Profits at Hawkpoint Partners, the corporate finance boutique acquired by UK broker Collins Stewart Tullett last month, climbed by 50% last year, mirroring the firm's rise in this year's European mergers and acquisitions league table.

The boutique made pre-tax profits of £7.35m (€11m), up from £4.79m in 2004, while revenues rose 17% from £31.1m to £36.3m.