BENNETT VERBY STOCKPORT ON ACQUISITION HUNT AS TURNOVER SOARS

Accountants and business advisers Bennett Verby is on the acquisition trail as it posts an 18 per cent hike in turnover.

The Stockport-based firm has seen turnover soar to £5.6m in the year to December 2012 – up from £4.6m in the previous year.

Managing Partner Bernard Verby said the growth was fuelled by new clients, an increase in core activities across all divisions, in particular a rise in corporate finance deals, and expansion into new specialist areas.

He said the firm has ambitious plans for 2013 and is looking to complete a number of acquisitions of North West businesses.

Bernard said:

“Our acquisition targets would typically be a practice with one to five partners which has a strong client base of SMEs. We are in advanced discussion with a number of firms and hope to complete a deal in the coming months”.

In 2011, Bennett Verby opened an office in Manchester city centre and last year completed the acquisition of Wigan-based practice McGinty Demack.

It has been a busy 12 months for Bennett Verby. The firm has rebranded, launched a new website and branched out into new specialist areas including Insurance Services and Wealth Management.

Staff numbers have increased to 85 and the firm has secured a number of new clients, taking the total number to around 500.

Bennett Verby provides the full range of accountancy and business advisory services and also offers clients HR, health and safety and legal advice through is human resources business.

Bernard says the firm has a particularly strong client base in the manufacturing industry which is enjoying something of a renaissance in the North West, and advises a number of high-growth companies in the e-commerce and digital sectors.