Elliott Davis to Sell Anderson Office to SuggsJohnson
October 27, 2011
ANDERSON, SC – October 27, 2011 – SuggsJohnson, LLC and Elliott Davis, LLC jointly announce the sale of Elliott Davis’ Anderson office to SuggsJohnson, effective December 1, 2011.
The shareholders of Elliott Davis, one of the largest accounting, tax and consulting services firms in the Southeast,
voted to approve the sale earlier this week. SuggsJohnson is a CPA and business consulting firm based in Anderson.
As part of the transaction, all members of the Anderson office of Elliott Davis will join the SuggsJohnson team.
In announcing the acquisition, Gray Suggs, a former Elliott Davis shareholder and co-founder of SuggsJohnson,
noted: “This was an easy decision for us to make, as all parties involved have the highest degree of respect for one
another due to our prior work history. We know many of Elliott Davis’ Anderson clients through business and civic
circles, and pledge our very best work on their behalf.”
SuggsJohnson was formed in 2005 and provides a range of tax, small business and specialized consulting services to
clients across the Southeast. The firm moved into new offices in Anderson in 2009.
Brian Johnson, who also spent several years of his career at Elliott Davis before joining Suggs as co-founder and
partner at SuggsJohnson, added: “I welcome all of the new clients to our firm, and look forward to having several of
my former colleagues join SuggsJohnson, thereby expanding the depth and talents of our tax and consulting team,
and bringing added value and benefit to all clients.”
With Elliott Davis’ Anderson office located just 30 miles from its 140-employee Greenville, S.C. headquarters, the
firm opted to sell its Anderson practice as part of a consolidation and growth strategy, enabling it to focus resources
on existing markets that it feels offer the highest potential for growth and profitability, as well as new market
opportunities.
“Having known Gray and Brian for years, I know that the client service commitment, professionalism and cultures of
our two firms closely align,” said Charlie Thornton, managing shareholder for Elliott Davis’ Anderson office who will
join SuggsJohnson as part of the transaction. “Combined, we will provide our comprehensive client base and the
greater Anderson community with quality solutions delivered by an experienced local team.”
With the acquisition, SuggsJohnson will grow to a total of 20 associates in its offices located at 107 Edgebrook Drive
in Anderson, and will serve clients ranging from individuals to multi-state and international organizations. The firm
serves both individuals and companies in a broad range of industries, with particularly deep expertise in serving
closely-held businesses and their owners, as well as organizations in the healthcare, construction, manufacturing,
professional services and real estate arenas.
And despite the growth that is inherent in any acquisition, both Suggs and Johnson are adamant that clients will notexperience service interruptions or inconvenience. “Not only are we creating depth on our team, we are bringing
aboard faces familiar to these clients, and adding talented colleagues that we know from experience will embrace
our firm’s culture of ‘client service first,” Suggs noted.
About SuggsJohnson, LLC
Formed in 2005, SuggsJohnson LLC provides a range of tax, small business and specialized consulting services to clients across
the Southeast. With clients ranging from individuals to multi-state and international organizations, the firm specializes in
serving closely-held businesses and their owners, and has particularly deep expertise in serving organizations in the healthcare,
construction, manufacturing, professional services and real estate arena. For more information about SuggsJohnson and its
services, visit www.SuggsJohnson.com.
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 S.C., N.C., G.A. and V.A., the firm provides clients across a wide range of industries with smart,
customized solutions and its people with rewarding opportunities. Founded in 1925, Elliott Davis is a member of The Leading
Edge Alliance, an international professional association of independently owned accounting firms based in the U.S. and is
strategically aligned with LEA Europe and LEA Asia Pacific, a worldwide network of more than 450 offices in 100 countries
around the globe. Affiliates include Elliott Davis Investment Advisors, a firm that provides retirement plan services for
companies and investment advisory services for individuals. For more information about Elliott Davis and its services, visit
http://www.elliottdavis.com.
