BRITISH COLUMBIA
KPMG acquires Canadian firm
Details: The Canadian member firm of KPMG acquired the Abbotsford, B.C.-based firm Cochrane & Associates Chartered Accountants.
Cochrane & Associates was founded in 1978 by Al Cochrane. The firm primarily serves agricultural-based clients throughout the Lower Mainland, Upper and Lower Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island, B.C. interior, Alberta, and Saskatchewan areas.
"This acquisition further solidifies our commitment to the changing needs of the agricultural industry in Western Canada," KPMG Canadian managing partner Rob Brouwer said in a statement.
CALIFORNIA
California firms joins forces
Details: The Los Angeles office of PKF California and the Glendale office of Hutchinson and Bloodgood LLP have agreed to merge. The combined firm will operate under the name Hutchinson and Bloodgood LLP.
PKF, which specializes in the hospitality and leisure services industry, will add a valuable industry resource to the firm.
Hutchinson and Bloodgood and PKF are both members of the PKF North American network and the PKF International network. The two will continue their membership in the PKF networks.
Moss Adams combines with Mohler Nixon
Details: Seattle-based Top 15 Firm Moss Adams LLP merged with Silicon Valley-based Top 100 Firm Mohler, Nixon & Williams, boosting their combined presence in Northern California. The deal has been approved by partners at both firms, and was due to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2013.
"As Moss Adams enters its second century of success, we are continuously looking to expand how and where we serve our clients. Combining with Mohler, Nixon & Williams is a huge step forward in this direction," said incoming Moss Adams CEO Chris Schmidt, who is currently the firm's president and COO.
In Spring 2013, the Santa Clara office of Moss Adams will migrate to the current Mohler Nixon office in Campbell, and the San Francisco office of Mohler Nixon will combine with the Moss Adams office there. All Mohler Nixon partners and substantially all of its employees are expected to join Moss Adams.
"We've known each other for years, and as we looked toward continuing our firm's success, combining with Moss Adams presented an exciting opportunity for the future of our firm," said Mohler Nixon CEO and managing partner Steve Vidlock, who will serve as partner-in-charge of the newly combined Campbell office, and manage operations in the Silicon Valley market.
Founded in 1986, Mohler Nixon has 25 partners and more than 160 personnel, and offers a wide range of corporate and individual tax, accounting, audit, internal control and consulting services to public and private businesses of all sizes, as well as to individuals. In addition, it claims to conduct more employee benefit plan audits annually than any other firm in the Bay Area. It ranked No. 94 on Accounting Today's 2012 list of the Top 100 Firms, with $32.9 million in net revenue, while Moss Adams ranked No. 11, with $323 million in revenue.
COLORADO
Eide Bailly's M&A spree continues
Details: Eide Bailly LLP has acquired the Littleton, Colo.-based boutique tax firm Clark & Srsich LLC. The firm's newest addition will provide services from its Golden, Colo., office.
As a result of the deal, Eide Bailly will add two partners and four staff members.
Eide Bailly had its hands full pursuing its strategic growth plans in 2012. Less than two months ago Voller, Lee, Suess & Associates of Williston, N.D., agreed to join the firm. The new addition brought three partners, 12 staff members and an extra $2.6 million in revenue to the firm. VLS shareholder Rick Lee and Heidi Lee will join Eide Bailly as partners, while Nick Lee will serve as a principal.
In August, Eide Bailly added Schmitt, Griffiths, Smith & Co. to its roster, and shortly thereafter it added Cost Seg Associates.
FLORIDA
Patrick & Robinson acquires its second firm
Details: Patrick & Robinson acquired the Jacksonville, Fla.-based CPA practice of Petherbridge, Davis & Co.
Petherbridge Davis, which has been in business for more than 25 years, took on the Patrick & Robinson name.
Some time has passed since Patrick & Robinson made an acquisition. In 2006, the firm sealed its first deal when it acquired Carter & Co. PA. The owner sold out and three staff members joined the firm and now only one remains with the firm.
According to Patrick & Robinson's spokeswoman, the newest addition comes with three staff members. John Petherbridge, the co-founder of Petherbridge Davis, will join the firm as principal. Larry Davis, who is the other half of Petherbridge Davis, decided to work for one of his clients earlier this year.
Petherbridge and the three staff members have already relocated to Patrick & Robinson's office, located in the St. Nicholas area.
KENTUCKY
Baldwin CPAs, Hatcher merge
Details: Richmond, Ky.-based accounting firm Baldwin CPAs has merged with Louisville professional services firm Christopher L. Hatcher CPA.
The combined firm will retain the Baldwin CPAs name and have a total of 25 employees. It will continue to operate in its Richmond, Louisville, Maysville and Lexington offices. The firms announced the deal in November and set the closing date for Jan. 1, 2013. The deal will gain the knowledge of firm owner Christopher Hatcher in the areas of fraud protection, business valuation, expert witness and forensic accounting.
The firm intends to hire 10 employees in the next three years for its construction, banking, governmental, nonprofit and employee benefit services.
MINNESOTA
Wipfli adds Eikill & Schilling
Details: Duluth, Minn.-based Eikill & Schilling Ltd. has agreed to pair up with Top 100 Firm Wipfli LLP. Eikill & Schilling has been in business since 1898 and serves companies in a wide range of industries, with a special focus on nonprofit organizations and governmental entities. According to Rick Dreher, managing partner of Wipfli, adding the partners and associates of Eikill & Schilling will give Wipfli a stronger presence throughout Minnesota.
NEBRASKA
HSMC Orizon seals its first deal
Details: HSMC Orizon LLC has brought Rand Hansen and his associates from G. Randall Hansen CPA PC on board.
The new combination took place nearly six weeks after HSMC Companies and Orizon CPAs merged and took on the name HSMC Orizon.
Adding Rand to the mix will give the firm 46 employees.
Rand Hansen established the firm in 1985 and focuses on assisting entrepreneurial businesses with accounting, part-time CFO services such as budgeting and tax planning, and consulting.
The addition of G. Randall Hansen is just the tip of the iceberg for HSMC Orizon. Gene Garrelts, president of HSMC Orizon stated that the firm will continue to bulk up: "We are looking to acquire firms that fit our firm's visions and goals."
NEW YORK
Central N.Y. firms merge
Details: Stephen F. Schink CPA and the New Hartford, N.Y.-based firm Barone, Howard & Co. CPAs have agreed to merge. The deal was due to take effect on New Year's Day.
Stephen Schink, a CPA and founder of the Rome, N.Y. firm, will become a partner in the newly conjoined firm.
The two firms will have approximately 20 employees, including six CPAs.
TEXAS
Doeren Mayhew expands in Texas
Details: Doeren Mayhew PC and the Houston-based CPA consulting firm MFR PC have agreed to merge.
MFR will immediately take on the Doeren Mayhew name.
MFR's partners and associates will join Doeren Mayhew, while co-founders Roland Rodriguez and Gasper Mir will continue involvement as Doeren Mayhew advisory board members, providing strategic guidance. Both Rodriguez and Mir will also continue to own and manage MFR-affiliated entities MFR Solutions and MFR Healthcare Solutions.
In light of its newest addition, the Houston location will double in size, for a total of approximately 100 employees, including 11 shareholders.
VIRGINIA
Virginia firms combine
Details: Witt Mares PLC and PBGH LLP have agreed to merge.
No word yet on what the newly combined entity will be named, but the firm will have close to 200 employees working in its eight offices throughout the state of Virginia. Offices are located in Fairfax, Fredericksburg, Harrisonburg, Newport News, Norfolk, Richmond, Warrenton and Williamsburg.
Alan Witt, Witt Mares' CEO, will continue his role as chief executive and will work out of the firm's Newport News office. Keith Wampler, PBGH's managing partner, will step in as chairman of the board and will work in the firm's Fredericksburg office.
OHIO
Ohio firms complete merger
Details: Walthall, Drake & Wallace and Frank, Seringer & Chaney are now one.
Walthall, Drake & Wallace LLP added Frank, Seringer & Chaney Inc., of Amherst and Wooster, Ohio, to its practice.
As part of the deal, Richard Zahratka, James Czarney, Jon Briggs and Scott Preising joined WD&D as principals.
The combination will give WD&W and Frank, Seringer & Chaney clients a wider array of business services, including strategic planning, estate planning, financial forecasts and projections, litigation support, and business valuations.
The newly combined firm will also provide specialized expertise in the construction, health care, manufacturing, real estate, not-for-profit, and oil and gas industries.
