Serving the Teesside Business Community | 73
/ DARLINGTON NEWS
COMPANY BOSS COMPLETES
GROUP BUYOUT
The 4,500 acres of South Tees
Development Corporation land, including
the site of the former SSI steelworks,
represent the single biggest regeneration
programme in the UK right now.
#TalkingUpTeesside
FINANCE TEAM
GETS TOP RATING
The team at Clive Owen Corporate
Finance is celebrating a successful 2017
after being named as one of the top
financial advisers in the region.
According to Experian’s annual UK
and Republic of Ireland mergers and
acquisitions report based on its business
research, Clive Owen ranks at number
two in the North-East, based on the
volume of M&A transactions completed
in 2017.
The firm, which has offices in
Darlington, Durham and York, ranked
higher than giants including PWC and
KPMG.
In addition to the M&A transactions
included in the report, Clive Owen LLP has
also completed a number of significant
disposal mandates in 2017, including high
profile deals involving private equity firms
and multi-national PLCs.
Joe Ayre has completed the buyout of the
Darlington-based Aedis group of companies.
A
Darlington-based business which
has rapidly progressed to become a
national leader in building control and
warranties has undertaken a management
buyout and restructure.
The buyout will see director Joe Ayre
assume full control of Aedis Regulatory
Services, Aedis Warranties and Aedis Training
and Development after eight years with
former business partner Alan Barraclough.
Aedis Regulatory Services began trading in
2009 and during that time Ayre has overseen
significant growth in both the scale and
coverage of the business.
The Aedis businesses currently operate
from 23 offices throughout England
and Wales and have over 120 full-time
employees, and its head office is located
on the Morton Palms Business Park in
Darlington. It’s operational-focused business
support team is based in Newcastle.
“I’m delighted to be heading up a team
of dedicated staff who are committed to
supporting our clients and delivering on our
business goals,” said Ayre.
“They are a passionate, professional group
who have enjoyed our successes to date
and will keep driving Aedis further forward in
2018 and beyond.
“The buyout provides a perfect opportunity
to restructure the management team with a
new board of directors being appointed.
“The new board provides a greater breadth
of knowledge and skills and ensures we can
continually challenge and assess what we
do.”
With over 30 years’ experience in building
control and warranties, Ayre has been part of
an industry which has changed massively in
recent years.
“Traditionally, most local authorities
delivered building inspection but private
sector ‘approved inspectors’ provide an
alternative across all construction sectors,”
he added.
“With many local authorities looking at
ways to reduce costs, the market could well
open further.”
Bannatyne Group
profits up to £14.3m
T
ees Valley-based Bannatyne
Group has reported a record
high in sales, with profits also
up 57% to £14.3m.
The Bannatyne Health Clubs
chain – launched by former Dragon’s
Den star Duncan Bannatyne with
its first gym on Teesside in 1997
– has delivered record turnover of
£117.6m.
The group, which has two Tee s
gyms – in Ingleby Barwick and
Coulby Newham – as well as its HQ
in Darlington, has also revealed it
has acquired four new sites in the
last year as well as opening nine
spas costing £2.6m.
The group spent a total of £14m
completing the modernisation of the
estate during the year and £2.4m
maintaining it. It now operates a
portfolio of affordable, premium
health clubs nationwide with a total
of 71 gyms, 46 spas and four hotels.
DL Expo set for
May return
Following the huge success of last year’s
event, which delivered the biggest and
busiest show yet, DL Business Expo is set
to return to Darlington in May.
DL Business Expo provides an
opportunity for local businesses to
showcase their products and services and
is an attractive networking opportunity for
the local business community.
Last year’s DL Business Expo attracted
over 60 exhibitors and over 400 attendees.
This year’s event, due to be held at
Mowden Park Rugby Club in Darlington
on May 17, kicks off with The Big Business
networking event from 8am to 10am. The
exhibition then opens and will run through
to 2pm.