Financial advisory and auditing firm Grant Thornton on Wednesday laid bare an ambitious aim to double the size of its SA and global operation by 2015, with an acquisition or merger in the pipeline in SA.
The intention is also to use the SA office as a springboard into Africa, where strong growth is envisaged, according to new chief executive David Campbell.
Speaking during a briefing on Wednesday, Campbell who comes from the UK office, said “we are putting our flag up” and the company wants to “stretch out across the continent”.
The strategy will entail a mix of mergers and acquisitions and expansion of services.
Grant Thornton is currently the fifth biggest firm in its space in SA.
Campbell hinted that a deal with a black accounting firm could be an opportune one for both parties.
“It would be an opportunity for one of the larger black firms to internationalise via a merger with a firm like ours,” he said. Grant Thornton SA is a member firm of Grant Thornton International.
The SA office currently employs 900 people and has operations nationally.
He expected discussions to take place with “high quality firms” going forward.
National chairman of Grant Thornton SA, Leonard Brehm, said “there are opportunities in the marketplace”. - I-Net Bridge