National accountancy firm Smith & Williamson’s Bristol-based corporate finance team got the new year off to a strong start by completing two multi-million pound deals.
The team advised on the disposal of the wind and solar assets of AIM-listed Renewable Energy Generation (REG) and the sale of London-based specialist timber merchant T Brewer.
Jersey-based REG, which operates wind farms across the South West and other parts of the UK, sold the assets to a fund managed by US investment group Blackrock in a deal valued at £91m. 
The Smith & Williamson team were engaged by REG’s independent directors to advise on the offer and recommendations to shareholders.
Smith & Williamson Corporate Finance also advised and supported T Brewer on its sale to Grafton Group, the FTSE 250-listed UK and Ireland–based builders’ merchants, for an undisclosed sum. T Brewer has branches in Clapham, London; Enfield, Middlesex; and Amersham, Bucks.
Smith & Williamson partner Martyn Fraser, pictured, who led on both deals, said: “With strong demand from strategic buyers it is now an excellent time for owners to be exploring ways in which they might realise value.
“This is particularly true in Bristol and other parts of the South West renowned for their entrepreneurial talent. With Bristol now reported to have one of the fastest-growing economies outside of London, it is not surprising that many local entrepreneurs are attracting the attention of national and international investors.
“Our region has a wealth of successful companies with significant growth potential and we expect to close a number of other transactions during the course of 2016.”
Smith & Williamson has a 10-strong corporate finance team based in central Bristol, advising on a wide range of transactions involving companies of all sizes based locally as well as nationally and internationally.
