Cohen & Co. has acquired Mercurio & Bridgford, expanding the Ohio-based firm's presence in Florida.
The acquisition of the Sarasota-based firm will give Cohen a second office in Florida. The firm also operates an office in Tampa through another affiliate, Lanese & Associates. "Once we made a commitment to the Florida market, it did not take long for other firms to seek us out," said CEO Randy Myeroff (pictured) in a statement.
Mercurio & Bridgford co-founders John Mercurio and Jon Bridgford had been searching for another firm to initiate their exit strategy and succession plan. Like Lanese & Associates, Mercurio & Bridgford will add "an affiliate of Cohen & Co." to its moniker and continue to operate out of its current Sarasota office. The firm provides tax, accounting, audit and management services, in addition to software and computer-accounting support for small businesses.
Mercurio & Bridgford and its clients will also have access to another affiliate, Sequoia Financial Group, an investment advisory firm offering financial planning and wealth management services.
Cohen & Co. plans on further acquisitions. "We want to focus on a region, but we are not limiting our expansion to Florida," said Myeroff.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Cohen & Co.'s annual revenue is over $30 million, and Mercurio's annual revenue is in excess of $1 million, according to spokesperson Wendy Kertesz.
