The Deloitte team in the North East has advised on close to £500m of deals in the first half of 2021.

The ten strong team lead by partners Paul Trickett and Dan Renton has advised on nine transactions with a total value close to £500m working with clients from the consumer, retail, automotive services, technology and media sectors.

Dan Renton, M&A partner at Deloitte in Newcastle said: “In the first half of 2021 we have seen very high levels of deal and transaction activity.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has provided opportunities for businesses to realign their strategies through the vehicles of acquisition and disposal. Activity has been across a range of sectors, as well as both private equity and corporate participants.”

Richard Bell, managing partner of Deloitte UK Financial Advisory added: “This increased level of activity which shows no sign of slowing, follows on from a resurgence in the M&A market in the second half of 2020. Private equity dry powder – local, national and international – is deep, corporates are active, and the IPO market has been an option.

"Those who’ve emerged from successive lockdowns with strong balance sheets and models are proving attractive targets.”

Recent transactions the team has advised on include:

  • IDHL on the substantial investment funding round from Bridgepoint Development Capital
  • Aurelius on the acquisition of SSE Contracting out of SSE plc
  • The sale of SL Controls to NNIT Group
  • Palatine-backed NRG Fleet Services on the acquisition of TyreWatch.com
  • The MoD on its acquisition of Sheffield Forgemasters
  • University of Sheffield on the spin-out of Casting Technology International which secured 60 highly skilled jobs within the Sheffield City Region.

The M&A team in the North East has also promoted Jeremy Thomas and Jonny Sharp to director, as well as four new members of staff joining the team in August and September.