Rumor Has It Something’s Going Down at Marcum (UPDATE)
In November Financial Times wrote a quick little story about accounting firms eyeing private equity deals, a topic that first gained visibility when TowerBrook Capital Partners purchased an ownership stake in EisnerAmper way back in 2021. The FT story listed BDO, Grant Thornton, and Marcum as firms that have explored these deals, though none of […]
Berdon Got a Lot of Dates But Ultimately Chose to Hook Up With Citrin Cooperman
Thanks to the commenter who brought this to our attention. Accounting firm merger madness continues, this time the union of Citrin Cooperman and Berdon announced on the 1st. We should have seen it coming as Citrin Cooperman has been busy the last 15 months, growing revenue by $200 million and completing several mergers since private […]
The Elliott Davis/Whitley Penn Merger Fell Apart in the Eleventh Hour, RIP Elliott Penn (UPDATE)
This past summer, the second biggest news around the virtual watercooler of professional services (after the EY split) was that Elliott Davis and Whitley Penn would be combining forces to become — *dramatic flourish here* — Elliott Penn. “By proactively bringing these two firms together, Elliott Penn leverages the strengths of both firms and establishes […]
The Dallas Cowboys Are Getting Some Extra Accountants With This CohnReznick Merger
CohnReznick announced a merger with Dallas firm BKM Sowan Horan and the Dallas Morning News took the opportunity to trumpet the happy nuptials of the official accounting firm of the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas Morning News: CohnReznick, the 15th largest accounting firm in the U.S. and the official accounting firm of the Dallas Cowboys, says it […]
Don’t Be Surprised to See Accounting Firms Aggressively Merging in the Next Year or Two
Have you heard? There’s an accountant shortage! This is probably coming as a shock to you but it’s true. Firms are trying all sorts of tricks to find and retain talent but the problem may be deeper than not having the right set of perks but rather an actual shortage of qualified talent. This issue […]
Davis and Whitley Get Shafted in Latest Accounting Firm Merger
There’s a new megafirm on the block and it’s called Elliott Penn LLP. Not quite as ✨dynamic✨ as Forvis but we can’t all have forward vision now can we? Since people are already getting dissed by this arrangement, here is the Whitley Penn press release and here is the same exact thing from Elliott Davis, […]
Happy Forvis Day!
It’s official: Today’s the day BKD and DHG become Forvis. Today is a historic day as we begin serving clients as a top 10 professional services firm. Learn more from @FORVIS CEO Tom Watson and Chair Matt Snow: https://t.co/t5IW0BU97b pic.twitter.com/JcFMcz5xLD — FORVIS (@FORVIS) June 1, 2022 We hope everyone at Forvis has a great day […]
Let’s Mesh Other Business Buzzwords to Form the Next Big Accounting Firm Name
First off, I want to thank those of you who reached out to us on Wednesday about Forvis being the new name of the combined BKD/DHG firm. I’ve been sick with COVID since early Wednesday morning and haven’t cracked open my laptop until now. I still feel like crap but OK enough to do this […]
Rumor: BKD Is Going to Merge With Either DHG, Moss Adams, or Plante Moran Today (CONFIRMED: BKD and DHG)
[Updated below with information about BKD and DHG merger.] This came through the tipline a little bit ago: To be announced later today, two top 20 firms will merge and create a new top 10 firm. Our tipster proceeded to give us a hint that narrowed the field down a bit: It’s two praxity alliance […]
Koltin Consulting Group CEO Is Really Overhyping This BDO USA/MBAF Merger
Getting two public accounting firms that are among the top 100 largest in the U.S. in terms of revenue to tie the knot is harder than it used to be. But it actually happened twice in the latter half of 2020: CliftonLarsonAllen and Blumshapiro made a deal happen in late December and before that in […]
BDO Is Officially the Fifth-Largest Accounting Firm In the U.K.
Step aside, Grant Thornton. BDO’s merger with Moore Stephens has been completed, making Bravo Delta Oscar the largest non-Big 4 accounting firm in the U.K. From Economia: The merger gives [BDO] a combined workforce of 5,000 staff members and 350 partners working in 17 locations across the UK. The firm is expected to deliver revenues […]
Apparently BDO and Moore Stephens Are Gonna Hook Up
The days of Grant Thornton being the fifth-largest accounting firm in the United Kingdom appear to be numbered, as Moore Stephens, a top 10 firm in the U.K., is reportedly getting into bed with BDO, the sixth-largest U.K. firm. The Times in London wrote yesterday: BDO, the accountancy and business advisory firm, has confirmed that […]
Oh Look, KPMG Is Acquiring Rothstein Kass
Well, what have we here? It's an article from the Journal's man on the accounting beat, Michael Rapoport: KPMG LLP is going long on the market for hedge-fund services. The New York accounting firm on Thursday agreed to buy Rothstein Kass, a New Jersey firm that caters to hedge funds and other alternative investment firms. As you […]
McGladrey CEO: ‘Nah, bro. We’re cool right where we are.’
You need to go over to WSJ to read all about how BDO is aggressively gobbling up firms in order to get that much closer to the Big 4's backside. Here's a nibble: BDO, one of the midtier accounting firms below the Big Four, has been aggressively trying to grow faster under Chief Executive Wayne […]
According to This, a Bunch of Folks at Rothstein Kass Are Hitting the Pavement
Well, this is an interesting twist to the Rothstein Kass KPMG merger drama. We're glad to see our friends at Accounting Today getting on this: For the last few weeks the accounting profession’s rumor mill has been buzzing with stories that Rothstein Kass is about to be acquired by KPMG. Is this all just a […]
Why Is Everyone Chattering About KPMG Acquiring Rothstein Kass?
Over the weekend, we began hearing rumors of a KPMG/Rothstein Kass merger. Rather, a somewhat upset individual sent us this:
Baker Tilly Bags One New York Accounting Firm; Looking for the Next One
Today in obscure firm merger news, Baker Tilly and New York-based Holtz Rubenstein Reminick have professed their love for each other and are entering into a holy union on June 1st. "We've been looking for the right merger partner in New York and we found that partner in Holtz Rubenstein Reminick. They have a […]
Another Small Accounting Firm Gets to Know BDO
Two weeks after Argy, Wiltse & Robinson climbed aboard Captain Jack's ship, BDO has found a new firm to satisfy its insatiable appetite for small firms. The latest addition is Philadelphia's Asher & Co. and the firm's 100+ partners and employees will join up with Berson & Co. on November 1. Hopefully AWR won't mind that […]
BDO and Argy, Wiltse & Robinson Are Now in a Relationship
Effective November 1, AWR will succumb to the charms of the BDO after 20 years of blissful solitude. The DC-area firm has three locations in McLean, Virginia ,Bethesda, Maryland and Fort Lauderdale, Florida and BDO CEO Wayne Berson will let 26 more partners squeeze in. [BDO via WBJ]
The Official Word on the Plante Moran/Blackman Kallick Merger
Well, it's official (told you so), the Plante Moran/Blackman Kallick merger is on. This will set up Chicago’s 7th largest accounting firm with more than 2,000 employees, 22 offices, and over $375M in combined revenue, which is not quite anything to sneeze at. Three local offices in Chicago will serve more than 5,000 clients, primarily […]
Plante Moran and Blackman Kallick Are Now In a Relationship
In today's firms you've probably never heard of if you aren't in the Midwest news, we've gotten word that Plante Moran will announce it's taking on Chicago firm Blackman Kallick as its new +1 at some point today. This should be pretty exciting for the Blackman Kallickers since Plante Moran has a great reputation (size […]
Let’s Speculate About: The Next Accounting Firm Merger
The word on the street is that the pace of accounting firm mergers will increase in the coming year. That's pretty fun for all of us because we occasionally like to spoil the surprise for everyone. Plus, the new name game is everyone's favorite. In the past few years, there have been several notable mergers […]
Accounting Firm Merger Hypotheticals: Reznick Group and J.H. Cohn
As readers of this website well know, occasionally we like to report on merger rumors that are floating around the accounting world. Most recently we reported that Eide Bailly and Wipfli were going to make a very handsome couple as EB Wipfli only to have the deal fall apart a little over a month later. […]
The Eide Bailly and Wipfli Merger Is Off
There will only be EB Wipfli in your dreams. We were just forwarded an email that Eide Bailly CEO Jerry Topp sent to the firm announcing that the deal is no longer happening. From: Jerry Topp Sent: Friday, February 24, 2012 12:34 PM To: ~!All Users Subject: Important Merger Update Importance: High I have some significant news […]
Accounting Firm Merger Rumor Mill: Wipfli and Eide Bailly UPDATE – We’ve Got a Name!
Last month we heard a rumor that Milwaukee-based Wipfli (I've been informed it's pronounced WIFF-lee) and Fargo-based Eide Bailly were in merger discussions. Supposedly, Wipfli partners voted on the merger right before Christmas but our source said that prior to the vote "[Wipfli] announced internally that they are merging with Eide Bailly," and that the […]
Is Grant Thornton Finally Coming to Connecticut?
Sounds like it. By way of gobbling up a firm that sounds like it should belong to John Fogerty.
[CCR, LLP] [t]he full-service accounting and advisory firm announced Monday that it has entered into “exclusive negotiations” with Chicago-based Grant Thornton, one of the largest U.S. accounting firms that currently lacks a Connecticut presence. Its closest office is Boston. Neither party elaborated on terms and boundaries of their talks, except to say in a written statement that “a resolution is expected by year-end.” CCR, with offices in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, is the 13th largest accounting firm in the Hartford Region with 44 employees and 22 CPAs[.]
CCR has five office locations, none of which were born on the bayou, and only one – Glastonbury – that’s in the Constitution State. So technically, they’d be in CT but I mean, COME ON.
Accounting Firm Merger Mania: LarsonAllen and Clifton Gunderson Feeling Each Other Out
It’s been quite awhile since we heard a good merger rumor and this past week we finally heard one that doesn’t involve Moss Adams or Grant Thornton.
Rumor has it Larson Allen and Clifton Gunderson are merging. Vote approved by Larsen Allen, vote pending by CG.
We checked with another source, someone familiar with dealings within the accounting industry, who confirmed that the two firms are talking. According to this person, the combination would make sense as both LA and CG are “sleepy” firms that don’t perform public company audits and have been making small acquisitions here and there. Also it would strengthen CG in areas like Virginia/Maryland where they are rumored to be lowballing engagements and Larson in places like Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin where CG has a big presence. This person also said that the deal was “probably 50/50 right now” with the rumored name of the new firm being “CliftonLarsonAllen”.
Clifton Gunderson CEO Krista McMasters told Going Concern that this is “not a story” right now because the firms are simply in “exploratory discussions” and there has not been a vote by the CG partners. Ms. McMasters also denied that there had been any decision on the name of the combined firm, reiterating that they are simply feeling each other out.
Even though it doesn’t sound like things are hot and heavy yet, we rammed a few details together from Accounting Today’s most recent Top 100 Firms list to see what the CliftonLarsonAllen firm would look like:
• A combined $470 million in revenues. That would be good enough to be the 10th largest firm in the U.S.
• 60 offices (probably some consolidation) in 24 states and The District of Columbia.
• Over 300 partners and 3,000 total employees.
A spokesman at LarsonAllen declined to comment but was trying to get someone in the know to call us back. So far, we haven’t heard anything. If you’re in the loop and have more details to share, email us.
Moss Adams Announces Combination with a Non-Grant Thornton Firm
Back in the spring, any chances of a GranMA merger that originally cropped up back in January were put to rest. This was after an impassioned denial by Moss Adams CEO Rick Anderson to his fellow partners.
And maybe all the GranMA talk was just that- talk. But what’s not talk is that Moss is moving into the midwest combination with Overland Park, Kansas-based Warinner, Gesinger & Associates LLC (“WGA”).
WGA focuses on telecommunications clients, which will allow MA to expand its own telecom practice outside the west. WGA principals Bill Warinner and Jarret Rea will join Moss Adams as partners, and Andrew Denzer will join as a director. You want quotes from the particulars? You got it!
“We look forward to helping our clients further strengthen their financial operations,” Warinner said. “This is a challenging time for the telecom industry and we are excited to deepen our telecom practice. In addition, Moss Adams provides a full spectrum of telecom and value-added services that our clients will enjoy.”
For Moss Adams, the combination demonstrates the firm’s commitment to strengthening its telecom offerings and to growing the Moss Adams team. According to Rick Betts, chair of the Moss Adams telecom practice, “Moss Adams is focused on providing premier client service. A strong Moss Adams presence in the Midwest means our telecom clients have more resources at their fingertips.”
So sorry GT, Moss Adams has moved on, officially. Hope you have too.
Unfounded Rumor of the Day: Grant Thornton About to Announce a ‘Big West Coast Deal’
Remember those GT/Moss Adams rumors from back in January? At the time, our post sent both firms calling for plumbers but we still mangaged to get a copy of an email from Moss Adams CEO Rick Anderson that denied the rumor in an email to the firm’s partners. Everything has been quiet since then mostly because…well, it’s busy season. Granted, firm leaders like Stephen Chipman and Rick Anderson aren’t thigh-deep in spreadsheets like most of you so the fact it’s entirely plausible that while you’re all distracted, TPTB have been courting each other.
We received this brief note from a tipster yesterday:
Rumor is [Grant Thornton] [is] about to announce big west coast deal.
Our source originally speculated that a tax/valuation/consulting boutique was the target because of an old Andersen connection but then told us that the latest word from the west coast is that Moss Adams is back in the picture. In our original post, we went over the reasons for and against the GranMoss merger and frankly it still could go either way (we’re leaning “no” at this point). That said, Grant Thornton has been on a buying spree, most recently picking up some attest services from the LECG Corp. fire sale, so a merger of some kind wouldn’t be a surprise but WHO?? We’re listening to any and all well-founded or crackpot theories.
Moss Adams has declined to comment on the rumor thus far and Grant Thornton did not return an email requesting comment.
UPDATE: This just in from a Grant Thornton tipster:
While I have no actual basis for substantiating this, we have a Moss Adams wireless signal in our office in the central region. There is no Moss Adams office in our building, or even out state, its been there since about January when the rumors first popped up. I just thought it was interesting. I have no insight into any of this, I’m just a lowly peon staff…
Perhaps there’s an explanation for this but I’m no expert on the wireless signals and whatnot so I’ll leave it to you to reason this out.
Unfounded Rumor of the Day: Grant Thornton and Moss Adams in Merger Talks
This week we learned that Dixon Hughes and Goodman & Co. would be wedded in CPA firm bliss on March 1st. We’ve also seen a couple of smaller mergers announced this week in the tri-state area: Rosen Seymour Shapss Martin & Company LLP and Kahn, Hoffman & Hochman, LLP formed Kahn Hoffman & Hochman and Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Farra, LLC and ERE, LLP.
But e heard a rumor that trumps all of these:
The new rumor is that Grant Thornton and Moss Adams are merging. I have it on good authority (an industry consultant and the MP of a California firm).
Okay, so not exactly rock solid but intriguing enough for us to ask around. So far, Grant Thornton spokeswoman Kristi Grgeta has not returned our emails or voicemails and Moss Adams has declined to comment at this time. We’re poking around with other sources but still waiting to hear back.
So for now, let’s just go with the hypothetical. If GT and Moss were to combine, it would make them the 5th largest firm in the U.S., narrowly edging out McGladrey, with about $1.5 billion in revenues, going by Accounting Today’s most recent figures. Currently they are 6th (GT) and 11th (MA) on the AT100 list and 6th (MA) and 23rd (GT) on Vault’s flagship ranking. Their combined forces would have nearly 800 partners and over 7,100 total employees, if you assume no layoffs.
While all that might serve Stephen Chipman’s desire more dynamic clients (and perhaps more blogging fodder?), it would certainly require a few more hand-written notes. Not only that but GT already has a presence in every major market that Moss Adams does unless they’re looking to mine the Eugene, Oregon market for LOSERS and have reconsidered their divestment in Albuquerque. Also culturally, this seems like a strange fit as GT strikes us as pretty buttoned-down while Moss Adams is more laid back but maybe we’ve got that wrong. You tell us.
Regardless, Grant Thornton has voiced interest in merger possibilities and picked up Huron Consulting’s Disputes & Investigations practice last year, so who knows!? Both firms just closed the books on 2010 and maybe they’re laying some groundwork?
So, what do the GT and MA people make of this? Hell, anyone can chime in, we’re just finding this particular rumor pret-tay interesting. Some things make sense and some don’t, so we’ll leave it to you to hash out. And of course, if any of this sounds familiar because, you know, you heard something in a meeting about this very topic, email us. We’ll update you with anything we hear.
(UPDATE) Accounting Firm Merger Monday: Dixon Hughes, Goodman & Co. Combine to Form Dixon Hughes Goodman
~ Update includes Goodman & Co. quote in fourth paragraph.
Late last week we heard some rumbling about a merger between High Point, NC-based DIxon Hughes and Virginia Beach, VA-based Goodman & Co. and lo and behold, this morning the press teams from both firms have dropped us the press release announcing the merger and a link to this page that includes details on the merger, a letter to clients, a list of office locations and FAQs.
The combination, effective March 1, will make Dixon Hughes Goodman the 13th largest firm (by revenue) in the U.S. with a combined revenues of over $280 million. This places them one spot ahead of Baker Tilly Virchow Krause and behind directly behind Plante & Moran (this is going by Accounting Today‘s count). The combined firm of Dixon Hughes Goodman will have 30 offices (with HQ in Charlotte), in 11 states with 1,700 professionals. The firm’s leadership will consist of Thomas H. Wilson, Managing Partner of Goodman & Company, as the Deputy Chairman and Chief Operating Officer, Charles Edgar Sams, Jr., Chairman of Dixon Hughes, will continue to serve as Chairman and Kenneth M. Hughes, Chief Executive Officer of Dixon Hughes, will also remain in that position.
Both firms ranked very high in Vault’s Accounting 50, with Dixon Hughes coming in at #5 and Goodman & Co. landing at #15. Goodman ranked very high in some notable categories including #2 in compensation, #3 in business outlook and #1 in green initiatives.
The press release states that Goodman & Co. “retain all of its existing Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. offices,” which we interpret as “no reductions in headcount” but we’re waiting to confirm and we’ve confirmed this with Goodman’s Gary Thomson who said, “we anticipate an increase in the near term as we take new industry specialties to our new markets.”
On a far more exciting note, Goodman & Co., by virtue of this merger, has broken into the Elvis-impersonation market, of which Dixon enjoys a sterling reputation.
Congrats to both firms on the merger and we wish them many happy years together. Obviously, the honeymoon will have to wait – busy season and all. We’ll keep you updated on any further developments.
More Merger Mania: WeiserMazars, Marks Paneth & Shron Walk Away After ‘Serious’ Talks
Last Friday we learned that Marcum and Stonefield Josephson were now super-accounting friends. The MarcumStonefield deal was just the latest combinatio in what has been a busy year for consolidation by CPA firms.
Eisner and Amper joined forces, as did Weiser and Mazars while RubinBrown and Wipfli among others have also been active.
With our interest piqued, we did some digging and discovered a rumor of another merger, this time between WeiserMazars and New York-based Marks Paneth & Shron.
A source with knowledge of the discussions told GC that MP&S has been looking for various buyout options, including discussing a possible merger with Eisner earlier this year. When it was clear that the EisnerAmper deal was happening MP&S started looking for other options, which included WeiserMazars.
Our source indicated that the deal was very close to being finalized saying that it “sounded like” MP&S’s management committee had approved the deal.
We checked in with both firms to find out the latest on the situation and discovered from an MP&S spokesperson that the deal wasn’t happening. Officially, this is what the firm had to say:
It’s our policy not to comment on specific discussions. In general, we can say that we are always looking for approaches that will enable us to anticipate and serve the evolving needs of our highly valued and sophisticated client base — and also allow us to provide new opportunities and challenges to our people. Occasionally that means exploring partnerships, collaboration and even mergers with other best-of-breed organizations with complementary capabilities, expertise and values. However, no such discussions are currently in progress.
A short time we heard back from Doug Phillips, the Managing Partner at WeiserMazars who provided us with this statement through a spokesperson:
After much serious and detailed discussion, the managements of WeiserMazars LLP and Marks Paneth & Shron LLP have concluded that we cannot agree on a set of merger terms that we are prepared to submit to the partners of each firm to vote on. We have therefore concluded our discussions for the time being.
We continue to have the greatest respect for Marks Paneth & Shron and its partners. A combination is just not the right move for both firms at this time.
So there you have it. There was little wining and dining but ultimately it wasn’t love. That being said, it sounds like both firms are on the hunt, so we’ll keep our ears open. If you have information or hear rumors of any potential merger, email us at [email protected] with the scoop.
Accounting Firm Merger Mania: Marcum and Stonefield Get Together
Marcum continues its shopping spree, picking up Stonefield Josephson after picking up UHY’s New England offices back in the spring.
Stonefield, which had offices in San Jose, Walnut Creek and San Francisco, as well as three others in Southern California and one in Hong Kong, merged with Marcum LLP and was rebranded MarcumStonefield.
Terms of the deal were not immediately available.
Founded in 1975, Stonefield had 150 employees in its seven locations. Now, Marcum has more than 1,100 employees in 21 offices, most of which are on the East Coast.
Grant Thornton CEO Admits That He Wasn’t Prepared for the Chicago Winters
Stephen Chipman also says that he misunderestimated the demand for his time. Who could have known?
• The over/under is $2 billion by 2015. Who has action on this?
• Is everyone clear on the “the dynamic organization space”?
• What do we think of Stephen sans spectacles?
• Merger and acquisition strategy? Who is GT going after? SC keeps it vague, per standard operating procedure. Accordingly, we welcome your rampant speculation.
Let’s Discuss: Big 4 Merger Rumors
We have the luxury (and giddy pleasure) of receiving more crazy ass emails than the average Tom, Dick or Harriet (see: PwC Houston Partner). Some of the stories turn out to be true, some turn out to be rumors. That’s just the way things go.
One reoccurring rumor that continually keeps us guessing though is that of a mega-merger among a Big 4 . Frankly, we take a agnostic approach to these rumors (that’s probably shocking for some of you) but they never fail to pique our curiosity. You can drop us a line with your wild-ass theory about tri-firm merger between KPMG, Moss Adams and Baker Tilly to form MGMT but we can probably debunk it with a couple of emails and phone calls. Plus, the firms will deny ’til they die on any of these rumors anyway.
EisnerAmper is a perfect example.
They played coy with rumors around their merger for about a week and didn’t roll out the BIG NEWS until Monday when they could issue their boilerplate press release on cue (the video was a nice touch, however).
Lots of accounting firms are looking to grow through combinations or purchases in this impotent economy (WeiserMazars, Marcum & UHY, hosts of regional combos) but are the Big 4? Our intuition says no but the rumor mill provides us with whispers of talks occurring between the largest firms.
It’s not completely unheard of for the largest firms, as is evidenced by McGladrey’s purchase of Caturno & Co. that C.E. Andrews was so excited about in his interview with the Minneapolis Star-Tribune’s. Also, Barry Salzberg told the Journal that Deloitte is actively looking (granted, it’s for the consulting practice) but these are small potatoes.
No, the stuff we hear about has a Big 4 firm going with a second tier firm to either leapfrog other Big 4 firms or to inch closer to them. The difference between PwC (#1 in global revenues) and KPMG (#4) is around $6 billion. Depending on how aggressive a firm wanted to be in its merging efforts, the gap could be close quickly or a new #1 could be crowned.
But forget about revenues and the auspiciousness of the being the biggest firm for a second. Can a Big 4 firm realistically merge in a second tier or top 10 firm successfully? Never mind the logistics of office location, files, people etc. What about culture? What about service methodologies? The mere thought of matching up those pieces is a mind job for the people that actually have to deal with them. The bigwigs at the top might play off the problems that such a transaction would create for those in the trenches. Make adjustments would take years.
But it’s been done! Coopers & Lybrand and Pricewaterhouse in ’98 being the most recent. KPMG and E&Y tried it in ’97 and failed so it’s unlikely that the idea of another huge merger doesn’t cross people’s minds every once in awhile.
So let’s talk this out. Are these rumors completely unfounded or are is it understood that there are talks ongoing? If they are rumors, where the hell do they come from and what’s the motivation to spread said rumor? People in the know are encouraged to bestow wisdom in the comments and get in touch with us. And if you’re a vet from a merger of any size, share your thoughts on the experience and how your firm handled it.
Eisner and Amper Politziner & Mattia End Suspense, Officially Announce Merger
This, after the two firms downplayed the rumors of the transaction last week. Charly Weinstein, EisnerAmper CEO and Howard Cohen, EisnerAmper Chairman got down to brass tacks in this video:
BPR announcing the exceptional service to the NY/NJ/PA corridior:
New York, N.Y. and Edison, N.J. — August 16 /PRNewswire/ — Eisner LLP and Amper, Politziner & Mattia, LLP announced today that they have combined their practices to form EisnerAmper LLP. The newly formed entity will be the 14th largest accounting firm in the United States and the leading regional firm in the Northeast, with more than $250 million in annual revenue.
Combined, EisnerAmper is the premier regional accounting firm in the New York-New Jersey-Philadelphia corridor, with more than 1,200 staff, including 170 partners. Its principal practice groups provide a variety of accounting, tax and other professional services to closely-held and publicly traded companies, financial institutions, and high net worth individuals and families. EisnerAmper’s core expertise extends to the financial services industry, technology, life and health sciences, software, clean tech, real estate, healthcare, manufacturing and distribution, as well as sports, media, entertainment and others. The firm is also the nation’s 10th largest auditor of SEC registrants.
“This combination is the most important and exciting development since the founding of our respective firms and it is hard to imagine two firms that represent a better strategic and cultural fit,” said EisnerAmper’s Charly Weinstein. “Given our complementary strengths in practice areas and regional reach, together with the combined knowledge of our talented professionals, EisnerAmper is exceptionally well positioned to continue to provide our clients with the highest level of expertise and service.” EisnerAmper’s Howard Cohen added, “Our firms share this common vision and strategy, and we look forward to deploying our combined resources and expertise to meet the increasingly complex accounting and business advisory needs of our clients throughout the Northeast and beyond.”
Expanded Services for an Evolving Business Environment
The firm’s expanded resources and expertise will benefit clients that face the challenges of a rapidly changing regulatory landscape, new taxation initiatives, and a volatile and competitive global business environment. EisnerAmper provides a broad array of professional services that address this changing competitive environment, while maintaining the personalized, quality service and relationships that its clients expect and value.EisnerAmper presents a unique combination of financial expertise in one organization. The firm offers comprehensive audit, tax and business advisory services for the insurance, banking and alternative finance markets (including hedge funds, private equity, venture capital funds and broker-dealers).
Beyond accounting, audit and tax, EisnerAmper’s advisory services include enterprise risk management, mergers and acquisitions, business and asset valuation, debt financing, internal audit, forensic accounting and litigation consulting, reorganization and insolvency and international expansion. Clients of the firm have access to a deep pool of talented professionals with expertise in many industries and practice areas, who can help clients address complex accounting, tax and compliance issues.
EisnerAmper will serve clients from its 11 offices which are located in New York City and its suburbs, across New Jersey, in Philadelphia, and in the Cayman Islands. EisnerAmper is an independent member of PKF International, the 11th largest global accountancy network of over 240 legally independent member and correspondent firms located in 125 countries. EisnerAmper’s affiliation with PKF International enables the firm to provide technical and advisory services across North America and around the world to clients with international requirements.
A Magnet for Talented Professionals
The expanded career opportunities resulting from the combination make EisnerAmper a firm of choice, enabling it to continue to attract and retain the best and brightest professionals in a wide spectrum of practice areas. Both firms are dedicated to providing fulfilling careers for our staff and have a long history of making the working environment and culture a priority as illustrated by each firm placing high in several Best Places to Work rankings.“The relationship between Eisner and Amper extends back many years and has always been one of mutual respect and admiration,” said Howard Cohen, who becomes the firm’s Chairman. “We have undertaken this combination with full confidence in our new partners and colleagues. Together, we are infinitely stronger in terms of regional reach, professional expertise and client service. We are well positioned for both immediate and long-term growth.”
“This combination is based on a strong foundation of trust that extends to the partners at both firms,” said Charly Weinstein, the firm’s new Chief Executive Officer. “Our teams have already begun working in concert to ensure not only a seamless transition for clients, but also to deliver to them the maximum benefits of our greater combined resources. This is truly a situation where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”
About EisnerAmper LLP
EisnerAmper is one of the premier accounting, tax and business advisory firms in the United States and the leading regional firm in the Northeast. EisnerAmper provides a wide array of services to a diverse client base including publicly traded and privately held companies and high net worth individuals and family groups. For more information, please visit EisnerAmper at www.eisneramper.com.
Eisner, Amper Politziner Playing Coy on Merger Rumors
NJBiz reports that New York-based Eisner is planning to merge with Edison, NJ-based Amper Politziner & Mattia LLP. The two firms – ranked 24th and 26th in Accounting Today’s most recent list of Top 100 firms – combined would have 1,200 employes and over $250 million in revenue.
This would shoot the combined firm – working name: Eisner Amper – to 14th on the list (based on revenues) ahead of Clifton Gunderson and hot on the heels of Baker Tilly Virchow Krause.
From the looks of it, the merger would benefit Eisner’s presence in the Garden State while APM would have much better access to the NYC market.
Eisner’s CEO Charles Weinstein wasn’t reached for comment and Amper CEO Howard Cohen told NJBiz, “We have no binding legal documents with any firm at this time,” which, as far as we’re concerned, basically means that it’s a done deal and the lawyers are still sorting out the signing pages.
Of course there’s always the slim chance for a board room blowup and the whole thing gets called off but we’re all hoping for the best.
EXCLUSIVE: Amper Politziner plans merger with Eisner [NJBiz via Web CPA]
Accounting News Roundup: Geithner Is Ready to Let Tax Cuts Die; Hayward on His Way Out?; PwC Wants Glitnir Lawsuit Tossed | 07.26.10
No new recession, let tax cuts die: Geithner [Reuters]
“The economy is not likely to slip back into recession but letting tax cuts for t ans expire is necessary to show commitment to cutting budget deficits, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said on Sunday.
In appearances on several Sunday talk shows, Geithner said only 2 to 3 percent of Americans — those making $250,000 or more a year — will be affected when tax cuts enacted under former President George W. Bush end on schedule this year.”
BP Said to Prepare Dudley as CEO as Board Looks for Recovery [Bloomberg]
“BP Plc plans to name Robert Dudley to succeed Tony Hayward as chief executive officer as the board looks to recover the company’s position in the U.S., two people with knowledge of the matter said.
Dudley, the director of BP’s oil spill response unit, is ready to be announced as the company’s first American chief and to take the helm Oct. 1, one of the people said, asking not to be identified because a final decision hasn’t yet been made. The decision was reached in discussions with board members about how best to take BP forward and rebuild its U.S. position, the person said.”
Madoff Investors Brace for Lawsuits [WSJ]
“Irving Picard said he could wind up suing about half the estimated 2,000 individual investors he has called “net winners” from their dealings with Mr. Madoff. Such investors withdrew more from Mr. Madoff’s firm than the amount of principal they invested.
‘The people who made money, who got more, have made money at the expense of the people who didn’t,’ said Mr. Picard, who has the power under federal bankruptcy provisions to pursue money withdrawn from Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC before it collapsed in December 2008 and redistribute the funds fairly among victims.
Mr. Picard must file any so-called clawback lawsuits by December, the two-year anniversary of Mr. Madoff’s arrest and the filing of regulatory proceedings against him. ‘We’re not going to wait until the last minute,’ Mr. Picard said.”
Change the world or go home [AccMan]
Dennis Howlett implores you that if you want your firm or business to really stand out then it’s going to take more than a catchy slogan or a boilerplate email to get people’s attention. You best recognize an opportunity when you see one.
“I’ve lost count the number of times I’ve said but it is worth repeating. When disruption like SaaS comes along, it represents an opportunity. From a professional standpoint it should mean that firms can further commoditize what they do by using accounting dashboards that show them the status of their clients’ activity. It is a short step to seeing how this might be integrated into fees, billing, customer satisfaction measurement and the like.”
If You’re Going To San Francisco…AAA Will Be There [FEI Financial Reporting Blog]
Edith Orenstein has the lowdown on this year’s American Accounting Association’s (AAA) annual meeting. This year’s event is in AG’s backyard (she loves giving directions, btw) from July 31 to August 4th and will feature Francine McKenna and Professor Albrecht on one of the panels.
Join Me For a Nice Little CPA Exam Chat on August 3rd! [JDA]
Speaking of Adrienne, she’ll be over at CPA Exam Club to take your questions on everyone’s favorite test on August 3rd. Yes, that’s one week from tomorrow.
PwC Demands Dismissal of Glitnir Lawsuit [Iceland Review]
PwC’s lawyers argue that Glitnir and the firm agreed to do any legal wrangling in Iceland if the poo hit the fan. Late last week they requested that the lawsuit in New York be tossed.
Saltzman Hamma firm details merger with RubinBrown [Denver Business Journal]
“Saltzman Hamma Nelson Massaro LLP, a century-old Denver accounting firm, is merging with St. Louis-based RubinBrown LLP to form what’s expected to be among the 50 largest accounting firms in the United States, principals were set to announce on July 23.
The new entity, which will operate as RubinBrown, will employ 375 people in offices in Denver, St. Louis and Kansas City, Mo. The merger will be effective Aug. 1.”
District Court Denies Charitable Deduction for Donation of Home to Fire Department [TaxProf Blog]
Just donate a car next time. It’s a far worse investment than a house.
IRS Proposes PTIN Fees [JofA]
$50 for your very own preparer tax identification number! Of course there’s also a ‘reasonable fee’ on top of that from “a third-party vendor that will administer the application and renewal process,” that gets thrown in for good measure.
My Life as a White-Collar Criminal [White Collar Fraud]
Sam Antar went on Canadian TV last week to talk about how much fun it is to be a crook. Except the whole possibility of prison part.
Marcum Officially Announces Purchase of UHY New England Locations
Marcum officially announced its take over of the UHY Advisors locations in New England that we mentioned last week.
We can only assume that the 150 employees at new Marcum offices passed the due diligence with flying colors. According to the press release, the new locations will make 15 total for Marcum with over 950 total employees and 117 partners.
Marcum LLP Expands Practice into New England
Members of New England Practices of UHY Advisors and UHY LLP Join Marcum
April 16, 2010, New York, NY- Marcum LLP, one of the largest independent public accounting and advisory services firms in the nation, announced that it has acquired the New England practices of UHY Advisors and UHY LLP effective April 16, 2010. Marcum will now have offices in three of New England’s major business markets – Boston, Massachusetts, and New Haven and Hartford, Connecticut.
The members of the New England practices of UHY Advisors and UHY LLP who are joining Marcum have a 30-year history in the New England market providing audit, tax and business consulting services in the construction, high technology, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, not-for-profit and higher education arenas. Marcum LLP, with its outstanding reputation at the national and regional levels, has strong service niches in SEC registrants, alternative investment partnerships, family office services, business valuation, bankruptcies and receiverships and services for the government and public sector.
“Expansion into the New England region increases Marcum’s presence in the Northeast and offers our clients greater resources and new areas of expertise,” stated Jeffrey M. Weiner, Managing Partner of Marcum LLP. “The new locations tie in directly with our growth plan and will help us meet the changing accounting, tax and consulting needs of our clients.”
The entire 150 plus team from the New England practices of UHY Advisors and UHY LLP will join Marcum. With this latest development, Marcum now has more than 950 professionals, including 117 partners, in 15 locations throughout New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Massachusetts and Grand Cayman.
“The members of the New England practices of UHY Advisors and UHY LLP are looking forward to the growth opportunities this transaction will bring in New England and beyond,” stated Anthony Scillia, who will serve as Managing Partner of Marcum’s New England Region. “Marcum’s geographic footprint, devotion to technical excellence and extensive range of professional services will bring added value to our existing clients and increase our ability to serve new clients in the New England area.”
Partners of Mazars, Weiser Approve Merger
Seems like a long time ago when we’re speculating about Mazars merger with Weiser. Oh wait. It was. Busy season had just started.
At the time, it sounded like the deal was all but guaranteed, just a small matter of the partners voting on the merger and shazam! Global 6 Contender!
Accountancy Age reports that “vast majority of partners on both sides agreed to the officially resides in the good old US of A as “WeiserMazars.” The article states that no layoffs will occur as a result of the merger. AA also reports that the new executive board will be meeting next month to discuss “driving growth from the newly combined business.” Whether this includes more mergers in the Western Hemisphere, we can only speculate.
The combined firm has 12,500 employees including 680 partners. According to Mazars’ most recent annual report, the firm had over €773 mil in revenues (just over a $1 bil) while Weiser had just over $135 million in revenues.
WeiserMazars spokeswoman Laura Kucera provided us with the firm’s press release:
Weiser LLP Joins Mazars Group Worldwide to Offer Clients International Services Opportunities
Mazars, an international group specialising in audit and advisory services and Weiser, an audit and advisory firm with a strong presence in the north east region of the U.S., have announced today that their businesses are to combine.
Partners from both entities have voted to incorporate 74 Weiser partners into Mazars’ international integrated partnership. Reflecting this new arrangement, Weiser will become a Mazars member firm and be renamed WeiserMazars LLP.
The deal marks a new stage in the Mazars’ international development, and means that it will have member firm offices in 56 countries, served by 12,500 professionals, including over 680 partners.
Mazars and Weiser, which employs more than 650 professionals and has annual revenues of $ 135m, have maintained a close and fruitful relationship for the last ten years via a joint venture agreement.
Patrick de Cambourg, Chairman and CEO of Mazars says: “We have worked with Weiser for ten years via a joint venture agreement. This combination is the result of our excellent relationship, our shared values and commitment to offering high quality services to our clients. This enhanced relationship is a natural development based on our mutual trust. We are delighted to welcome Weiser into our partnership. They are a first-rate firm with an excellent reputation in the New York area market. It is an important step in Mazars’ development and our clients will benefit from the formal combining of our services in the U.S. market.”
Douglas A. Phillips, Chairman of Weiser, added: “Serving our clients means helping them on a global level, beyond borders. This is why we made the choice to develop an international joint venture with Mazars in 2000. Today, we are happy to develop our relationship with Mazars by fully joining the Mazars international integrated partnership as we know that when like-minded professionals work together, they obtain excellent results.”
A video interview with Patrick de Cambourg and Douglas Phillips, is available. Please contact us if you wish to receive a copy.
Since it’s inception, Weiser has provided quality accounting, audit, tax and consulting services to clients in industries spanning, manufacturing and distribution, real estate, financial services, healthcare, nonprofit, media/entertainment and automotive, as well as to high net worth individuals and their families. The firm is headquartered in New York City.
Marcum Purchasing UHY New England Locations, Tax Quizzes to Be Given?
Web CPA is reporting that Marcum, the firm best known for quizzing potential employees, is purchasing three offices of UHY Advisors (Boston, Hartford and New Haven) effective April 16th.
The addition of the three locations would make fourteenfifteen total for Marcum, who currently only has a Greenwich office in New England. After the deal is closed, UHY Advisors will have fourteen locations well.
No financial details were reported but it is reported that all the UHY employees will be retained by Marcum, pending the successful passing of a rigorous quiz given in a room with no windows, air conditioning and a one hour time limit.
A Marcum spokeswoman declined to comment and a message with UHY was not immediately returned.
Marcum to Buy UHY Offices in New England [Web CPA]
Wherein We Speculate Wildly on the Merger of Accounting Firms Mazars and Weiser
Last week we told you about the on-going Global 6 talks between Mazars and Weiser. As we mentioned then, the copulation of the two firms would put them in the direct competition with the likes of Grant Thornton, BDO, RSM and hell, they may even snag some Big 4 clients.
Web CPA caught up with this story yesterday and we learned that not only has Mazars done business in the states with Weiser, they’ve also “relied on joint venture agreements with U.S. firms…Moss Adams and BKD.”
Maybe we’re going way out on a limb here, but if Mazars is making a play for Weiser (and it sounds like it’s all but a done deal) are they just trying to make a play on the whole IFRS bonanza that’s being unleashed OR are they looking to get closer to the likes of Moss Adams and BKD to expand their exposure and to become a bigger player in the States? Even if Mazars were to merge with Moss Adams and BKD the combined revenues still would be a drop in the bucket of the Big 4 but it would cement their presence in U.S. and allow them to compete even more directly for potential business here.
If we’re letting the cat out of the bag here, mucho apologies, just kinda thinking out loud.