Accountancy firm Grant Thornton has approached HLB Kidsons for merger talks in a bid to create the sixth largest accountancy firm in the UK, with fee income of over £230m (€368m).

Each firm is part of an international network, but the talks initially focus on the two accountancy firms' UK operations according to a spokesman at Grant Thornton. However, Ray Greatorex, national managing partner at HLB Kidsons, said that the merged firm will be part of Grant Thornton International.