Deals round up: Pannone Goes Outdoors; BDO’s Swedish role; Rickitt’s milestone

THE corporate finance team at Manchester law firm Pannone has advised Yorkshire retailer Go Outdoors on a multi-million pound deal which has seen private equity house 3i take a minority stake in the company.

The Sheffield-based outdoor clothing and equipment retailer, which last week opened its first Manchester store, has secured a £28m cash injection to fund its ambitious growth plans. Go Outdoors currently has 30 stores and plans to open another 40 outlets over the next four years.

Philip Treanor, head of corporate finance at Pannone, said: “The cash injection from 3i gives them an ideal platform to increase market share through the roll-out of new stores and the enhancement of existing outlets.”

Philip was assisted by Mark Winthorpe, Philippa Howard, Daniel Varney, Simon Moulden and Rob Fawke.

Director Justin Maltz led the team at 3i. Other advisers included Addleshaw Goddard, Driver Jonas Deloitte, Aon, PwC Corporate Finance and BHP Corporate Finance.

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GORDON Lane, corporate finance partner at business advisers BDO in Manchester led a team which advised Chesterfield-based managed services and data storage business B2Net on its sale to Swedish company ProActIT.

The deal for B2Net, which has annual sales of £48 is worth an initial £12m, but could reach £20m if the Swedish firm acquires the remaining 25% of the business.

Mr Lane’s team included Kieran Lawton and Joe Walsh. Legal advice to the vendors was provided by Sheffield-based Nabarro, led by Andrea Copley, while Paul Hardy of Hardy Transaction Management advised management.

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CORPORATE finance boutique Rickitt Mitchell is toasting the completion of its 13th deal in seven years for NCC Group.

Manchester-based Rickitt Mitchell says the total deal value of the acquisitions made by NCC is around £135m. It has advised the company since its £60m AIM float in 2004 and its move to the Official List three years later.

Stuart Moss, partner at Rickitt Mitchell, said: “Thirteen deals in seven years for one client is a record for the firm, and one we are proud to have realised with NCC Group.”

Rob Cotton, chief executive at NCC Group, added: “Stuart and the Rickitt Mitchell team have played a key role in guiding and supporting our company through its most dynamic and rapid period of growth to date, resulting in the successful Group that we are today.”