Following a busy summer, Smith Cooper Corporate Finance has secured a top 10 UK-wide ranking in Experian’s International M&A review for August 2017, coming 10th by deal volume nationally, placing it amongst sector giants.

The Experian International M&A August review indicates the UK experienced a 10% decline in deals volume from July’s figures, and a 24% decline on last year’s figures – the decline being particularly evident in the large deal category. However, in contrast to these figures, Smith Cooper saw its M&A deal volumes increase month on month, and year on year.

Despite August being a traditionally subdued month for M&A deal makers nationally, Smith Cooper completed 5 deals, with a significant (but undisclosed) aggregate deal value. The completed deals include the sale of Wearwell Group Limited, British designers and manufacturers of high quality technical workwear; a deal of significance in that manufacturing sector transactions fell sharply from 121 in July, to just 70 in August.

Other notable industry transactions completed in August include two within the hospitality sector, namely the sale of two hotels in the RSM Leisure Limited Group to Michels Ventures 2 Limited, and the sale of restaurant operator Kout Food Group New Chicken Limited to Herbal Central Limited.

John Farnsworth, Head of Smith Cooper Corporate Finance commented: “At Smith Cooper we continue to experience consistently high deal flow, completing no less 24 deals since the start of 2017. These deals encompass a wide sector and geographic spectrum, including cross-border.”

“The whole of Smith Cooper has experienced phenomenal growth in the last year but it is particularly gratifying to see the hard work of the Corporate Finance team recognised nationally in Experian’s International M&A review. In what has been a summer of success for Smith Cooper Corporate Finance division, we were recently recognised for the sale of Alca Fasteners which secured the “SME Deal of the Year” award at the Insider Midlands Dealmakers Awards”.

He continues: “This is the first time Smith Cooper has ranked inside the UK top ten in Experian’s International M&A monthly review, demonstrating the growing strength of the Smith Cooper brand.”

Click here to read Experian’s full International M&A Review.