Elliott Davis and Decosimo Combine to Create Leading Regional Accounting and Advisory Firm

Combined firm ranks among top 5 in Southeast with 800+ professionals across seven states

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Oct 29, 2014, 02:30 ET

GREENVILLE, S.C. and CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., Oct. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Elliott Davis and Decosimo, two of the leading accounting firms headquartered in the Southeast, today announced plans to merge effective January 1, 2015. The combined firm, which will be known as Elliott Davis Decosimo, creates the region's fifth largest accounting firm with total annual revenues of $108 million and more than 800 professionals and specialists in 17 offices across seven states – Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia – and the Cayman Islands. Shareholders of both firms approved the merger in a unanimous vote. Terms were not disclosed.

Rick Davis, Managing Shareholder of Elliott Davis, will lead the combined firm. Decosimo Managing Principal Nick Decosimo will serve on the Executive Committee, which will be comprised of representatives from both firms. Decosimo and Elliott Davis bring distinct markets and complementary areas of specialization to the merger. The combined firm will maintain all current office locations while making strategic investments in key practice areas and expanding its professional staff over the coming years.

"Our firms share common cultures and a commitment to providing superior service and expertise to our clients," said Decosimo. "We look forward to building upon our individual successes to create a firm with a more powerful regional focus and an even broader array of capabilities and expertise to better serve our clients."

The combination allows both firms to expand geographically while maximizing their breadth and depth in industry specialties including banking, entertainment, government, healthcare, investment partnerships, manufacturing and distribution, private equity, real estate and technology and life sciences.

"This combination positions us to serve our clients with an even broader range of expertise across a wider geographic footprint. We are excited about the growth opportunities this will bring to not only our clients, but also to our people," said Davis. "Decosimo shares our values and, as Elliott Davis Decosimo, we will continue our tradition of delivering excellent service to our clients, providing a rewarding career environment for our people and making a positive impact in our communities."

Both firms have experienced significant growth in recent years. In 2013 alone, revenues for Elliott Davis increased by 14 percent. So far in 2014, Decosimo has experienced 8 percent revenue growth. Over the past three years Elliott Davis has posted 24 percent revenue growth and 40 percent growth in employees. The combination is expected to provide additional opportunities for expansion as Elliott Davis Decosimo adds industry specialists in its new markets and increases recruiting efforts across its seven-state footprint.

Davis shares, "We have made strategic investments to aggressively grow in our newer markets. In Charlotte, Raleigh and Richmond we've seen double digit growth over the last few years and we expect to pursue those same growth goals in the markets Decosimo brings to this combination."

In addition to expanding niche specialty areas for both firms, the arrangement also provides clients with additional depth of experience in core services such as audit, tax, international, litigation support, estate planning, business valuation and transaction advisory.

About Elliott Davis, LLC
Elliott Davis is one of the largest accounting, tax and consulting services firms in the southeast and ranks among the top 50 CPA firms in the U.S. With offices in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, the firm provides a wide range of accounting, tax, assurance and consulting solutions, concentrating on core industries, niche areas and emerging business sectors.

About Decosimo
Decosimo (www.decosimo.com) is perennially ranked as a Top 100 accounting and business advisory services firm. Decosimo is a regional firm with offices in nine geographic locations in the United States and the Cayman Islands, with approximately 300 professionals and staff. Each of Decosimo's offices provides a full range of accounting and advisory services to a wide array of industries.