Brian Kennedy (businessman)

Brian Kennedy is a British businessman that has founded and sold several companies in the home improvement and energy sectors, in both the US and UK. He was also previously the majority owner of the Sale Sharks Rugby Union Club[1].

Brian Kennedy
NationalityBritish
OccupationOwner and chairman of latium enterprises
Net worth GB£275 million (Sunday Times Rich List, 2019)
Websitewww.latiumenterprises.com

According to The Sunday Times Rich List in 2019, Kennedy is worth £275 million.[2]

Early life

Kennedy grew up in Edinburgh, Scotland and attended Tynecastle High School. He studied civil engineering at Heriot-Watt University before dropping out to work in various sales positions, including one at Brown Brothers. He then moved to London in 1981 after winning a position there through a sales competition.[3][4][5]

Business

In 1988 Kennedy was a shareholder in Farouche Cuisines, which was sold to British Electric Traction. Kennedy received one million pounds during the deal.[6] In 1995 Kennedy founded the company Genesis Communications. The company was mobile phone contract services provider for SMEs. The company was sold in 2004 to Dixons for 31 million pounds. During its final year before the sale, the company had 51 million in sales and a profit of 2 million.[7]

In 1999 Kennedy purchased the double-glazing manufacturer Everest. He then sold the company off in several instalments.[8] In 2012 his company Latium Holdings also merged with Epwin Holdings.[9] Epwin priced an IPO on 15 July 2014 with a market capitalisation of GBP135 million.[10] In 2006 Kennedy led a takeover of Ultraframe.[11] Brian was the majority shareholder of Entu (UK) Limited until its flotation on the London Stock Exchange (AIM) in October 2014. Brian retained a 30% stake in the company following the flotation, which was renamed Entu (UK) PLC. The company heads a group of home improvement companies including Zenith Staybrite, Job Worth Doing, Weatherseal, Penicuik and Europlas. At the time of the flotation Entu (UK) had a market capitalisation of £66 million.[12][13][14] In property sales, Kennedy is the founder of Patrick Properties, a real-estate company based in Cheshire, which has purchased commercial, residential, and industrial properties.[15][16][17]

Kennedy has invested in wind energy companies. This includes the firm Kennedy Renewables, and the Little Raith wind farm.[3][18] He is chairman and owner of Latium Enterprises.[19] Other ventures of his include the Building Plastics Holdings group,[20] Quantal, and Four Seasons Sunrooms, which is one of the largest sunroom companies in the US.[21]

Entertainment

Kennedy was previously the majority owner and chairman of the Sale Sharks Rugby Union Club. The club was originally owned under his company Genesis, however Kennedy transferred club ownership to himself in the early 2000s to facilitate the sale of Genesis.[7][22] During his tenure as owner, they were the Premiership champions in 2006.[23][24]

In the past he owned Stockport County and purchased their Edgeley Park ground. He has also made unsuccessful bids to purchase both the Edinburgh Hibernian F.C. and Rangers F.C.[25][26] In 2014 Kennedy co-financed and co-produced the Tommy Lee Jones film The Homesman.[27] In 2015 Kennedy co-financed and co-produced the film The Great Gilly Hopkins (film).[28]

Philanthropy

Kennedy has supported charitable causes.[29] He is the founder of the eponymous Brian Kennedy Trust, which makes charitable donations and takes up philanthropic causes in the UK.[30][31][32] The Trust was set up in 2008, and with groups including the Cheshire police and Space4autism.

He has also worked with the family of Madeleine McCann to try to find her after her disappearance in 2007.[33][34][35][36]

gollark: For additional something, if the captain fails to periodically report in, orbital laser strike.
gollark: Do you want no hijackings? When anyone breaks into the cockpit of a plane, BLOW IT UP using a dead man's switch thing.
gollark: Er, no-one, not nobody.
gollark: NOBODY can comb MY hair.
gollark: brb, replacing my hair with extremely small bombs.

References
  1. "Sale Sharks confirm takeover by investment group led by Simon Orange". Manchester Evening News.
  2. Times, The Sunday (12 May 2019). "Rich List 2019: profiles 451-490=, featuring Sir Mick Jagger, George Clooney and Zac Goldsmith". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  3. "Brian Kennedy won't be blue over Rangers snub". The Scotsman. 30 March 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  4. Hearts could get help from Blue Knight Brian Kennedy
  5. Rich backer
  6. #52 Brian Kennedy Archived 26 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  7. "Dixons buys Genesis for £31m". Manchester Evening News. 27 July 2004. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  8. "Everest sold to Better Capital in £25m deal". Manchester Evening News. 13 April 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  9. "Latium Holdings and Epwin Group merger is referred to OFT". Manchester Evening News. 18 June 2012. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  10. Epwin Prices IPO As SPP Group And Ergomed Admitted To Trading
  11. Stephen Seawright (3 June 2006). "Kennedy snaps up troubled Ultraframe". The Telegraph. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  12. Home Improvements Company Entu To List On AIM After Placing
  13. Entu (UK) PLC £66 million float today, thanks to Zeus Capital raising £33 million Archived 11 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  14. Entu shares rise 4.5p in early trading after AIM debut
  15. Patrick storms in
  16. Sharks owner splashes £2.4m on city centre property
  17. Kennedy's Patrick Properties attracts Seafield
  18. Sporting Chance: Youth to Cash in on Energetic Profits
  19. "Latium Enterprises team overview". Archived from the original on 23 July 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  20. Spectus returns to profit
  21. UK firm develops US Sunroom App
  22. Saint-Andre extends Sale contract
  23. Madeleine McCann: Brian Kennedy Is Talking Balls With Mark Souster
  24. Diamond the man to renew my enthusiasm – Kennedy
  25. Rangers takeover: Brian Kennedy out of the running to rescue Rangers
  26. Kennedy wants a blessing from fans for Hibs takeover. Easter Road supporters would be given final say over proposed investment plans
  27. Ramin Setoodeh (13 May 2014). "CANNES: How Tommy Lee Jones Financed 'The Homesman'". Variety Magazine.
  28. Andreas Wiseman (14 May 2016). "Lionsgate adopts 'The Great Gilly Hopkins' for US". Screen Daily.
  29. Revealed: Mystery benefactor funding Madeleine's parents is a millionaire double-glazing magnate
  30. Millionaire's £60,000 for north Wales homeless charity
  31. Millionaire’s boost for Save the Family in Flintshire
  32. The language of learning
  33. £500 boost for the "Specials"
  34. Autism charity is holding birthday open day
  35. Madeleine McCann's disappearance – timeline
  36. Madeleine McCann: 'I listened for 15 seconds and knew they were innocent’
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