A CORPORATE finance specialist in Bolton has seen revenues rocket during a difficult time for trading.

Five takeovers and a successful £30.5m equity fundraising exercise have been among the highlights for Middlebrook-based K3 Capital Group Plc.

Revenues for K3 grew 215 per cent year on year, according to their latest trading figures, from £15m to £47.2m.

This saw pre-tax profits increase from £6.8m to £15.7m over the same period.

And the outlook for the Summerfield Road outfit, in the first few months of this trading year are also said to be positive and in line with market expectations.

Deals to secure Knight Corporate Finance and Knight R&D also came after the year-end report.

For the first time, the group also secured a £15m debt facility, to power further growth, though this remains unused at present.

Ian Mattioli, K3's non-executive chairman, paid tribute to the "utmost professionalism and dedication" shown by fellow board members and staff durign the past year.

He added: "The growth journey that the company has been on throughout (this year) is nothing short of remarkable and could not have been achieved without the aligned interests of all stakeholders in taking the company into its next phase.

"We are delighted to have welcomed Knight Corporate Finance and Knight R&D to the Group post year-end, which the board expects to be immediately earnings enhancing and represent a complementary extension to the group's M&A and Tax Divisions."

Rivals Randd and Quantuma were acquired in June and August 2020 respectively. Then Quantuma took control of Aspect Plus and Alchemy (Cayman), bolstering the firm's restructuring division.

John Rigby, the group's chief executive, added: "(This year) has been nothing short of a transformational year for K3 Capital Group plc, and I am delighted with both the financial and operational performance of the business in the face of the significant challenges and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We have created what is now a cyclically balanced group with an increasingly robust model, which we feel can deliver growth and success across the entire economic cycle and offers a greater degree of visibility and predictability in its revenues and profits."