M&A roundup: Hot start to September

Published September 1, 2026 4:07 PM

Updated September 1, 2026 4:18 PM

1 Min Read

CRI added Morrison & Smith; Ascend acquired GreerWalker; Nichols Cauley added LaRocco; Accuity acquired KKDLY; Grimes added Stevens and Ciccone; BGM acquired John T. Chipman; and WPWealth added Optimus Capital Advisors.

CRI moves into western Alabama

Courtesy of CRI

Top 25 Firm Carr, Riggs & Ingram added Morrison & Smith in Tuscaloosa, Alabama , expanding its presence in the western region of the state.

CRI, based in Enterprise, Alabama, ranked No. 23 on Accounting Today's 2026 Top 100 Firms list. It reported $601 million in revenue, with 483 partners and over 2,690 employees across 41 offices. In 2024, the firm took an investment from Centerbridge Partners and Bessemer Venture Partners.

Allan Koltin, CEO of Koltin Consulting Group, who advised both firms on the combination, commented, "Carr, Riggs & Ingram continues to write the book on how to select great firms and successfully integrate them. They have now completed more than 100 M&A transactions, and I have yet to hear of one that went badly. CRI screens upfront for cultural and strategic fit, as well as any firm I have seen in the country. Morrison & Smith will be a great addition to CRI. Beyond Tuscaloosa being a fantastic market, the firm has outstanding partners and associates and an excellent client base."

This year, CRI acquired Crowl Cameron in Texas, and CFO Hub in California, New York, Texas and Washington, D.C. In 2025, it added Williams Steinert Mask, entering the San Antonio market, as well as Regional Leader CapinCrouse in Indianapolis.

Ascend adds Southeast Regional Leader

GreerWalker team

Top 25 Firm Ascend acquired GreerWalker in Charlotte, North Carolina, effective Sept. 1.

GreerWalker is a Southeast Regional Leader, with $46.8 million in revenue, 16 partners and roughly 135 employees. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Ascend, based in Arlington, Virginia, is a platform launched in January 2023 by private equity firm Alpine Partners. It acquires accounting firms with between $15 million and $50 million in revenue. It ranked No. 24 on Accounting Today's 2026 Top 100 Firms list, reporting $590 million in revenue, with 282 partners and over 2,600 employees across 63 offices.

The firm has made numerous acquisitions since its launch, most recently adding Southwest Regional Leader Miller Grossbard in Texas. In July, it added Kreischer Miller in Pennsylvania. In May, it acquired Jackson Thornton in Alabama and William Vaughan Company in Ohio. In January, it added Gollob Morgan Peddy in Texas.

Nichols Cauley adds employee benefits brokerage

Best Firms 2025 - Nichols Cauley & Associates

Nichols Cauley team

Top 100 Firm Nichols Cauley acquired LaRocco, an employee benefits brokerage and advisory firm in Norcross, Georgia.

The deal expands Nichols Cauley's employee benefits services line and expands its presence in the state. Nichols Cauley ranked No. 91 on Accounting Today's 2026 Top 100 Firms list, reporting $75.6 million in revenue, with 46 partners and 275 employees across 11 offices.

Earlier this year, the firm created a new platform through a private equity-backed merger with insurance brokerage Partners Risk Services and transactions advisory firm JGH Consulting. It has since added the Molieri Group in Miami.

Accuity expands in Hawaii

Honolulu-based Accuity acquired KKDLY, expanding its presence in Hawaii.

The deal adds 38 employees, growing Accuity's team to 204 employees.

The firm has been expanding in the state through acquisition. Most recently, Accuity acquired Carbonaro in June, and Ikeda & Wong in 2025. Accuity is a partner firm of Crete Professional Alliance, a network of accounting and advisory firms that recently rebranded its name to Current.

RIA Grimes adds tax practice

Grimes & Co. CEO Kevin Grimes

Registered investment advisor Grimes & Company added the tax practice of Stevens and Ciccone Associates.

Stevens and Ciccone is a CPA firm based in Needham, Massachusetts. The acquisition adds roughly 800 tax clients to the RIA. Grimes is based in Westborough, Massachusetts, and has nearly $7 billion in assets under management.

BGM enters Boston area

Dane Boeckermann, principal and CEO of BGM

Bloomington, Minnesota-based BGM acquired John T. Chipman & Company in Norwood, Massachusetts.

The deal establishes BGM's entry into the Northeast market. JTC partners David Foster and Lisa Gray, along with the rest of the firm's team, will join BGM and continue operating from the Norwood office.

Joe Tarasco, CEO of Accountants Advisory Group, advised both parties on the transaction.

WPWealth grows Texas footprint

violetkaipa - Fotolia

Registered investment advisor WPWealth added Optimus Capital Advisors in Coppell, Texas, strengthening the firm's presence in the Dallas-Fort Worth market.

WPWealth is based in Fort Worth, Texas, with 18 employees and eight offices throughout the state. It is affiliated with the Top 50 firm Whitley Penn and is listed on Accounting Today 2026 Top Firms by AUM list, with $1.2 billion in assets under management.

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