FIGURES unveiled today show Manchester-based corporate finance professionals are on equal footing with the F & P sector in London’s Square Mile.

The 2010 Annual Corporate Finance Deals Review released today (Thursday) by pro.manchester – in association with Corpfin Experian – show it’s been an encouraging year for Manchester’s financial advisory community.

The number of deals made by Manchester advisors may have fallen slightly, but the value of these deals has risen dramatically. The value of deals worked on in 2010 came to a total of £3.9 billion, a 90 per cent increase in the value of deals between 2009 and 2010.

The largest deal for Manchester advisors in 2010 was the high profile sale of Peel Group’s Trafford Centre to Capital Shopping Centres Plc for £1.598 billion.

There were also a number of international deals, such as the takeover of Blackburn Football Club by Indian-based poultry business, Venky’s, for £23 million and the £93 million acquisition of British Salt by the British-based subsidiary of Indian conglomerate Tata.

Manufacturing remains the region’s leading sector for transactions but wholesale, retail and repair and real estate will be sectors to watch in the next few months. The values of these deals in these sectors rose 46 per cent and 547 percent respectively.

Acquisitions continued to be the most popular type of transaction in 2010 with 104 deals recorded, this is a 20 per cent decline from last year but not as steep as the 34 per cent decline in 2008.

Management buyout activity fell 48 per cent over the past 12 months, yet many economists still feel this market continues to present opportunities for some investors, with the number of insolvencies increasing by 107 per cent since 2008.

Paul Lupton, head of corporate finance at Deloitte & Touche LLP and deputy chairman of pro.manchester said:

 “Although the current climate is challenging, the Manchester F & P sector has fared relatively well over the past 12 months. Manchester professionals continue to have a strong presence in the North West, reinforcing our position as a leading centre for financial and professional services outside of London.”

To read The 2010 Annual Corporate Finance Deals Review please click here

The report was produced in association with our partners Experian Corpfin