GT and Kidsons wrangle over merger

GT and Kidsons wrangle over merger

A third delay in merger talks between Grant Thornton and HLB Kidsons has raised fears that some of the outlying offices of the smaller firm could be cut out of the proposed deal.

‘Overlaps in offices and services’ have stalled merger talks with the focus falling on towns where Grant Thornton offices are duplicated by HLB.

But the firms have refused to confirm or deny whether particular HLB offices will be joining Grant Thornton.

Last November the firms announced they were to vote in January with a view to merging on 1 May 2001. There is now no scheduled date for the proposal to be presented to partners, according to a Grant Thornton spokesman.

One party close to the deal said it had proved ‘more complex than envisaged and the costing more painful than at the outset’.

Another source said Grant Thornton’s due diligence examinations had been disappointing.

A vote on the merger can only take place once the proposal has reached the desks of every partner at both firms.

With Grant Thornton’s 42 offices and HLB’s 28, there is an overlap of 16 locations and many reciprocated services.

A spokesman at HLB Kidsons, said the proposal was for growth and to strengthen the services available. ‘It’s incorrect to say particular offices are in or out of the deal,’ HLB’s London office said, adding there would be no redundancies if the merger goes ahead.

The new firm, which will use the Grant Thornton name, will have a combined fee income of Pounds 230m and some 375 partners, making it the sixth largest firm in the UK.

Links

Mid-tier merger vote set for January

Kidsons set to merge with Grant Thornton

Room at the top within the mid-tier

Share

Subscribe to get your daily business insights

Resources & Whitepapers

Why Professional Services Firms Should Ditch Folders and Embrace Metadata
Professional Services

Why Professional Services Firms Should Ditch Folders and Embrace Metadata

3y

Why Professional Services Firms Should Ditch Folde...

In the past decade, the professional services industry has transformed significantly. Digital disruptions, increased competition, and changing market ...

View resource
2 Vital keys to Remaining Competitive for Professional Services Firms

2 Vital keys to Remaining Competitive for Professional Services Firms

3y

2 Vital keys to Remaining Competitive for Professi...

In recent months, professional services firms are facing more pressure than ever to deliver value to clients. Often, clients look at the firms own inf...

View resource
Turn Accounts Payable into a value-engine
Accounting Firms

Turn Accounts Payable into a value-engine

3y

Turn Accounts Payable into a value-engine

In a world of instant results and automated workloads, the potential for AP to drive insights and transform results is enormous. But, if you’re still ...

View resource
Digital Links: A guide to MTD in 2021
Making Tax Digital

Digital Links: A guide to MTD in 2021

3y

Digital Links: A guide to MTD in 2021

The first phase of Making Tax Digital (MTD) saw the requirement for the digital submission of the VAT Return using compliant software. That’s now behi...

View resource