Ryan buys Canadian consultancy AEC Property Tax

Tax advisory firm Ryan has acquired AEC Property Tax, Canada’s largest privately owned property tax consulting firm. The transaction extends Ryan’s Canada operations into every major market in the country.

Toronto-based AEC delivers a full suite of property tax advisory solutions for clients in the commercial, hospitality, industrial, manufacturing, mining, oil and gas, power, and retail sectors. Founded in 1973, AEC has a team of more than 70 consultants across offices in Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, and Vancouver.

The addition of AEC will bolster Ryan’s geographic footprint in Canada, where the firm has offices in Mississauga, Montreal, Calgary, and London. The move also expands Ryan’s depth of client services and client portfolio in Canada.

Headquartered in Dallas, Ryan is the largest consultancy dedicated exclusively to business tax, with specialized services across tax recovery, consulting, advocacy, compliance, and technology. The advisory firm has more than 2,500 professionals in over 50 countries, serving many of the most prominent Global 5000 companies.

“As the largest property tax practice in North America, we are enhancing our existing capabilities and firm talent across all major markets in Canada,” Garry Round, Ryan’s president of Canadian operations, said. “This acquisition positions our two companies to become a single resource to multinational clients with challenges in other areas of taxation, regardless of the jurisdiction.”

Robert Gagne, president of AEC, will join as principal and leader of the property tax practice, leading the combined practice at Ryan. Gary Newell, AEC’s CEO, will become a principal and senior vice president of corporate development for Canada. In the new role, Newell work with Garry Round to continue Ryan’s strong organic and inorganic growth in the country.

“This is an exciting time in our history,” Newell said. “We are proud to join forces with the largest firm in the world dedicated exclusively to business taxes and are excited to be able to provide a full suite of integrated services globally to our clients throughout Canada and beyond.”

The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

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