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2018 was a successful year for Smith Cooper Corporate Finance


Smith Cooper retains top-ten ranking


Experian’s recently-published annual United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland M&A Review 2018 places Midlands accountants and business advisers Smith Cooper in eighth position by volume in the financial adviser category for the region – a jump from last year’s ninth place. Experian’s review provides


insight into M&A transactions completed in various regions of the UK during the past calendar year, and into the solicitors, funders and advisers involved. To be included, deal value must be at least £500k and be in the public domain. Smith Cooper Corporate Finance


completed 20 qualifying deals in 2018. The review reveals the top- ten advisers’ tally of deals range from 32 for much larger firms at the top of the table, to 12 deals for tenth place.


‘We are delighted to have retained our top- ten placing, among some much larger advisory firms’


Smith Cooper’s deals were varied


in size, sector and nature but included acquisitions, sales, management buy-outs and buy-ins, as well as several development capital deals. John Farnsworth, Partner and


Head of Smith Cooper Corporate Finance, said: “We are delighted to have retained our top-ten placing, among some much larger advisory firms. The firm’s ability to sustain this level of activity from a dedicated team of around ten individuals is testament to the ability, determination and tenacity of our talented team.” “In 2018 we completed several notable transactions, from local


level to international. The deals included the landmark private equity-led management buy-out of Europe’s largest dedicated online garden products retailer Primrose and the sale of one of the UK’s largest Pizza Hut businesses operating 28 stores – KMP Taste Limited.” “The current workload is high,


and we expect to complete another 15 deals in the current quarter, bringing the total for our financial year ending 31 March 2019 to around 35. Our pipeline is also buoyant and so, looking forward, we remain cautiously optimistic for an equally successful 2019 calendar year, albeit perhaps with a ‘pause’


in activity in Q1 - after which we hope the crescendo of political and economic uncertainties eases.” The Midlands was the third


busiest region in the UK in 2018, contributing 13% of UK deals by volume and 4.9% by value, demonstrating the strength of the local economy and the productivity and skills of its workforce across a range of businesses from small entrepreneurial ones through to globally-renowned listed ones. A total of 977 deals worth a


combined £18.2bn were announced in the Midlands in 2018, broadly level with 2017 but much higher in value terms than 2016 which was some 35% lower. Smith Cooper Corporate Finance


celebrated a stellar year in 2018, having also scooped three industry accolades at the prestigious Insider Dealmaker awards.


Foresight Group investment offers a sweet deal


Foresight Group LLP has announced two investments totalling £1.95m into two fast-growing Lincolnshire-based businesses, Firetree Chocolate and YPP Group, via the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF). Foresight completed a £950k investment into chocolate maker Firetree


Chocolate as part of a £1.2m funding round in late January. In early February, Foresight completed a £1m investment into YPP Group. Ray Harris, Principal, Foresight Group, said: “We are pleased to have been


able to deploy this substantial funding into two great businesses and understand the impact these investments can have on the local economy such as creating new jobs for the area and attracting talent.” Grant Peggie, Director at the British Business Bank, added: “With the


support of the Midlands Engine Investment Fund and Foresight, it’s good to see that small growing businesses across the Midlands are benefiting from the fund, generating economic growth and creating new job opportunities. The Midlands Engine Investment Fund project is supported financially by


the European Union using funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020 and the European Investment Bank.


14 business network March 2019 Firetree are one of two businesses to receive a significant boost from Foresight


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