Waterland-backed accountancy firm, Cooper Parry, acquires Haines Watts London

• ACQUISITION OF 11 HAINES WATTS OFFICES ACROSS LONDON, SOUTH EAST AND MIDLANDS
• ESTABLISHES COOPER PARRY AS THE UK’s 11th LARGEST ACCOUNTANCY FIRM*
• INCREASES HEADCOUNT TO 1,150
• FOURTH ACQUISITION IN SIX MONTHS

Cooper Parry – the fast growing accountancy firm – announced the acquisition of Haines Watts London and its associated audit and advisory businesses across the South East and the Midlands. Cooper Parry has been backed by Waterland Private Equity (“Waterland”) since December 2022.

The deal sees Cooper Parry add 11 offices across London, the South East, Birmingham and the Midlands to its existing portfolio, increasing its workforce to 1,150. This represents a tripling in size for the firm over the last 12 months since Waterland’s investment.

Cooper Parry has continued to organically grow ahead of market alongside three acquisitions of London-based companies iHorizon and Acclivity (February 2023) and Future Perfect in April 2023. The Haines Watts deal will establish Cooper Parry as the UK’s 11th largest accountancy firm*.

Cooper Parry’s ambition is to be the undisputed #1 adviser to mid-market businesses continuing its shift to a more specialist advisory firm. The deal underlines the strong synergy between the two firms: complementary cultures, talented and knowledgeable teams, a tech-enabled approach and an enhanced client proposition. The deal extends and deepens the firm’s coverage in London, the South East and the Midlands, adding tax, audit and accountancy expertise and an attractive client base.

Ade Cheatham, Cooper Parry CEO, states: “We’re always looking for firms that are a right fit, culturally and strategically. As a result, we’ve got to know Michael and his management team over the best part of five years. In that time, we’ve been impressed by their growth and recognise the like-minded nature of both firms. Working alongside them, this deal underlines our determination to create the UK’s next gen accountancy firm.

“Bringing together two great businesses as one strong team takes our London headcount to over 500 people. It also elevates us to the next level as a UK mid-market heavyweight. In addition, the strong bank of specialist talent and diverse client base in London, the South and right across the Midlands will allow us to continue to outperform the market. We now have genuine momentum and can demonstrate real strength and scale in London. What’s more with more strategic hires, specialist team lifts and continued geographic expansion via M&A, we’ve created a platform for future growth.”

Dominic Graham, Investment Director at Waterland commented: “We are delighted to welcome the Haines Watts London, South East and Midlands businesses and look forward to delivering the Cooper Parry employee experience for our new colleagues. This is a transformational step for Cooper Parry. The business is well prepared for the onboarding and integration of Haines Watts, supported by a dedicated integration team of three. We look forward to supporting Ade and the Cooper Parry team as they continue to execute on their strategy of becoming the #1 advisor to mid-market businesses.”

Cooper Parry was advised by Addleshaw Goddard and 8 Advisory. Waterland team: Dominic Graham, Nick Manning, Matt Boyers.