South: Reading office of Moore Stephens to merge with BDO

Accountancy and business advisory firm BDO is to merge with Moore Stephens LLP, with the planned merger to be completed during February 2019.

The merger only affects the LLP part of the Moore Stpehens network. Only the London, Birmingham, Reading, Bristol and Watford offices will merge with BDO. The offices are expected to be rebranded as BDO centres.

Other offices - including Southampton, Salisbury, Chichester, Guildford and Isle of Wight - will not merge with BDO and will remain as Moore Stephens offices.

“To be entering final discussions to create the largest UK accountancy firm focused on entrepreneurially-spirited and fast-growing businesses is exciting – and critical for market competition,” said Moore Stephens LLP managing partner Simon Gallagher. “The proposed merger provides a platform for continued, sustainable growth, as well as offering something different to the market at this important time.”

The managing partner said combining with BDO makes providing an ever-increasing range and depth of solutions globally much easier. BDO LLP, which operates in 17 offices across the UK, is part of the $8 billion BDO global network.

“It was clear from our first meeting that we share similar culture and values,” commented BDO managing partner Paul Eagland. “As professional services firms, our people are our greatest asset and it is essential that we create an enlarged business that retains the best of our similar cultures.”