M&A roundup: Across the country and around the world

Katz, Sapper & Miller, a Top 50 Firm based in Indianapolis, added Shanholt Glassman Klein Kramer & Co., a firm based in New York that focuses on real estate industry clients, effective Oct. 31.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. KSM ranked No. 49 on Accounting Today's 2024 list of the Top 100 Firms, with 2023 revenue of $144,875,000. Not including the addition of SGKK's employees, KSM has 685 employees, which includes 64 partners. SGKK has six partners and 59 employees, for a total of 65 employees. With the close of the SGKK transaction, KSM employs more than 700 employees across the U.S.

"We are excited to welcome the talented team at SGKK to KSM," said KSM CEO and president Tim Cook in a statement Monday. "With its long-standing reputation for excellence, particularly in real estate, SGKK's deep industry expertise will significantly strengthen our capabilities in this important market. Together with our existing real estate offerings, SGKK's experience will help us further enhance our reputation and drive continued growth in New York."

KSM originally established an office in New York in 2012. SGKK's Sandy Klein will become managing partner of the combined office.

"I am incredibly proud of SGKK's 93-year legacy of excellence and all that our firm has accomplished together, including serving our clients well, fostering a close-knit team, and building a robust business," said Klein in a statement. "Joining KSM will enable us to continue to serve our clients well while offering a wider range of services. SGKK's employees will also share in greater opportunities for career growth and all the resources that come with a larger firm. I am confident that together, SGKK and KSM will deliver even more value, and I look forward to leading KSM's New York office through this exciting new chapter."

KSM expanded into Ohio in May by adding Cassady Schiller in Cincinnati. In addition to its offices in Cincinnati and New York, KSM also operates offices in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and Evansville, Indiana, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It acquired Noble Consulting Services, an insurance regulatory consulting firm in Indianapolis in 2021, and last year Noble acquired Eide Bailly's insurance regulatory practice. In 2019, KSM acquired Caskey & Daily, an Indianapolis-based tax and accounting firm.

KNAV, an Atlanta-based global accounting and consulting firm, has combined with HLG Netherlands, effective Oct. 16, 2024. 

This deal builds on a five-year joint venture between the firms that served KNAV's multinational clients with subsidiaries in the Netherlands while giving HLG access to KNAV's global talent pool. Financial terms were not disclosed. HLG has approximately 25 staff members, including three partners. KNAV Advisory Inc. ranked No. 26 on Accounting Today's 2024 Regional Leaders list of the Top Firms in the Southeast, with $17.11 million in annual revenue.

The combination of the two Allinial Global member firms arrives when KNAV is strengthening its global presence. Earlier this year, KNAV acquired N&S in Singapore. Last year, it implemented an alternate practice structure in the jurisdictions where it operates, as part of its preparation for granting stock appreciation rights awards to its employees worldwide and for expanding and fortifying its foreign operations.

In October, KNAV announced it had received a minority investment from NKSquared, the U.S. investment vehicle of Indian billionaire Nikhil Kamath.

"This combination allows us to fully integrate our Netherlands operations, creating more value for our clients," said KNAV CEO Nishta Sharma in a statement Monday. "We've enjoyed a strong partnership with HLG over the past five years, and this integration enhances our ability to deliver seamless, high-quality services across borders."

The Allinial Global affiliation will enable KNAV and HLG Netherlands to deliver international capabilities to their clients.

"This combination enhances our ability to serve our clients with expanded resources and global reach, while maintaining the personalized service we are known for," stated HLG managing partner Carlos Apapoe, who will serve on KNAV's board of directors.

ATKG Advisors LLC, a Regional Leader firm based in San Antonio, Texas, has added SPR PC, also in San Antonio, effective Nov. 1 

Founded in 1982, ATKG offers tax, advisory, assurance and litigation support services. In addition to its San Antonio headquarters, it has South Texas offices in Boerne, Spring Branch, and Laredo.

SPR, founded in 2004, specializes in tax, accounting, and advisory services, with a focus on value-added planning and consulting. The firm brings 42 professionals, including four partners, to ATKG, which now has a team of approximately 150 professionals, including 15 partners.

Last year, ATKG received an investment from Ascend, which is backed by the private equity firm Alpine Investors. As part of the deal, ATKG adopted an alternative practice structure.

"Our pairing creates a more robust, people-centric accounting and advisory  firm. Together, we're better positioned to serve our people and our clients," said ATKG CEO Eric Abati in a statement.  "For both ATKG and SPR, it's always been about the people. We have the same idea that if we take really good care of our people, then our people will take really good care of our clients."

ATKG ranked No. 20 on Accounting Today's 2024 Regional Leaders list of the Top Firms in the Southwest, with $13.8 million in annual revenue.

"As part of ATKG, our talent will have even greater opportunities to grow, which is really exciting," said SPR managing partner Michael Perkins in a statement. "And our clients will benefit from expanded service offerings and enhanced technical depth. Both firms approach business the same way. We care deeply about our people and our clients. By joining forces, we're stronger together. Now we have the scale and resources to bring even more value to the market. Plus, with ATKG as a growth partner, we're better positioned to stay nimble and seize new opportunities."