Business water retailer Castle will acquire Affinity for Business on 1 April, adding around 50,000 customers to bring Castle’s customer base to c.400,000.
Castle said the acquisition would build on Affinity for Business’s strengths around customer service and allow more efficient billing as well as reduced administration.
Castle’s chief executive, John Reynolds said: “This merger will improve customer service and reduce administration for customers. Following the merger, many Affinity for Business customers will benefit from having a single supplier for water and wastewater.”
Following the acquisition of Invitica Water in 2018, the latter was re-named to align with Castle Water’s branding.
Helen Gillett, the managing director at Affinity for Business, added the companies are working closely to ensure a smooth transition and continuity of service for its customers. She said: “Castle Water has the experience and scale to build on the brilliant foundations we have established in the last three years. Not only will Affinity for Business staff bring excellent customer service standards to this merger, they will also be adding an award-winning, role-model business culture.”
The acquisition will bring the total number of Supply Point Identifier (SPID) numbers to c.580,000, making Castle the third largest supplier across England and Scotland and the second largest in England.
Castle Water took over providing retail services to customers of Portsmouth Water in 2016, Thames Water in 2017 and South East Water in 2018.