Deal activity among Yorkshire companies is set to grow during 2015, it is claimed.

Grant Thornton’s transaction advisory services team in the North of England is predicting another year of growth in the region’s deals market after completing 30 merger and acquisition (M&A) deals in 2014 – including the sale of Dewsbury-based Rixonway Kitchens.

Partner Will Oxley said: “2015 has started with early momentum after a really busy 2014 building to a flurry of deals in the last quarter.

“We anticipate increased deal-making activity as the economy strengthens further and confidence returns to the M&A community.

“We are already starting to see signs that last year’s levels of deal activity in the North will continue into this year and that Yorkshire will play a central role.”

Grant Thornton was recently ranked number two financial adviser by deals volume in Yorkshire by Experian Corpfin.

Over the last 12 months, the Grant Thornton team worked on deals in a variety of sectors for regional and international corporates, private equity houses and other financial institutions.

Deals delivered by the team included the sale of Rixonway Kitchens in Dewsbury to Nobia AB and the disposal of Character World to Palatine Private Equity.

It also provided financial and tax due diligence for the refinancing of Clayton West-based Adare Group by HSBC.

Mr Oxley said: “2014 was another great year for us, continuing our growth across Yorkshire and the North West.

“Not only have we attracted even more talented people into the team, we were able to take advantage of increased market activity, working closely with dynamic clients to support their growth plans.

“According to the latest figures from Experian, there was a year-on-year increase in deals volume in Yorkshire of almost 10% and we are confident that this trend will continue in 2015. “Having established a strong presence in the local market, we believe that the expertise of our team and our strong track record, together with our commitment to outstanding client service, will enable us to continue to build on our success.”

Last year, the Grant Thornton team also provided financial and tax due diligence for the management buy-out of Ramsdens Financial and vendor due diligence for the investment in Neville Johnson by Alcuin Capital Partners.

Rixonway Kitchens, which employs more than 500 people at its Dewsbury headquarters, was sold by private equity firm August Equity to Stockholm-based Nobia AB in a deal which strengthens the Swedish firm’s presence in the UK market.

Rixonway Kitchens is one of the UK’s leading manufacturer of rigid kitchens for social housing and private developments as well as a major supplier to builders’ merchants.

The company, which has manufactured kitchens since 1978, has current revenues of about £40m.

Adare Group, which operates across 32 countries. printing marketing and secure communication materials such as election voting forms, visitor passes and hospital patient records and comprises four specialist businesses – Adare International - which embraces The Purple Agency - Adare Ltd, Adare Advantage and Kalamazoo Secure Solutions.