Record deals for Clearwater Corporate Finance

Birmingham-based Clearwater Corporate Finance has reported record half-yearly deal figures.

The firm, which has advised on a number of high-value M&A deals involving private equity investors and overseas multinational companies, saw a 114 per cent increase in deal value and a 40 per cent increase in volume in the six months beginning April 2010.

Clearwater advised on 14 transactions worth £419 million during the period, compared to 10 transactions totalling £196 million in the first half of 2009.

The firm’s average deal size reached £30 million in the first half, with three transactions with values of more than £50 million.

And of the 14 deals in the first half of the year, Clearwater originated 10 for the market.

Key transactions included the secondary buyout of XLN Telecom by ECI Partners, the sale of specialist teacher recruitment business Teaching Personnel to Graphite Capital and the sale of DCC’s mobility and rehabilitation business to Patterson Medical, the UK subsidiary of US-based Patterson Companies.

In its largest deal, the firm advised residential property specialist Adam Lawrence in securing a £100 million funding package – including a £50 million equity investment from Graphite Capital – to support the development of his new house building company London Square.

Phil Burns, managing partner at Clearwater Corporate Finance, said: “Despite an uncertain economic outlook, concerns surrounding widespread government cuts and continuing funding restrictions, we continued to advise on and originate some of the key mid-market deals in the UK in the first half.

“Our proactive approach in sourcing new mandates is reaping rewards, while investment in our sector teams has allowed us to build strong, valued partnerships with UK corporates and investors alike.

“In the first half, there were signs of a gradual recovery in the mid-market, with private equity houses beginning to compete for the best sector targets, and overseas corporates scouting out UK acquisitions to accelerate growth and access the UK and wider European markets.”