It was announced today that the proposed merger between Grant Thornton and RSM Farrell Grant Sparks has been approved by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC).
 
The move will consolidate the combined entity’s position as number 5 in the Irish accountancy market.
 
The newly combined firm will have over 800 employees with plans to recruit another 200 over the next 30 months to serve existing clients. They aim to have 1,000 employees by 2017.
 
The newly merged entity, with offices in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Belfast, Longford and Kildare, will be known as Grant Thornton and will be led by current Grant Thornton Managing Partner, Paul McCann.

RSM Farrell Grant Sparks partners will join the Grant Thornton partnership while the firm will retain current office space at City Quay and Bride Street in Dublin.
 
Grant Thornton’s Managing Partner, Paul McCann noted, "Grant Thornton’s merger with RSM Farrell Grant Sparks and our ongoing recruitment drive underlines our ambition to be Ireland’s leading financial and business advisors.

"Our continued growth will serve to increase competition within the large Irish firms, particularly in the areas of audit and taxation, as well as the growing market for corporate finance advisory services."

Source: www.businessworld.ie