Insolvency firm Sims Partners is expecting major changes in the coming weeks with a merger on the eastern states horizon and name change for its six WA offices.
WA Business News can reveal that the Perth branch and its five associated rural offices will break ties with the Sims Partners group as early as next week and operate as an independent accounting firm.
Perth partner Chris Williamson said the move was “still early days” but a decision on the new business name was expected to be finalised by week’s end.
“Western Australia operates separately to all the other states. It’s independent because Sims is not a national partnership, but more like an association,” he told WA Business News.
“I can’t tell you too much more about what’s happening over there with any merger other than to say that we expect to make a decision at the end of the week and we will probably be changing our name.”
Sims Partners, which specialises in insolvency, has 12 branches throughout Australia with offices in Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and two in South Australia, with the other half located throughout Western Australia.
The firm’s Canberra partner Henry Kazar said it too was breaking away from the national group and would operate autonomously as Kazar Slaven Chartered Accountants from May 1.
Mr Kazar said his plan to merge with a local accountant originated before any major changes at Sims Partners or possible mergers with another company were discussed.
“This is independent of what they [Sims Partners] are doing, it’s been in play for some time,” he told WA Business News.
Sims Partners Sydney office acknowledged changes would be made to the firm but refused to comment.
Practice director Chris Lim said: “I can’t confirm or deny any merger is taking place.”
