A CORPORATE finance group completed a record number of deals in the first quarter of the year.

The division of chartered accountants Tait Walker, which has three offices in the North-East, secured seven deals in the first three months of the year worth a total of £20m.

For the whole of last year, the corporate finance team completed 18 deals and in the past five years made 58, the largest number won by any accountancy in the North-East.

This year, the team has completed two management buyouts, including that of Gateshead software development company Datawright, advised on acquisitions and mergers and provided advice on a number of other deals.

Corporate finance director Mike Russell said: "Recent quarterly data has revealed that improved customer confidence has led to a strong start to 2006 for small business and, given Tait Walker's equally strong start to the year, I am hopeful that we will continue in the same vein throughout."

Tait Walker has nine partners and 112 staff.