In brief: Kuits’ AIM success; Crowe Clark Whitehill; Flexspace
MANCHESTER law firm Kuits Solicitors’ corporate team is drawing breath after advising on a number of AIM market deals.
Led by AIM specialist and partner Kirsti Pinnell, Kuits advised on major deals including Sterling Green Group £10m revenue acquisition of Terra Energy, Mercury Recycling Group’s £13.7m reverse acquisition of the Ironveld Group and Silverbeck Rymer’s saler to Quindell Portfolio.
She said: “The market is suggesting that deals activity is still low. However, we have seen a significant increase in sizeable deals in the last 12 months and it has been encouraging to be involved with AIM work after a relatively quiet period.”
Serial deal-maker and investor Michael Edelson, a long-standing Kuits client, praised the firm’s work.
“Kuits has been involved in nearly all of my corporate transaction over the last 20 years, which says everything about my confidence in them as a firm. Kirsti and the team provide fantastic support particularly in the forthright way they deal with difficult transactions.”
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ACCOUNTANTS Crowe Clark Whitehill has won a competitive tender to provide external audit services to Giggleswick School in Yorkshire.
Led by Manchester partner, Vicky Szulist, Crowe Clark Whitehill will provide a full external audit service to the school and its subsidiary Giggleswick Services.
Located near Settle in the Yorkshire Dales, Giggleswick is a co-educational independent day and boarding school for pupils aged 3 to 18 years. The school, which celebrates its quincentenary this year, has invested £13m in new facilities over the last 10 years.
Vicky Szulist said: “Giggleswick is a very well-respected school which has an excellent reputation for pastoral care. We are pleased to have the opportunity to bring our specialist knowledge of the independent schools sector to Giggleswick and are focused on providing added value through the audit process.”
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COMMERCIAL landlord Flexspace has completed four deals at Capitol Trading Park in Knowsley, totaling 50,000 sq ft during the year to date 2012.
Tela Processing, a soft furnishings manufacturer, has moved to Knowsley from Warrington taking 25,000 sq ft on the estate. Facelift Ltd, an access platform hire company, has taken 2 units totaling 14,000 sq ft, while Viking Ventilation has taken 10,000 sq ft. Blue Lagoon Products has also taken a 1,625 sq ft unit.
Darren Hill, senior surveyor in the industrial agency team at CBRE North West, which represents Flexspace, said: “The current economic climate has brought increased uncertainty for businesses, with occupiers looking for quality premises along with flexibility. Our client’s approach of offering cost effective space on flexible terms has reaped rewards, as evidenced by the level of take up on the estate during 2012.”
Hitchcock Wright & Partners act as joint agent alongside CBRE.
