A new report published by chartered accountants Duncan & Toplis has revealed a significant number of corporate finance deals conducted by Kreston UK members in the SME sector over an 18-month period.

The Corporate Finance Deals Report for 2013/14 ‘Moving SME Business in the Right Direction’ shows that 133 corporate finance deals were concluded in the UK and Ireland SME sector from April 2012 to September 2013.

The total value of the reported deals was £656 million, the median (average) deal was worth £3 million and the largest deal closed at £61.4 million.  Of the total value Duncan & Toplis and its sister company Bishopsgate Corporate Finance Limited advised on deals worth a total of £150 million.

The report also found that:

• 49% of deals were in the manufacturing, healthcare and business service sectors
• 43% of deals were sales
• 37% of deals were largely funded by bank finance

“We knew that there was a significant amount of corporate finance activity being carried out by individual member firms, but we had never measured the extent of it before,” said Duncan & Toplis, Managing Partner Adrian Reynolds.

“Producing this report has given us a real insight into the strength of the Kreston UK and Ireland firms in terms of our collective cross-sector knowledge and sophisticated deal-making capabilities. This marks us out as a significant player in the SME sector.

“The volume and size of the reported deals is testament to the hard work and expertise of our dealmakers, especially given the economic climate that we have been operating in over the last few years.”

Businesses ranging from small entities to publicly listed companies sought the advice of Kreston member firms as they looked to develop their business, undertake a management buy-out or achieve an optimum sale price.

Jon Lisby, CEO of Kreston International, a global network of independent accounting firms, added: “The range of experience and geographical coverage offered makes Kreston UK the perfect partner for transactions in the SME sector”

To view the report visit http://bit.ly/1iaeNUA.

Notes to editors

• Kreston UK is a brand representing firms based in the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands and Isle of Man which are members of Kreston International, a global network of independent accounting firms.

• Kreston International www.kreston.com is a global network of independent accounting firms with the reputation for providing trusted compliance and advisory services to entrepreneurial business in the SME and mid-market sectors. Currently ranking as the 13th largest accounting network in the world, Kreston now covers 108 countries with 186 firms providing a resource of over 20,000 professional and support staff.

• The report covers the period 1st April 2012 to 30th September 2013.

• Duncan & Toplis was established in 1925 and has since grown into one of the largest independent firms of chartered accountants in the Midlands.

• Duncan & Toplis appears in the top 30 UK accountancy practices list published by Accountancy magazine.

• The company has 10 offices throughout the East Midlands: in Grantham, Boston, Lincoln, Louth, Melton Mowbray, Newark, Skegness, Sleaford, Spalding and Stamford.

• Duncan & Toplis offers a wide range of services to small to large-sized family businesses, from accountancy, audit and tax to payroll, human resources and computer services.

• The business employs around 350 staff, of whom 85 are currently engaged in professional training.

• Bishopsgate Corporate Finance is a sister company of Duncan & Toplis based in Stamford, Lincolnshire. It advises on company sales, management buy-outs and
buy-ins, corporate acquisitions, fund raising, business planning and exit strategy.

For information about this news release or Duncan & Toplis please contact:

Jez Ashberry
Shooting Star PR
01522 528540
07780 735071
jez@weareshootingstar.co.uk

For information about Kreston please contact:
Melloney Pritchard
melloney@kreston.com