Top 20 accountancy firm Wilkins Kennedy is to merge with the Maidstone office of Day, Smith & Hunter creating a combined firm with 72 partners and an expected turnover of £47 million. The firms have exchanged contracts and intend to complete the transaction on 30 September. Upon completion the DSH Maidstone office will trade as Wilkins Kennedy.

The deal is an important part of Wilkins Kennedy’s growth strategy for the Southern region, linking its office coverage in Ashford, Canterbury and Sandwich with its long-established presence in Orpington. In the medium term, the firm intends to develop Maidstone as a base for delivering additional services to privately owned and inward investment businesses in the county.

Rob Reynolds, Regional Managing Partner of Wilkins Kennedy’s Southern Region said: “We are delighted to be joining forces with DSH, a firm that is well established and very highly respected throughout the region. This merger provides us with a significant base in the centre of the County to support our growing client base. We look forward to welcoming our new colleagues to the WK team.”

Mike Startup, partner at DSH, said: “We are delighted to be merging with Wilkins Kennedy, which has a similar client base to ourselves and shares our ethos with regard to client care. As well as enabling us to offer enhanced specialist advice, this deal gives us access to services such as Corporate Finance and Recovery & Restructuring which we have not previously been able to provide, and will  help us to further grow the office’s client offering.”