A SERIES of deals valued at more than £45 million have been completed by a York firm of accountants as its busiest post-recession year comes to a close.

Accountancy and business advisory firm JWP Creers has reported its busiest 12 months for corporate finance since the banking crisis and ensuing recession.

The transactions, involving deals throughout Yorkshire and Humber, the North West and Lincolnshire, have included mergers, acquisitions, management buy-outs, exits, disposals and development fundings.

JWPCreers corporate finance team, based at the firm’s York office at York Science Park, and led by partner, Tony Farmer, was expanded to seven staff during the year to cope with the rising flow of work.

Among major deals on which the firm advised were the acquisition of animal feeds producer, William Thompson (York) by B.A.T.A., Malton and the sale of the world’s leading figure skate blade manufacturer, HD Sports, Sheffield, to a US-based private investor group based in Boston.

Mr Farmer said: "This is a real bounce back for our corporate finance activity throughout the north.

"The biggest market drivers have been funding availability and buyer confidence which are are returning strongly.

"There has also been a marked increase in lending by the main banks and other funders.

“The number of successful transactions we have advised upon is well into double figures, the largest number than at any time since 2009.

"Our performance reflects our continuing commitment to this market, our clients and staff during the recession when we had to seek innovative solutions in challenging circumstances.

“The quest for innovative solutions, which was forced upon the corporate finance sector after the banking crisis, is now blending into the mainstream, adding to the range of potential solutions available now that lending is edging back to normal levels."

Mr Farmer said the range of deals activity JWP Creers has handled in 2014 reflects a "growing appetite", particularly in fast cash-generative sectors such as food, leisure and healthcare.

He added: "The pipeline for next year is looking very healthy and already approaching this year’s level with 2015 looking like our busiest start since 2007."

JWPCreers, based at York Science Park and Park Street, Selby, is among York and North Yorkshire’s largest firms of accountants, taxation professionals and business advisers with six partners and more than 80 staff.