Dow Schofield Watts boosts dealmaking teams

Independent advisory firm Dow Schofield Watts has expanded its North West dealmaking teams with two new appointments.  James Curtis, who is Associate Director in the corporate finance team, joins from MC Vanguard, where he also qualified as an accountant. Having started his career in the technical arm of the British Army, James also worked as a management consultant advising corporates in the aviation and hospitality sectors, mainly in the Middle East.   At Dow Schofield Watts, he … Continued

Further expansion at Dow Schofield Watts in Yorkshire & the North East

Dow Schofield Watts has made two new appointments to its corporate finance team in Yorkshire & the North East in response to a high level of new deal activity.   Matt Spence and Jonathan Wilkinson both join from EY in Leeds, where they qualified as Chartered Accountants.  Matt spent six years at EY advising clients ranging from FTSE 100 businesses and multinational groups … Continued

Shopblocks targets global growth with £500k investment

Shopblocks – the fast-growing e-commerce platform backed by Dow Schofield Watts Angels (DSW Angels) –  has set its sights on the US market after securing a further £500,000 investment. The business has raised funding from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s GM Investment Fund, DSW Angels and members of the management team to support its expansion … Continued

International Fraud Awareness Week

This week it’s International Fraud Awareness Week and our Forensic Accounting team would like to share some valuable advice about how to minimise potential risks and steps to consider if you suspect fraudulent activity has taken place. As sales targets and budgets become harder to attain, the risk of fraud and/or inappropriate accounting increases. This … Continued

Eque2 acquires CLiPIT Solutions Ltd

Eque2, the leading software provider for the construction industry, has announced the acquisition of CLiPIT Solutions, the Yeovil-based company that specialises in fully-integrated construction accounting and job costing software solutions. Dave Graham of Dow Schofield Watts Corporate Finance assisted on the deal and Catriona Lang from Dow Schofield Watts Transaction Services provided Financial Due Diligence. … Continued

DSW Angels expands its team

Dow Schofield Watts Angels (DSW Angels) – the business angel network – has expanded its team with the appointment of Ellie Boardman as Investment Executive. Ellie joins the firm from KPMG in Manchester where she spent three years working in the audit department and where she qualified as a Chartered Accountant. During this time, she … Continued

£220m Proseal sale named International Deal of Year at Dealmakers Awards

The £220m sale of Proseal, on which Dow Schofield Watts advised, has been named International Deal of the Year at Insider’s 2019 North West Dealmakers Awards. The Cheshire-based food packaging specialist was acquired by Chicago-based JBT Corporation in May in a deal that was one of the biggest in the North West during the year. … Continued

Business Women’s Week

To celebrate Business Women’s Week we’ve asked our Dow Schofield Watts partners and managers to share some valuable advice and insights into their career journeys in the accountancy industry.   Catriona Lang Partner – Transaction Services North West What do you feel are your biggest achievements?  Setting up a Transaction Services business from scratch with my … Continued

Events booking platform is first to offer ‘instant’ service

Poptop, the Newcastle company which operates the UK’s leading events booking platform, has become the first platform of its type worldwide to offer instant quotes and availability. Poptop’s Instant Quotes service allows users to get accurate pricing for everything from catering and music to photography and transport, check available dates and make provisional bookings. It … Continued

Dow Schofield Watts expands into Scotland

Dow Schofield Watts has expanded into Scotland through a partnership with Aberdeen’s leading mid-market dealmakers Hall Morrice Corporate Finance Ltd. The move will give the group a fifth UK base in addition to its offices in the North West, Leeds and London, and expertise in the oil and gas sector. The Aberdeen team will now … Continued

Record 10 nominations for DSW in Yorkshire Dealmakers Awards!

The Dow Schofield Watts team in Yorkshire & the North East has received no fewer than 10 nominations in this year’s Yorkshire Dealmakers Awards – the highest number in the firm’s history. Roger Esler and his team are in the running for Corporate Finance Advisory Team of the Year while Roger himself has been shortlisted … Continued

New marketing boss set to drive growth at Poptop

Dow Schofield Watts Angels portfolio business Poptop, the Newcastle-based company which is the UK’s fastest growing online events booking platform, has appointed Nicole de Vega to the newly-created role of Head of Marketing.    Nicole has over 20 years’ marketing experience in the digital technology sector having spent the early part of her career with Sage UK. More … Continued

Outdoor brand raises £350k in fourth deal by DSW Angels

A fast-growing Cheshire clothing brand with a mission to become the ‘Levi’s of the women’s outdoorwear market’ has raised £350,000 in a funding round led by Dow Schofield Watts Angels (DSW Angels), the business angel network. ACAI Activewear was started by husband and wife team Joe and Kasia Bromley with a sewing machine on their … Continued

AFI receives investment from Pricoa

DSW’s Corporate Finance team in Yorkshire & the North East has advised the management of AFI-Uplift Limited (“AFI” or “the Group”) on the securing £60m of new long-term financing from Pricoa Private Capital (“Pricoa”). DSW has also advised AFI on the acquisition of Facelift (GB) Limited (“Facelift”). The overall deal size for the combined transactions … Continued

AFI gets a Facelift

DSW’s Corporate Finance team in Yorkshire & the North East has advised AFI-Uplift Limited (“AFI” or “the Group”), one of the UK and Middle East’s leading powered access specialists offering machine rental and sales and industry-accredited training and health & safety courses, on the acquisition of Facelift (GB) Limited (“Facelift”). Facelift is a long-established powered … Continued