A Scottish architecture and interior design firm has been acquired by another player based north of the Border, with integration now “well under way”.

The firm which has been acquired can trace its roots back to 1985 and has been sold to facilitate its founder’s “eventual retirement plans”.

Davidson Baxter Partnership (DBP), a business based in the Fife town of Kirkcaldy and founded by Stewart Davidson as a sole practitioner in 1985, has been bought by employee-owned CSY Architects, which has its registered office at Galashiels in the Scottish Borders.


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KBS Corporate, which advised Davidson Baxter Partnership on the deal, said: “To facilitate his eventual retirement plans, Stewart instructed KBS on a sale of the company in which Paul Liptrott, corporate deal executive, oversaw the acquisition by CSY.”

It added: “Integration is well under way.”

KBS Corporate noted the Kirkcaldy-based company had changed its name in 2011 to incorporate Alan Baxter, who became a director that year.

It added: “Formed in 2020, CSY Architects was previously known as Camerons Strachan Yuill and is an employee-owned firm which works with homeowners, businesses and community groups from regional offices in the Lothians, Borders and Northumberland.

“Stewart remains in the company as a consultant director for the next couple of years, while Alan stays on as a full-time salaried director, the duo helping the two companies to make the transition as smooth as possible.”

Mr Davidson said: “The integration of the practices provides a positive outlook for the enlarged business, with the merger allowing CSY, who currently have a team of 20-plus, to expand and integrate the current DBP team, bringing the practice staff numbers to 30 team members.”


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Explaining the suitability of CSY as Davidson Baxter’s acquirer, he added: “CSY [has] three offices, in Berwick, Galashiels and Dalkeith, and the Kirkcaldy office allowed the business to expand its geographical reach and also integrate the interior design capability which DBP has.”

The directors at CSY said: “CSY Architects are firm believers that our team is greater than the sum of its parts and that architecture is about people and places. We were delighted to find shared values with the team at DBP Architects, and have enjoyed getting to know them.

“Led by two managing directors, Douglas Strachan and Gavin Yuill, the majority of CSY Architects is employee-owned. The staff at DBP Architects will therefore now be integrated into the wider team, contributing to and benefiting from this progressive and empowering model.”

Mr Davidson said: “We looked at all the interested parties who expressed interest in the practice, but ultimately the connection with CSY seemed to be the most appropriate fit.

“Paul Liptrott at KBS was helpful in that regard, bringing all the parties together and assisting in the management of the deal.”

KBS Corporate said Mr Liptrott was “delighted” to fulfil the potential of the existing relationship he had built with CSY “during previous acquisition opportunities”.

Mr Liptrott said: “When we brought Davidson Baxter Partnership to market, I knew instantly they would be compatible to progress with a deal with CSY.

“This is a remarkably interesting pairing and contemporary in their plans as CSY now seek to place the practice within their EOT (employee ownership trust). I wish all the best to everyone involved.”