The Buzzacott M&A Advisory team are delighted to have assisted Haines Watts North London on its sale to Duncan & Toplis.

Overview of deal

Buzzacott advised Amilios Costa, Managing Partner of Haines Watts North London (HWNL), provider of accounting, tax and specialist business advisory services to owner-managed businesses, on its sale to Duncan & Toplis.

The M&A Advisory team was made up of Greg Westcott, Matt Katz and James Wood.

Who are the firms involved?

HWNL works predominantly with owner-managed businesses across the North London region, supporting them through a multitude of services, from accounting and bookkeeping, to corporate tax and specialist business advisory.

Duncan & Toplis is one of the largest independent accounting and business adviser in the UK, providing a full range of specialist services nationwide. The company received investment from Blixt Group back in 2023 to accelerate its growth strategy, with HWNL marking a strategic acquisition in a bid to broaden the service offering whilst expanding into the London market. 

Valuable highlights of the deal

We enjoyed working alongside an ambitious accountant with strong entrepreneurial credentials. Having previously advised numerous accounting practices on the buy-side, we were well positioned to leverage our knowledge of the wider Accounting M&A market, adding value throughout the transaction. The process was highly competitive, which put extra emphasis on the importance of cultural fit alongside digesting the detail of offers, enabling clear and informed decision making.

"It was a real pleasure working with the Buzzacott Corporate Finance team of Greg Westcott, Matt Katz and James Wood. The team demonstrated expertise and professionalism throughout the process, supporting through transactional complexities and were pivotal in maximising value. I can’t recommend the team highly enough for their expertise, honesty and down to earth approach, bringing the positivity and an element of fun to what is otherwise an intense process. Thank you for everything!"

- Amilios Costa, Former Managing Partner of Haines Watts North London LLP