Crete Professionals Alliance added Acuity; and Mercer Advisors acquired Beach Freeman Lim & Cleland.
M&A roundup: Crete and Mercer expand
November 12, 2025 4:08 PM
Crete Professionals Alliance adds Acuity
The deal marks a major milestone for Crete with its first expansion beyond the continental U.S. In the past 27 months, Crete has brought together more than 30 firms. Crete is backed by Thrive Capital, ZBS Partners and Bessemer Venture Partners.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Crete ranked No. 36 on Accounting Today's 2025 list of the
"Crete was built on the belief that firms with deep local relationships can unlock extraordinary growth when they have access to modern tools, data, and scale," said Crete CEO Steve Stagner in a statement Wednesday. "Accuity has earned a trusted reputation across Hawaii by understanding the fabric of its business community. Their partnership with Crete will only amplify their ability to serve clients while preserving the local values that make them unique."
By joining Crete, Accuity will strengthen Crete's expanding Western region. "This partnership represents a bold investment in Hawaii's future," said Accuity CEO Cory Kubota in a statement. "Crete's platform gives us access to advanced technology, national resources, and a network of forward-thinking peers, while allowing us to stay true to who we are. We'll continue to nurture the next generation of Hawaii business leaders and deliver the exceptional service our clients have always known us for."
As part of Crete Professionals Alliance, Accuity will retain its local leadership and brand while gaining access to a national network of over 30 accounting and advisory firms; corporate services in HR, finance, legal and IT; AI-powered tools and automation solutions; global delivery teams in India and the Philippines; and growth operations, recruiting and future M&A support.
Koltin Consulting Group advised both firms on the partnership, "Accuity's decision to take on a capital partner is one of the most significant moves we've seen in the Hawaii accounting market," said Koltin Consulting Group CEO Allan Koltin in a statement. "It speaks volumes about both their leadership and the changing dynamics of the profession. Accuity is a prominent firm in the state, deeply respected for its reputation, culture, and long-standing client relationships. For them to choose Crete as their partner says everything about Crete's vision, innovation, and alignment with what the firm of the future should look like. This is a transformative moment for both the Hawaii business community and the broader accounting industry."
In August, Crete added
Mercer Advisors acquires Beach Freeman Lim & Cleland
Mercer Advisors, a registered investment advisory firm based in Denver, has acquired Beach Freeman Lim & Cleland, a Los Angeles-based firm that provides tax, accounting and business advisory services to high net worth individuals, families and business owners.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Mercer Advisors manages $90 billion in client assets. BFLC has 20 team members, and Mercer Advisors has over 1,400 employees. Mercer's national tax team has more than 120 professionals.
BFLC's tax professionals serve clients across various industry sectors, including health care, real estate, law firms, construction, professional athletes and franchise businesses. The firm operates from offices in El Segundo, Irvine and Ontario, providing deep coverage across the Los Angeles, Orange County and Inland Empire regions.
"This partnership reflects our strategic focus on tax as a cornerstone of our family office set of services," said Jeremiah Barlow, chief solutions officer at Mercer Advisors, in a statement Wednesday. "Kendrick Mercer, who founded our firm 40 years ago, was himself a tax and estate attorney. Tax professionals have long played a core role in our family office delivery, and we are thrilled to add the BFLC team to deliver a local family office experience in Southern California communities that we serve."
All members of the BFLC team will join Mercer Advisors, with equity ownership opportunities available to full-time employees. Mercer Advisors was advised by Republic Capital Group on the deal.
"We've built lasting relationships by delivering the personalized attention of a large, local firm, grounded in a deep understanding of our clients' unique needs. That foundation has enabled us to provide high-quality, proactive tax, accounting and planning services," said BFLC managing partner Doug Beach in a statement. "Partnering with Mercer Advisors allows us to build on that legacy, expanding our capabilities, enhancing opportunities for our team and continuing to deliver the collaborative, solutions-focused support our clients count on. We believe this is the right next step for both our clients and our team."
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Mercer Advisors manages $90 billion in client assets. BFLC has 20 team members, and Mercer Advisors has over 1,400 employees. Mercer's national tax team has more than 120 professionals.
BFLC's tax professionals serve clients across various industry sectors, including health care, real estate, law firms, construction, professional athletes and franchise businesses. The firm operates from offices in El Segundo, Irvine and Ontario, providing deep coverage across the Los Angeles, Orange County and Inland Empire regions.
"This partnership reflects our strategic focus on tax as a cornerstone of our family office set of services," said Jeremiah Barlow, chief solutions officer at Mercer Advisors, in a statement Wednesday. "Kendrick Mercer, who founded our firm 40 years ago, was himself a tax and estate attorney. Tax professionals have long played a core role in our family office delivery, and we are thrilled to add the BFLC team to deliver a local family office experience in Southern California communities that we serve."
All members of the BFLC team will join Mercer Advisors, with equity ownership opportunities available to full-time employees. Mercer Advisors was advised by Republic Capital Group on the deal.
"We've built lasting relationships by delivering the personalized attention of a large, local firm, grounded in a deep understanding of our clients' unique needs. That foundation has enabled us to provide high-quality, proactive tax, accounting and planning services," said BFLC managing partner Doug Beach in a statement. "Partnering with Mercer Advisors allows us to build on that legacy, expanding our capabilities, enhancing opportunities for our team and continuing to deliver the collaborative, solutions-focused support our clients count on. We believe this is the right next step for both our clients and our team."
