TimePlus Payroll Inc., a provider of payroll, tax filing and benefit services, announced the acquisition of Los Angeles-based Payroll Perfect Inc.

Steve Samek, a 30-year veteran of the accounting profession, recently took over the helm of UHY Advisors Inc. after six months of consulting work for the accounting firm consolidator.

Neuman, Ranft & Co. LLC will merge its practice into Denver-area CPA firm The Seff Group PC.

RSM McGladrey has acquired the non-attest practice of Stauffer & Co. LLC. In a separate deal, McGladrey & Pullen LLP acquired the attest practice of Stauffer.

CCH, a Wolters Kluwer business and a provider of tax and accounting information, software and services, has acquired the "Property Tax Reference" from Vertex Inc.

Lakewood, Colo.-based McCutcheon & Co., an accounting firm specializing in nonprofits, has merged with accounting and consulting firm Anton Collins Mitchell.

Smart and Associates LLP has acquired the compensation and benefits tax practice of KPMG. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Midwest business and technology consulting firm Socius has acquired the consulting division of Bruner-Cox LLP, BC Technology Ltd.

Larger CPA firms have traditionally been interested in acquiring smaller firms, creating what might be termed a seller's market, and that situation still exists today.

One day into a recent four-day tour throughout India, Microsoft chairman and chief software architect Bill Gates announced that Microsoft would invest an added $1.7 billion into its Indian operations over the next four years.The increase in funding will nearly double the workforce Microsoft already has in place within India, from 4,000 to 7,000 employees.

It's no secret that mergers and acquisitions are an active part of the accounting profession today.As owners reach retirement age, they are looking for someone to buy them out and allow them to move on to a well-earned retirement. At the same time, growing firms are looking for merger candidates to gain clients, gain access to needed staff skills, or to establish a presence in a desired market location. With a marketplace like this of buyers and sellers, it's no wonder there is plenty of activity!

Xcelerate LLC, an Accpac reseller with offices in Buffalo Grove, Ill., and Knox, Ind., was formed on Jan. 1, 2006.

The accounting firms of Mengel, Metzger, Barr & Co. LLP and Kirby Beals Maier announced that they will merge in a deal effective immediately.

Security software, appliance, and services provider Symantec Corp. has reached an agreement to acquire IMlogic Inc., a software developer for enterprise instant messaging headquartered in Waltham, Mass.

Mayer Hoffman McCann PC has launched a new division called Conrad Government Services as a result of its acquisition of Irvine, Calif.-based firm, Conrad and Associates LLP.

The Sage Group will enter the credit card and check payment-processing field with the $323 million acquisition of Verus Financial Management Inc. from Financial Technology Ventures.

New York-based firm Marks Paneth & Shron has acquired Leipziger & Breskin LLP in a deal effective Jan. 1.

Wolters Kluwer Tax, Accounting & Legal announced that is has acquired the assets of Best Case Solutions Inc.

LarsonAllen strengthened its commitment to the East Coast with a Philadelphia-area merger that will see it acquire 50-year-old firm Ostroff, Fair & Co. PC.

Wiss & Co. announced that it has merged in the operations of Warren, N.J.-based accounting firm Casey, Townsend & Killian LLP, a specialist in the construction industry, as of Jan. 1. Terms of the deal where not disclosed.