Leading financial advisory firm advises on deals worth more than £525m
06 May 2026: Leading financial advisory firm HNH Partners has announced a record year across its Edinburgh and Belfast offices, as the business continues to experience strong growth despite challenging economic conditions.
Specialising in mergers and acquisitions and wider corporate finance transactions, HNH Partners has advised on a growing number of high-profile deals across both regions over the past 12 months, driving continued growth.
In the past year, HNH Partners’ market-leading advisory teams completed 40 transactions worth in excess of £525m in value, underscoring the strength of its expertise, knowledge and success in preparing buy and sell-side clients for major transactions and new financing arrangements.
The firm’s client base has continued to broaden, spanning founder and family-owned businesses, management teams executing buy-outs, mid-market private equity houses and their portfolio companies, listed corporates and international acquirers. A growing share of HNH’s mandates now involve cross-border elements, with clients and counterparties domiciled across the UK, Ireland, continental Europe and North America.
This record performance has seen HNH Partners accelerate its position within the Experian M&A Review Top 10 league tables in both Northern Ireland and Scotland, with its Belfast office achieving a second-place position in 2025.
The firm, which was named Corporate Finance Advisory Firm of the Year at the prestigious Insider Northern Ireland Dealmakers Awards earlier this year, said it has also continued that strong momentum into 2026.
Recent deals include the sale of supply chain business Spring Solutions to Diploma plc; the sale of Allwood Recycling Solutions to Papilo, a Palatine Private Equity portfolio company; BGF’s investment in Corriewood Group; and the sale of Solutions Driven to Groupe Adequat. These transactions reflect HNH’s growing reach across listed corporates, UK and European private equity, and international strategic acquirers. HNH also continues to see strong levels of activity across a range of sectors including software, built environment, healthcare, renewables and the circular economy, together with wealth management and financial planning sectors.
Reflecting on a record year of success, Wayne Horwood, Founder and Managing Partner of HNH Partners, said:
“The past year has been a landmark one for HNH, both in terms of the volume and value of transactions completed and the strength of close relationships we continue to build with our clients.
“Despite economic uncertainty, we continue to see sustained demand from ambitious businesses seeking to grow, invest and execute plans to create enhanced equity value to a wider range of strategic acquirors or investors. Our performance reflects not only the resilience of the markets we operate in, but also the expertise and commitment of our team across Belfast and Edinburgh.
What has been particularly encouraging is the breadth of who we are now advising — and who is coming to the table on the other side of our deals. We are working with more private equity houses, more listed corporates and more international acquirers than ever before, often on transactions that reach well beyond our home markets. That trend looks set to continue.
“As we look ahead, we are well positioned to build on this momentum, with a strong pipeline of activity and continued investment in our people and capabilities.”
Scotland continues to be a major engine of growth, where in March the Edinburgh team recently completed its 14th deal of the financial year with the sale of Glasgow-based manufacturer APH Hydraulic Engineering to Ignite Growth, a London-based private equity house. APH is the leading designer and manufacturer of hydraulic cylinders and actuators for the surface marine, subsea, industrial, land and renewables sectors with the transaction further strengthening HNH’s reputation as a specialist adviser across a diverse range of sectors.
Neal Allen, Partner and Head of Deal Advisory in Scotland, added:
“Whilst there are clear headwinds for most deal markets, the number of deals that we have completed this year is testament to the innovation, resilience and vision of companies in the Scottish market.
“Our role is to help clients navigate increasingly complex (and frequently lengthy) transactions and unlock opportunities, whether that’s through strategic acquisitions, investment or exit planning.
“Though there will be continued uncertainty in the economy for a while yet, we expect to see further deal activity throughout 2026 as there is no shortage of ambitious and entrepreneurial businesses that are seeking to grow in our core markets.”
HNH provides industry-leading expertise in Deal Advisory, Strategic Business Planning, Transaction Services, Debt Advisory and Taxation Services. The firm’s Scotland-based team moved into new offices in Edinburgh last year, reflecting its continued growth across the region.
Staff numbers have increased by around a third over the past two years, with recent senior appointments including Angela Keery as Tax Director earlier this year.
The company continues to invest in its teams across both key locations, with eight staff promoted in the past 12 months. This includes William Lawrence, recently promoted to Manager in Edinburgh, and Eimear McKeown, who has been elevated to the same position in Belfast.
With a strong track record of delivering high-value outcomes, HNH works with founder and family-owned businesses, management teams, private equity investors, listed corporates and international acquirers on transactions spanning Northern Ireland, Great Britain, the Republic of Ireland and further afield, across a broad range of sectors.