Sports travel firm improves swing for golf glory
Our weekly free round up of key deals and major moves in the Rainmakers world
Hello Rainmakers,
Just a quck reminder before we whisk you off around the country with the deals news that our team have been writing about this week.
The Rainmaker Awards are coming up soon in Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham.
The events ditch black-tie formality and speeches in favour of a relaxed evening focused on what the deals were and the people who made them happen.
The evening is also a great way to connect with leading firms and individuals shaping the regional deal landscape.
There is a new individual category this year, as we will recognise Lifetime Achievement of one of our Rainmakers for the first time.
So think on…
This is free to all who have signed up, however Rainmakers subscribers get two unique pieces a week, and also full access to our back catalogue of investigations, scoops, and insights, including updates from The Secret Investor, interviews with entrepreneurs, and the leaders from VC and PE investors like Endless, and River Capital, Foresight, Mercia, Puma and LDC.
Sports Tours International has seriously improved its swing in recent years, and on top of fast growth, has made its second big acquisition in the golf holiday market in a bid for an above par performance.
The business owned by the family of Betfred chairman Fred Done has acquired Golfbreaks, a leading specialist travel operator.
The Golfbreaks brand will continue to operate from its existing headquarters in Windsor and its four founders – Andrew Stanley, Steve Hemsworth, Guy Proddow and Daniel Grave – will remain with the business.
The big change at Sports Tours appears to be the arrival in 2023 of chief executive, Tim Przybysz, who said: “The acquisition of Golfbreaks represents a landmark moment for Sports Tours International as we seek to transform the sports travel industry.”
Headquartered alongside the gambling company’s HQ near Warrington, Sports Tours International was founded in 1973 by pioneering Irish runner Vincent Regan.
In its last published accounts to the end of March 2025 Sports Tours made pre tax profits of £3.3m on turnover of £33.4m, a quadrupling of its turnover since 2021. The business is projected to deliver more than £200m of sales in the next financial year.
Its main focus is on organising cycling and running trips, but this acquisition further increases its presence in the golf holidays market following the acquisition in early 2025 of Golf Holidays Direct, which earned revenues of £19.9m.
::
::
Nottingham-based Phenna Group is continuing to build momentum after landing another stateside acquisition.
The testing and compliance specialist acquired MLA Geotechnical in Austin, Texas - a business with deep roots in soil testing, engineering and inspection services.
It marks Phenna’s ninth deal of 2026, suggesting its M&A team barely has time to let the concrete set.
Founded in 1964, MLA works with developers, homebuilders, schools and public sector bodies across Central Texas, offering everything from materials testing to forensic investigations.
Phenna said the acquisition gives it firmer ground in the fast-growing US construction market and expands its reach into the South West.
::
Global engineering group VINCI Energies has acquired Irvine-based telecoms infrastructure services firm Novo Technologies.
Established in 2016, Novo provides end-to-end telecoms infrastructure solutions for both carriers and enterprise clients, delivering mobile network projects across the UK. The deal brings 71 staff across to VINCI.
::
Property group Lomond has acquired lettings and estate agency business Clyde Property – including Burgh Property and Cathedral Estates.
Clyde Property will now oversee work in the west of Scotland, while DJ Alexander will operate the remainder of the group’s property portfolio.
Clyde was co-founded in 1987 by Gary Thomson and Bill Cullen, who grew it from an office in Bearsden. Thomson who will continue to lead the business, post transaction.
::
Birmingham-headquartered Robinson’s Catering is prepping for its next course with a juicy HSBC-funded management buyout.
The MBO provides an exit from the business for former chef and founder Dan Robinson, who now runs private jet catering company Niche & Bespoke.
Robinson’s provides meals to the nursery sector as well as catering for exhibitions, local businesses, and universities. The tasty transaction sees couple Dave and Clare Cowin take the business forward, having been key ingredients in the Robinson’s recipe since 2011.
Cattaneo Corporate Finance advised Robinson’s on structuring the transaction, and negotiating what HSBC described as a “robust funding package”.
Dave Cowin, who has over 25 years’ experience in the sector, said: “Robinson’s is a well-respected name in the Midlands and we aim to continue doing what Robinson’s does best, serving customers well while increasing the offering to achieve our growth potential.”
::
A future as a private company lies ahead of York-headquartered Animalcare Group, which is currently an AIM-listed veterinary pharmaceutical and services business with a direct commercial presence in seven European countries. It has agreed the terms of a £235m takeover by private equity firm Charterhouse Capital Partners. Charterhouse says it believes this company will be able to better pursue long-term growth and accelerated R&D outside of public markets.
Earlier this year, Animalcare reported strong trading, with revenues for the 2025 financial year estimated to be £89.1m. Animalcare’s board has acknowledged that while it remains confident in its long-term strategy, delivering its targets as a standalone business would require sustained investment and involve risks - particularly against the backdrop of an increasingly volatile economic climate. Charterhouse has described Animalcare as an attractive business “with unique characteristics as a global animal health pharmaceuticals platform”.
::
The North West, Yorkshire and West Midlands Rainmaker Awards are upon us, once again bringing together the region’s deals community to celebrate the standout deals, teams, and individuals of the past 12 months.
Voted for by the corporate finance community itself, the awards are decided on a one-firm, one-vote basis – making the Rainmaker a genuine peer-led recognition.
The Rainmaker Awards ditch black-tie formality and speeches in favour of a relaxed evening focused on what the deals and the people who made them happen.
The evening is also a great way to connect with leading firms and individuals shaping the regional deal landscape.
There is a new individual category this year, as we will recognise Lifetime Achievement of one of our Rainmakers for the first time.
The 2026 Yorkshire awards are on June the 11th at New Dock Hall in Leeds, the North West awards will take place on the 25th of June 2026 at the Kimpton Hotel in Manchester city centre, and the West Midlands at the Burlington Hotel in Birmingham on the 2nd of July.
Last year sold out, so book early to secure your table.
::
::
Thank you for subscribing to Rainmakers.
We believe in good journalism that is worthy of your support. Please share this edition of Rainmakers so we can grow the message further and wider.
The insights and commentary we share with you are rooted in the trust we have built in the business community.
We’re also on LinkedIn - please join our Rainmakers community group for updates and offers and opportunities to comment.
If you have something you think we should look at, then either reply to this newsletter or email michael.taylor@thebusinessdesk.com.
Rainmakers is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.