08 May 2014

Merlin boss named CEO of the Year


Nick Varney, the chief of tourist attraction operator Merlin Entertainments, has been named CEO of the Year in the South West by the British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (BVCA).

Poole-headquartered Merlin, which listed on the London Stock Exchange in November last year, walked home with three prizes in this year’s BVCA Management Team Awards, produced in partnership with Grant Thornton, an annual celebration of the best and brightest UK businesses which are backed by private equity and venture capital. Merlin was majority-owned by Blackstone and CVC Capital Partners until its flotation last year.

In addition to Nick Varney’s award, the FSTE 250 business also won Exit Management Team of the Year for its hugely successful IPO, and the Community & Environmental Action Award for its social responsibility policies.

It was one of six winners in the South West final of BVCA Management Team Awards. All now go on to contest the national finals, the results of which will be revealed at a ceremony in London on 18 June.

The full list of winners in the South West:

Category 
Winner 
Backed by
Large Buyout Private Equity-backed Management Team of the Year New Look Permira
Mid Market Private Equity-backed Management Team of the Year Aero Stanrew WestBridge Capital
Venture Capital-backed Management Team of the Year Bullitt Business Growth Fund
International Impact Management Team of the Year A-Gas International LDC
Exit Management Team of the Year Merlin Entertainments Blackstone
Community & Environmental Action Merlin Entertainments Blackstone
Best for Innovation Atlas Genetics YFM Equity Partners
CEO of the Year Nick Varney, Merlin Entertainments Blackstone

Paul Oldham, chairman of the South West judging panel and Regional Director of South West & South Wales at the Business Growth Fund, said:

“The BVCA Management Team Awards are a way of showcasing some of the very best companies the UK has to offer. The South West has a long and proud history of producing some of the country’s leading businesses and entrepreneurs, and this year’s winners are all shining examples of that tradition. These awards were designed to celebrate managerial excellence, and underline just what an important role private equity and venture capital plays not only in the South West, but also nationally. Congratulations to all of the winners and good luck in the national final.”

Mark Naughton, head of corporate finance at Grant Thornton in the South West, added: “This is the first year we have been involved with the awards and we have met some fantastic businesses across the region as part of the judging process. The quality of this year’s submissions was very high and the panel found it very difficult to select the winners. I too would like to congratulate the six businesses involved and wish them the best of luck in the final.”


Notes to editor
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  1. The BVCA Management Team Awards, produced in partnership with Grant Thornton, are the only awards to celebrate the achievements of UK private equity and venture capital-backed management teams. The awards consists of two rounds: regional and national. Each of the eight regions has a judging panel which decides on the winners following nominations from BVCA members and a comprehensive due diligence programme with in-depth interviews. The regional winners were announced in May and can be found here. All were automatically entered into the national final. For more information about the award categories please click here.

  2. The British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (BVCA) is the industry body for the UK private equity and venture capital industry. The BVCA has over 500 member firms, representing the vast majority of UK-based private equity and venture capital firms and their advisers.

  3. Grant Thornton is one of the world’s leading organisations of independent assurance, tax and advisory firms. These firms help dynamic organisations unlock their potential for growth by providing meaningful, forward-thinking advice. Proactive teams, led by approachable partners in these firms, use insights, experience and instinct to understand complex issues for privately owned, publicly listed and public sector clients and help them to find solutions. More than 35,000 Grant Thornton people, across over 100 countries, are focused on making a difference to clients, colleagues and the communities in which we live and work. The UK Grant Thornton member firm provides services to over 40,000 privately held businesses, public interest entities and individuals. It is led by more than 185 partners and employs more than 4,200 of the profession's brightest minds. Find out more at www.grant-thornton.co.uk
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