THE reverse takeover by York-based Animalcare of Belgian veterinary pharmaceutical supplier Ecuphar NV has been named Transaction of the Year by AIM.

The award is given to a company that has been transformed by a single financial or commercial transaction during the period under review and thereby creating significant shareholder value.

Judges of the alternative investment market’s annual awards said the deal transformed the group increasing the stock market value of the company to £200 million.

They said the enlarged group is now a “growing, highly cash generative, dividend paying company with a solid pipeline of new products”.

The AIM Awards, now it its 22nd year, brings together quoted companies, entrepreneurs across the AIM market to recognise their achievements, and growth in the last twelve months. The dinner attracts more than 1,300 guests.