Accountancy firm Azets has returned to the acquisition trail with a deal to take over a historic Renfrewshire concern.

Azets, which incorporates the former Campbell Dallas and Scottish Moncrieff accountancy businesses, has acquired Paisley-based Milne Craig for an undisclosed fee.

Milne Craig, a chartered accountancy and wealth management firm founded more than 100 years ago, has more than 90 employees and 2,000 clients in Scotland and throughout the UK.

David Nairn, managing director of Milne Craig, will continue to lead the team as a partner at Azets. Milne Craig will rebrand as Azets on completion of the deal.

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Mr Nairn said: “We are very proud of our heritage and excited to move forward as part of Azets, continuing to provide clients local, director-led services, backed by a firm of significant scale and expertise.

“Joining Azets represents and enormous opportunity for our people to develop personally and professionally as part of a bigger group, and for our clients who now have access to new services and specialists to support them on their growth journey.

“There are clear synergies between our two firms, both with a strong focus on supporting the needs of our clients in Scotland and throughout the UK.”

Azets, which will have more than 320 accountancy and advisory services staff at its Braehead base further to the deal, said the acquisition would bolster its accounting, tax, audit, corporate finance, payroll, and wealth management service lines.

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Greig McKnight, regional managing director for Scotland at Azets, said: “Many people at Azets and Milne Craig already know and have worked with each other over a period of many years, so we are well aware of the quality and specialist expertise our new colleagues will bring.

“From those existing relationships to the proximity of our offices, we immediately identified a strong cultural fit. Importantly, the services that Milne Craig offers deepens Azets’ expertise in accounting, advisory and wealth management. We are thrilled to welcome David and the team into Azets, marking the latest milestone on the group’s growth journey.”

Azets has steadily grown its presence in Scotland through a flurry of acquisitions since 2017, when the Scottish accountancy firms Campbell Dallas and Springfords became part of Baldwins, which in turn was part of the Cogital Group. Cogital was rebranded as Azets in 2020.

Since those initial takeover deals in Scotland, Azets has acquired Scottish firms including Sinclair Scott, Scott Moncrieff, and Williamson and Dunn.

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Donald Boyd, vice-president of Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce and UK head of growth and sales at Azets said: “Azets in Braehead has its roots in Renfrewshire dating back to the early 1970s. For decades, Azets and Milne Craig have been intrinsically embedded in business life across the west of Scotland, particularly in Renfrewshire.

“Both firms have made a significant contribution to our local economy, and supported the growth of thousands of businesses and entrepreneurs, helping them achieve their ambitions. Azets and Milne Craig joining forces is something Renfrewshire should be proud of.”