Global auditing firm buys accountants to the stars

ACCOUNTANTS to the stars OJ Kilkenny & Co has been taken over by global auditing firm Mazars.

OJ Kilkenny & Co represent some of the biggest names in the music industry including U2, Canadian rocker Bryan Adams, Chris de Burgh, Paul Brady and Def Leppard.

The firm, fronted by Ossie Kilkenny and managing partner Brian Murphy, specialises in providing auditing and taxation services to corporate and entertainment industry clients.

No financial details of the transactions were disclosed.

Mr Murphy said his firm's expertise with in the entertainment business combined with Mazars' work with leading sporting organisations, will offers significant growth potential for both companies.

A new division, called Mazars OJ Kilkenny, will be established to provide a full range of financial, taxation and business advisory services to companies and private clients in these sectors, estimated to be worth some €20 million.

Mr Murphy said: "Together, we will exploit the opportunities represented by our individual areas of expertise."

Joe Carr, managing partner of Mazars, the seventh-largest auditing firm in Ireland, said in a statement: "There is a synergy between OJ Kilkenny & Co and Mazars which will yield tangible benefits for both our firms and our clients and which will allow us to build a stronger presence in key sectors."

Mr Kilkenny is one of the best known names in the entertainment industry. He is a shareholder in TV3 and Ardmore studios.