National Accounting Firm Bolsters Presence in Atlantic Canada

MARCH 16, 2020, CALGARY, AB – MNP, one of Canada’s largest national accounting and business consulting firms, is pleased to announce that it will merge with two professional services firms based in the St. John’s area, Newfoundland and Labrador. White + Abbott Chartered Professional Accountants, and Winsor Coombs Chartered Professional Accountants, will both join MNP, effective June 1, 2020. Partners Stephen White and Michael Abbott (White + Abbott) and Darryl Winsor and Paul Coombs (Winsor Coombs) say they are delighted to be joining a like-minded firm in MNP that complements their current service offerings and has the same commitment to delivering personalized solutions to clients. MNP is excited to build on its growing presence and commitment to the marketplace in Atlantic Canada.

MNP LLP entered the Atlantic Canada marketplace in January 2017 through a merger with the Halifax-based firm, WBLI (who had offices in Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) and Truro). Kirk Higgins, MNP’s Regional Managing Partner for Atlantic Canada, said that MNP had long been keen to extend its national presence from coast-to-coast and that these mergers – on the heels of recent mergers in Sydney - further demonstrate the firm’s commitment to supporting the success of organizations across Atlantic Canada.

“The St. John’s area has seen increasing investment in recent years,” says Higgins. “Newfoundland and Labrador as a province has clear strengths in natural resources and energy, but there is a diverse range of industries supporting its continued growth, particularly in the areas of private enterprise, credit union, real estate and construction, Government, education, and tourism sectors; all of which MNP is already intimately serving. We’ve been delighted to help MNP grow as a part of the Nova Scotia community over the last few years and are excited to do the same here in Newfoundland and Labrador by welcoming not just one, but two well-established accounting firms that share our values and client-centric approach, into the MNP fold.”

“MNP complements and enhances our current service offerings and brings greater bench strength that will help us service clients across Newfoundland and Labrador. We believe that joining MNP is a perfect example of how two firms can come together to give our clients the edge they need to stay competitive and overcome current business and industry challenges. By joining MNP we will add more resources and specialized services, which will help to provide our clients with even greater value in the future.”

Founded in 1958, MNP has grown to more than 80 locations across Canada and delivers a wide range of services and specialized expertise in every sector and area of business. In addition to tax and accounting expertise, MNP delivers a diverse range of advisory services, including succession planning, estate planning, enterprise risk, corporate finance, valuation and litigation support, insolvency and restructuring, technology solutions, cross-border taxation, and much more.

Not only is MNP the largest of the mid-market focused firms in Canada, it has continued to maintain its Canadian roots, helping Canadian businesses at home and abroad. Since entering the Ontario market in the summer of 2008, MNP has grown to more than 25 locations in Eastern Canada, while continuing to look for like-minded firms and professionals who can help it build on its strategic plans for continued growth.

“To maintain our culture, we have always been very strategic about who we invite to join our MNP family,” adds Jeremy Cole, MNP’s Executive Vice President for Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada. “We are known across the communities we work with as being one of Canada’s most-trusted accounting, tax and business consulting firms, so we are excited to welcome two very well-respected practices in White + Abbott and Winsor Coombs into the MNP team. Our cultures and values are well-aligned, and we share the same entrepreneurial, trusted approach to doing business."

Coombs says that one of the deciding factors in Winsor Coombs deciding to join MNP was the culture: “Although MNP is a large national firm, it’s always been known for being local in focus with a small-firm culture and commitment to supporting the local communities that its teams live and work in. This is something that is very important to us, and to our people, and so the ‘fit’ had to be right."

“We knew joining MNP would be good for our clients and our team and we are excited about the future,” added Winsor. “When Paul and I spoke about it we just felt that the chance to join a firm with the depth of resources that MNP offers, while maintaining our local focus, was a truly unique and exceptional opportunity.”

“We are excited to build on the strong presence MNP has built in recent years servicing clients across Nova Scotia and into Atlantic Canada,” adds Abbott. “We are looking forward to working together with the fantastic team at Winsor Coombs to help more Newfoundland and Labrador businesses reach their full potential.”

The White + Abbott and Winsor Coombs teams will remain at their present locations for the time being and will work closely with MNP’s existing teams in Nova Scotia to provide greater resources and services to businesses across Atlantic Canada.

“This merger is truly a win-win for all of our firms and for the St. John’s and broader Newfoundland and Labrador marketplace,” says Higgins. “With skills and experiences across Atlantic Canada we will be able to provide our clients with unparalleled access to teams who can help their organizations to succeed. We are thrilled to have found the perfect firms to join forces with - teams who put clients first."

About MNP LLP

MNP is a leading national accounting, tax and business consulting firm in Canada. We proudly serve and respond to the needs of our clients in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Through partner-led engagements, we provide a collaborative, cost-effective approach to doing business and personalized strategies to help organizations succeed across the country and around the world. For more information, visit www.mnp.ca.

For more information, please contact:

Robin Ashford, Senior Director of Marketing, Eastern Canada, at 416.263.6966 or [email protected] 

Michael Abbott, CPA, CA, White + Abbott Chartered Professional Accountants, at 709.747.7777 or [email protected] 

Paul Coombs, CPA, CA, Winsor Coombs Chartered Professional Accountants, at 709.368.4565 x 118 or [email protected]