The firm’s M&A activity, which delivered a 64% increase in deal values ​​compared to the second half of 2023, was driven by the focused firm’s 50 employees across offices in Liverpool, Manchester, Lancashire and Leeds.

The team, one of the largest in the North of England, advised on 74 transactions in the first six months of the year, supporting clients’ mergers and acquisitions, growth, succession and exit strategies at home and abroad.

Key deals supported by the team include the £30m sale of healthcare specialist Compass CHC to Brabners’ client Omni Partners (an acquisitive private equity fund), the successful management buyout of Liverpool-based Adlib Audio and the sale of North East US construction ‘software-as-a-service’ business Clixifix to SmartCraft Group.

The firm also supported eight businesses transition to employee ownership, building on a deal pipeline that saw Brabners named Experian’s most active advisor to Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) in the region in 2023. Key clients included Gloucester-based logistics solutions and supply chain company Planet Logistics and Morecambe-based ophthalmic lens manufacturer Optimum Coatings.

Notably, the team experienced a significant increase in new M&A activity in the healthcare sector, driven by declining interest rates.

The success of the corporate team continued to support the continued organic growth of the entire business, which delivered its sixth consecutive year of sustainable growth in 2023, with revenue increasing by 15%.

Mark Rathbone, Partner and Head of Corporate at Brabners, commented: “We have seen a notable improvement in business conditions since the end of the first quarter, and this has filtered through to market sentiment, with funds increasingly deploying capital to support companies pursuing growth through mergers and acquisitions.

“As identified by our True North network, successfully deploying venture capital in the UK’s innovation-driven industries will be critical to a stronger economy in the region and nationally. It is therefore encouraging to see our team continuing to advise in key areas such as advanced manufacturing, life sciences and healthcare.

“With interest rates expected to decline over the course of the year, we expect an active second half to 2024 and look forward to supporting our clients in capitalising on this increased investment appetite.”