Grant Thornton on Andersen acquisition trail
Grant Thornton says it is in talks with a view to acquiring Andersen UK partners, this after beating rival BDO to the punch in the US, and taking on almost 400 Andersen employees.
The firm’s UK managing partner, Michael Cleary, said: ‘We are involved in active discussions with a number of Andersen’s UK partners and staff with a view to them joining us and further enhancing our middle market presence in the UK.’
Last night, Grant Thornton’s US branch said it had expanded by taking on 38 Andersen partners and 330 staff.
The expansion consisted of five Andersen offices in North and South Carolina, Florida and New Mexico, as well as one middle-market practice in Milwaukee and other partners and staff in New York, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Tampa.
The acquisitions follow the appointment of six Andersen project finance specialists to Grant Thornton offices in Scotland, announced last month.
GT said it would continue its talks with Andersen in the US regarding other possible acquisitions of offices and staff.
Up until now, GT has played its cards close to its chest. Last month, the UK firm denied actively pursuing Andersen partners.