SOUTH coast offices of Smith & Williamson have joined forces with NCL Securities as part of a national move to create a newly enlarged group specialising in the field of independent fund management, finance advice and accounting.

The move comes as the finance firm also incorporates its existing partnerships into limited liability companies and the Southampton office appoints two new directors to strengthen its presence in the local market.

Local director Chris Appleton is head of Smith & Williamson offices in Southampton and Salisbury and said this week's changes give the newly enlarged firm even greater capacity in the market place.

"It makes for a much stronger group and comes at an exciting time for us on the south coast," he said.

"We have appointed Julie Mutton and Trudy Amy as directors and we are actively looking to recruit five new people to join us in Southampton," he said.

The firm's two southern offices now employ 16 partners and 110 staff, making it one of the largest firms of its kind in the region.

The opening of its Southampton office in March has been a huge success, which Mr Appleton puts down to concentrating on the niche markets of the mid-corporate secotor and private client work together with the addition of a number of new and significant clients.

As part of the overall changes the firm's audit business has been transferred to a new company, Nexia Audit, under separate control and management and overall the group provides asset management, tax and trust, private banking, pensions and financial and business advisory services for private clients, professional practices and mid-size corporates.

The merged firms had combined revenues of £100m in the last financial year and more than £5 billion of funds under management.