New York-based Citrin Cooperman said on Wednesday it has acquired fellow New York firm Berdon, in a deal that should place the combined firm among the 20 largest in the U.S. with annual revenues of more than $600 million.
Citrin Cooperman is the 24th largest accounting firm in the U.S. by revenue, while Berdon ranked No. 47 in the most recent INSIDE Public Accounting top 500 firm listing. Berdon’s 450 partners and associates will join Citrin Cooperman—combined the firm is expected to have more than 2,400 professionals.
As part of the deal, Citrin Cooperman acquired the nonattest business of Berdon, which provides tax, accounting, and consulting services to clients. Berdon will continue to provide its clients with attestation services and operate in an alternative practice structure with Citrin Cooperman, the two firms said.
Berdon Co-Managing Partner Mark Bosswick will become Citrin Cooperman’s New York Metro managing partner and a member of the firm’s board of managers. Berdon’s other managing partner, Stuart Kotler, will continue in that role for the stripped-down firm.
In a shared statement, Bosswick and Kotler said, “Our team is incredibly excited to be joining Citrin Cooperman and that excitement stems from the clear synergies we see between our two firms and from the fact that we will now be able to offer our clients and personnel a wider array of resources and offerings.”
The combination will expand the firms’ capabilities in their shared core industries, including real estate, construction, family office, and manufacturing and distribution, while also bolstering the consulting and advisory services they provide to their combined clients, the firms said.
“This is the combination of what we think are two of the strongest firms in the country,” said Citrin Cooperman Executive Chairman Joel Cooperman and CEO Alan Badey in a joint statement. “We have long admired Berdon and their well-earned reputation for client service and technical expertise. Our values, cultures, and industry niches align perfectly with each other, and we look forward to working closely with the Berdon team.”
Citrin Cooperman has been on a M&A deal spree since securing private equity investment from New Mountain Capital in October 2021. The deal with Berdon is its 10th transaction in the past 15 months, growing their revenue by more than $200 million and establishing new offices in Chicago, Miami, and Beverly Hills.
“The combination with Berdon represents an important milestone in New Mountain’s strategic growth partnership with Citrin Cooperman. Berdon brings a unique expertise and a strong reputation in the market and the combined firm will have greater technical capabilities, technology, and scale to better serve its clients. New Mountain Capital is excited to work with Citrin Cooperman as the firm continues its growth trajectory,” said Andre Moura, managing director of New Mountain Capital.
Allan Koltin, CEO of Koltin Consulting Group, which advised both firms on the combination, said about the deal, “Berdon was sought after by almost every major CPA and advisory firm in the country but chose Citrin Cooperman as the best strategic and cultural fit. Berdon’s leadership saw great growth opportunities for their talent and increased abilities to provide expanded depth and resources for their clients. Citrin Cooperman’s relationship with New Mountain Capital is transforming an already great firm into an amazing ‘firm of the future.’ Their combined strategy is a rather simple one—grow your people, grow your clients, and everything else will follow.”
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