Phoenix Equity Partners opens in Manchester

The private equity investor has opened an office in Manchester's King Street.

In June last year, Phoenix Equity Partners announced it had raised a £450m fund and said it is keen to invest in North West businesses.

Barry Robinson, a principal at Phoenix Equity Partners, said: "Manchester is quite simply the most active for private equity investments outside London. We've had a satellite office in Haragate but the key focus was always to be in Manchester and the city to be a regional hub for the north."

"We have always focused on the north and with the new fund we've raised we are keen to get it invested in the North West and other northern areas."

Robinson said he is working alongside John Rastrick, a partner at Phoenix Equity Partners, who will run the 1,200 sq ft Manchester office.

Phoenix Equity Partners was founded in 2001 and targets companies valued between £20m and £200m.

Manchester-based hotel booking agent Expotel is one company Phoenix has within its North West portfolio.

Robinson was appointed to Phoenix in 2005 after a period working at the Manchester and Newcastle offices of Deloitte.

Phoenix has three staff based in Manchester.