M&A roundup: Whisman Giordano merges in Haggerty; Ashby joins ATA; Vaco acquires Lannick

Delaware

Whisman Giordano merges in Haggerty & Haggerty

Details: Whisman Giordano & Associates, LLC, a firm based in Newark, Del., has merged in Haggerty & Haggerty, P.A., one of the oldest public accounting firms in Delaware, effective Aug. 1, 2017.

As part of the deal, James R. Zdimal and Vincent S. Barbone have joined Whisman Giordano as directors. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We are honored that Jim and Vince trusted us enough to join the firm,” said Whisman Giordano director Joseph A. Giordano, Sr. in a statement. “We are thrilled to be adding so much knowledge and experience to our team. The entire team from H&H brings more ideas and another perspective to continue our growth as a firm. Perhaps most importantly, Jim and Vince, understand the importance of client service and ‘Building Extraordinary Relationships’ among our combined team, our clients, and the entire community.”

Haggerty & Haggerty, based in Wilmington, is a 68-year-old Delaware firm. “We are incredibly excited to be joining Whisman Giordano & Associates,” Zdimal said in a statement. “We found that we share the same ethics, principles, and values. Whisman Giordano’s emphasis on building relationships solidifies our belief that not only will we work great together, we will work even better for you.”

James R. Zdimal and Vincent S. Barbone

Mississippi

Ashby joins ATA

Details: Ashby & Associates PLLC, a firm based in Tupelo, Miss., has combined with a regional firm, Alexander Thompson Arnold PLLC, effective Aug. 1, 2017

ATA has 11 locations in Tennessee and two in Kentucky, with Ashby’s location being its sole office in Mississippi. As part of the deal, Ron Ashby will be a principal at the combined firm, according to the local Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. He moved to Tupelo in 2000 and started his firm after retiring from BDO, where he worked as a partner. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Tennessee and Canada

Vaco acquires Lannick

Details: Vaco, a Nashville-based talent acquisition and consulting firm that focuses on recruiting accounting, finance, IT, and administration employees and executives, has acquired Lannick, a Toronto-based professional recruitment and consulting firm that also specializes in accounting and finance.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the purchase of Lannick is expected to expand Vaco's 2017 projected revenue to $458 million.

Founded in 1985, Lannick is one of Canada's largest regional finance and accounting specialist recruiting firms. “Vaco is talent centric, not location centric, so as exciting as it is to expand into the vibrant city of Toronto, it is even more thrilling to add the abilities and energy of this incredible Lannick team,” said Vaco CEO Jerry Bostelman in a statement. “As we worked out the complex deal points, it was obvious that alongside this creative, committed, culture-driven team, together we were stronger.”

Lannick president and CEO Peter Jeewan said he is excited by the partnership, along with the alignment of culture and philosophy at the firms. “Our clients will receive the same outstanding boutique-firm treatment while having access to a larger network of talent,” he added.

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