed by London-based Bridgepoint Development Capital have bought the business from Bob Savage and Steve Dalton, who had led its earlier spin-out from … Continued

Liverpool-headquartered Bibby Distribution has completed the acquisition of transport and warehousing company Taygroup for an undisclosed sum. The deal will raise the group’s turnover by approximately 10 per cent to more than £200m and add an extra 300 vehicles to its fleet. Taygroup operates from a head office in Bedfordshire, as well as sites in … Continued

The courtroom drama that will decide the sale of Liverpool FC is a “quite unique” situation, a leading city solicitor said last night, writes City Editor David Bartlett. Chairman Martin Broughton will go to court in the coming days to seek a “declaratory judgment” that he and fellow board members Christian Purslow and Ian Ayre … Continued

With Liverpool FC continuing to struggle on the pitch, the battle for control off it is seen by many fans as vital to a revival in fortunes. This month is regarded as crucial in settling the long-term ownership of the club with the expiry date for the Royal Bank of Scotland’s £237m loan to Liverpool’s … Continued

Private equity outfit YFM is close to completing the buyout of north west retail chain Dawsons Music, with plans to roll out stores across the country. The MEN understands Dawsons is likely to change hands before the end of the year in a deal which values the retailer at £5m. YFM is in exclusive talks … Continued