International mergers grow corporate finance firm

CORPORATE finance advisers Clearwater International has created a 200-strong firm after merging with companies in France and Germany.

French firm Easton Corporate Finance and @VISORY partners Corporate Finance, in Germany, have joined the Birmingham-based group which will noe have 15 offices.

“Today marks an important step in realising Clearwater’s ambitions to become the leading global mid market advisory firm,” said chief executive Michael Reeves.

The deal increases Clearwater presence in central and northern Europe adds “further depth” to its 10 sectors.

Three of Clearwater’s cross border sector teams will now be led by partners from Germany and France – Tobias Schätzmüller will lead the automotive team, Dierk Rottmann the energy and utilities team and the real estate team will headed up by Laurent Camilli.

The combined firm expects to complete more than 100 deals a year, totalling around £4bn.

Easton’s Thomas Gaucher and Ralph Schmücking from @VISORY have joined the Clearwater International board.