Accounting firm LarsonAllen has merged with three other firms, expanding its presence in Minnesota and Southwest Florida.
The Minneapolis-based firm acquired Osborne Hicks in Mankato, Minn., as well as Rust, Christopher & Co., in Naples, Fla., and Schultz, Chaipel, Redovan, Baker & Co., in Naples and Fort Myers, Fla. All the firms will now operate under the name LarsonAllen.
"It's an acquisition, but we talk about it more as an expansion," said LarsonAllen spokesman Kevin Kirsch. The firm did not disclose financial details of the acquisitions.
The merger will allow LarsonAllen to become the largest CPA firm in Southwest Florida. It also enables the firm to expand some of its practice specialties. Schultz, Chaipel, Redovan, Baker specializes in construction, public service, litigation support and business valuation. Rust, Christopher & Co. specializes in the construction and real estate industries. Osborne Hicks offers a large number of services, including expert witness services, and fraud prevention and detection.
LarsonAllen dates back to 1953 and the firm has been growing quickly recently, buying 13 firms over the past two years. In January, the firm bought four other firms.
"We're not growing in an attempt to become the Big Five," said CEO Gordy Viere in a statement. "Rather, our client base takes us to other parts of the country."
The firm had $172 million in revenue this year, and was ranked No. 18 on Accounting Today's list of the Top 100 Firms. It also has offices in Arizona, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.
