DTM Legal LLP has been assisting the former head of corporate finance at law firm Brabners Chaffe Street, David Houghton and former Alliance Fund Managers chief executive, Mark Fuller in setting up Bridge Houghton LLP,  a specialist valuation services business.

Partner, Alison Brennan, who is acting for the new venture said “it is always a pleasure to help new business ventures, particularly when, as here, the service offered is a valuable addition to the services available to businesses.”

The new practice will provide corporate valuation services to support accountancy, legal and private equity firms as well as business owners and is intended to complement rather than compete with other advisory firms.

Fuller said: “We are unaware of a similar firm in the North West and there is only a handful in the UK capable of providing the service offered by Bridge Houghton. We are already finding significant interest in a range of our services, including the resolution of disputes and conflict arising from share acquisitions and probate matters. We are also involved with the valuation issues which have arisen from transactions, involving management change and tax compliance. We have also recently completed a significant impairment review on behalf of a regional accounting firm.”

Houghton added: “We believe that Bridge Houghton is unique in the North West in providing other professional and financial services firms and business owners with independent and specialist valuation services. We have a team of experienced chartered accountants, but the service we provide goes much further than a formula driven accountancy process. We are able to tap into the industry knowledge of our unique advisory panel to fully research and understand the market in which a particular business operates.”

Middlewich engineering specialist and DTM client, Cygnet Group, has merged two subsidiaries as part of a restructure.

Cygnis and Cygnet Engineering Developments have been merged to form Cygnet Integrated Solutions. It will trade in automation and bespoke machinery.

The combined businesses, which each turned over £3m in 2011, are expected to fulfill projects worth almost £20m in 2012.

Matthew Kimpton-Smith, managing director and owner of Cygnet Group, said: “The merger is designed to simplify our group structure and strengthen our brand.”

He added: “Combining the expertise and track-record of these two closely-associated businesses will give us a stronger, clearer proposition and help us to secure larger projects, working capital funding and attract the best engineering talent.”

DTM Partner, Ed Barnes, acted on the restructure.

Cygnet Integrated Solutions will employ 35 members of staff from the two merged businesses and will trade from an 18,000 sq ft site in Middlewich.

For more information on corporate restructuring, mergers or acquisitions please contact any member of DTM’s Corporate Team.

DTM Legal LLP has acted on the sale of Tasties of Chester Limited to Pasta King which has recently been brought under the brand umbrella of PK Food Concepts.  The Chester-based sandwich producer, owned by Richard Brown, was sold to PK Food Concepts, which is based in Newton Abbott and specialises in healthy on-the-go food solutions for the food service market nationwide.

 Richard Brown comments “This deal will have a significant benefit to new and existing customers for both Tasties and Pasta King and will enable us to provide a wider range of innovative products and increase the flexibility with which such products can be delivered to customers.”

 PK Food Concepts was subject to a management buyout backed by NGBI Private Equity in November 2009 and the Tasties acquisition has more than doubled its existing production capacity and has more than quadrupled the size of its delivery fleet.

 DTM Partner, Ed Barnes, who together with consultant, Matt Robinson, acted for the seller on the deal, adds “This transaction should bring significant benefits to both parties.  Everyone worked very hard to complete the deal demonstrating once again that there are still great strategic opportunities in the market despite current economic conditions.”

Many congratulation to DTM client Easy MCS Ltd, winners of the Best New Business 2011 at the Morgan Foundation Entrepreneur Awards. We announced the nomination of Easy MCS on this website back in September and the Saltney-based company beat a strong list of contenders to win at the gala dinner held at Carden Park Hotel on Thursday 10^th November.

Thomas Farquar (who was also runner-up in the category of Best Young Entrepreneur 2011) said:

“We are absolutely delighted at being lucky enough to win Best New Business 2011. This fantastic achievement recognises all the hard work of the Easy MCS Ltd team who work tirelessly each day to support new Installers in entering the Renewable sector, whether this be through a renewable training course or support and mentoring through MCS Certification. To be shortlisted for such prestigious awards was a shock but to win is something that was never expected.”

DTM Legal invite you to an Employment Law Seminar

Thursday 24^th November 2011 from 09:30 – 11:00 am at Archway House, Station Road, Chester, CH1 3DR

Presented by Paul Edwards – Specialist in Employment Law

The seminar will provide you with guidance on recent changes in Employment Law focusing on managing stress and depression in the work place, which could help you and your business avoid costly employment tribunal claims. The seminar will also provide an update on the Bribery Act 2010 concentrating on compliance.

Can you afford to miss it?

To reserve your place please contact Heather Artell on 01244 354800 or email  heather.artell@dtmlegal.com by 14/11/2011

Paul Edwards of DTM’s employment team will be presenting a seminar on “Hot Topics in Employment Law” at the Springfield Hotel, Holywell on Tuesday 18th October at 17:00.

The seminar will provide Directors, Employers and HR professionals with easy to follow guidance on recent changes in Employment Legislation.

for further details please click here and to book a space online please click here

Tom Sutcliffe a Partner in DTM’s corporate team will be opening up proceedings at Flintshire Business Week’s Directors Day which takes place on Monday 17 October at the Day’s Hotel Chester, from 07:45.

The seminar will focus on the duties that each and every Director is bound by and should know, but often doesn’t.

For further details click here