Affinia acquires West Sussex firm Richard Place Dobson

Affinia has completed the acquisition of Crawley-based Richard Place Dobson, marking the group’s 15th bolt-on transaction since receiving investment from Sovereign Capital Partners in 2023.

The acquisition of Richard Place Dobson (RPD) adds approximately 1,200 clients across the South East of England to Affinia’s portfolio. 

RPD provides audit, tax, payroll, and advisory services, with a specific technical focus on charities, community organisations, and social enterprises. 

The move is intended to strengthen Affinia’s existing not-for-profit division and follows the group’s recent merger with several UHY Hacker Young offices.

The integration of RPD follows Affinia’s strategy of acquiring specialist firms to broaden its service capabilities. Previous acquisitions, such as Green and Purple, introduced outsourced finance and virtual CFO services to the group. 

By incorporating RPD’s established presence in West Sussex, Affinia aims to scale its regional operations while utilising the firm’s specialised knowledge in the highly regulated not-for-profit sector. 

The group’s expansion is funded by Sovereign Capital Partners as part of a long-term buy-and-build strategy.

Following the acquisition, the firm will focus on aligning RPD’s payroll and advisory systems with its central platform to ensure service continuity for the Crawley-based client portfolio.

Alex Hay, partner at Sovereign Capital Partners, said: “RPD is a strategic fit for Affinia. The business brings a client base, a team and a specialism in the not-for-profit sector that complements what Affinia already offers. It is another step in building a platform with the scale and expertise to meet evolving client needs.”