CONGRATS TO BEGBIES for winning the "we can take on loads of administrations" prize.

Stats compiled by Geoff Swire reveal that Begbies took on 243 appointments in 2011, a cool 76 ahead of second-placed KPMG.

Of course in isolation, with neither last year's figures at hand - or the value of the work - there isn't a huge amount that can be extrapolated from the appointments data. For example, the stats don't represent that Begbies has had a tough couple of years.

But it's interesting to note that KPMG are way clear of the other Big Four firms (Deloitte 86; E&Y 73; and PwC 56).

PwC makes up for lack of quantity with quality - a certain collapsed investment bank is keeping them occupied.

Deloitte and E&Y have also had some big wins in 2011, namely Barratts and Focus respectively.

So with KPMG also undertaking some mega-jobs, how have they kept up the numbers?

The answer would seem to come from their extensive office network - wider than the other big firms. This enables them to pick up smaller regional appointments.

Good for KPMG, not so good for smaller regionals coming up against a Big Four firm. No doubt the smaller guys would look at price as a key differentiator...