PE-backed accountancy firm completes fifth acquisition of the year

Cooper Parry, an accountancy business backed by Waterland Private Equity, has completed its fifth deal of the year with the acquisition of financial planning firm Chamberlyns. Cooper Parry was backed by Waterland Private Equity last year and is aiming to achieve five-fold growth by 2025.

Chamberlyns, which was founded in 1997, is an independent wealth management boutique and is both a Chartered and Accredited Financial Planning business. The company has offices in Luton, Tunbridge Wells and Desford.

Cooper Parry is planning to continue its acquisitive activity following the takeover of Chamberlyns and the deal sees former Chamberlyns Chief Executive Michael Smith join Cooper Parry as the company’s Head of M&A and Proposition.

The company kicked off its acquisitive activity for the year with deals for London-based early stage accountancy firms ihorizon and Acclivity in February, followed by the takeover of fellow London outfit Future Perfect in April.

Cooper Parry’s most recent acquisition saw it acquire Haines Watts London and its associated audit and advisory operations in September, in a deal that added 11 offices and 63 partners and brought the firm’s turnover to £125 million. The acquisition of Chamberlyns brings the group's total assets under management to £1.3 billion.

Stephen Jones, Chief Executive of Cooper Parry, commented: "Chamberlyns is a business I've known and respected for many years since myself and Michael Smith (CEO) first met in a best practice group in March 2010. I've watched their progression closely since then and admired their principles of true financial planning and evidence-based investing because our businesses share so much common ground.”

"Having met the rest of the Chamberlyns team over the years, I knew we were culturally aligned, as well as strategically, which is really important to us.”

Jones added that Chamberlyns’ own past acquisitive activity would prove useful to Cooper Parry as it continues to target more deals during the remainder of 2023 and beyond.

Ex-Chamberlyns CEO and Cooper Parry Head of M&A and Proposition Michael Smith added: "It feels like ideal timing for both businesses. There's no question to me that CPW is one of the leading financial planning and wealth management businesses in the UK. And, as part of the wider Cooper Parry Group, it has that infrastructure and multi-disciplinary offering that would benefit Chamberlyns and our clients."

"We're excited to be joining a business combining pedigree and continuous innovation in the early stages of its acquisition journey, and I'm sure we'll go from strength to strength."


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