CHARTERED accountants Cowgill Holloway secured a multi-million pound deal for the management buy-out of Manchester-based TouchStar Technologies.

TouchStar, which is a global player in mobile computer solutions, has pioneered new technology for robust touch-screen portable PCs.

Current users include the RAC, Shell, BP, Britannia Airways, Lufthansa, Ginsters, NHBC, GNER and Eurostar.

Peter Cowgill, senior partner at the accountancy practice based in Chorley New Road, said: "The objective for Cowgill Holloway was to raise funds via the conventional financial route and provide specialist strategic advice to the management team from our growing corporate finance division.

"We have enjoyed a close working relationship with TouchStar since 1997 when we were involved in the deal that sold them to the US holding company Williams Energy." The management buy-out team headed by Andrew Robb and supported by Tim Buchanan and Mark Lomax, has restructured the company to a UK-based headquarters based in city centre Manchester with affiliates in Australia, USA, New Zealand and mainland Europe. A new handheld computer known as Voyager will be launched this month.