AIM-listed merchant bank Quayle Munro Holdings plc has snapped up the van Tulleken group for £6.1 million in a bid to strengthen its corporate advisory capacity on a trans-Atlantic basis.

The acquisition of Lowndes Street Partners and the van Tulleken Company is to be satisfied with the issue of 313,988 shares at £13.25 each alongside a cash payment of almost £2 million. A further cash payment of up to £200,000 will follow should the acquired group’s net assets exceed £400,000.

Van Tulleken is an international corporate finance adviser to the media, technology and publishing industries from its offices in London and New York. As such, it is expected to strengthen Quayle’s corporate advisory capacity and facilitate its transition to a trans-Atlantic operator.

The enlarged group will move to trade under the Quayle Munro brand in the near future.

Quayle’s chief executive, Peter Norris, comments: “The deal will add significantly to the group’s senior resources and brings with it a number of valuable long-term business relationships – both assets key to our approach to business.”

Quayle provides corporate finance, public project finance, specialist fund management and direct investment. In July 2007, the group acquired corporate finance adviser New Boathouse Capital, which was established by Peter Norris in 2000. It has recently advised on transactions for the Virgin Group, including its proposal for Northern Rock, Drillgreat (on the take-private of Monsoon), Soho House, Duncton, Target Entertainment and Trainline.