Dawgen expanding through alliance with Trinidad auditing firm
Published:Tuesday | September 5, 2017 | 12:00 AMAvia Collinder
Dawkins Brown's firm Dawgen Group Limited has formed a new alliance with international partner Crowe Horwath, and is now looking to integrate the Jamaican outfit with a Trinidadian firm.
Brown, who is managing partner for auditing firm Crowe Horwath Jamaica Limited a new subsidiary of Dawgen Group created in September 2016 says his company has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Premier Consulting Group Trinidad & Tobago, PCGTT, a company owned and run by Cecil Phillips.
"Under the terms of the MOU, Dawgen Group will expand its current business offerings throughout Trinidad & Tobago by integrating ... to form Crowe Horwath TT," Brown told Gleaner Business.
Effectively, Crowe Horwath Trinidad & Tobago would be majority owned by Dawgen Group, with PCGTT as minority partner, Brown said, but he would not disclose the precise shareholding and the terms of the transaction.
The Trinidad outfit, which will operate two locations at Scarborough in Tobago and Port-of Spain in Trinidad, will also become a full member of Crowe Horwath International (CHI)
Dawgen's alliance with Crowe Horwath International comes after the ending of its partnership with another international group, UHY, in the third quarter of 2016.
"I took a decision to join a higher ranking network in keeping with our growth strategy," said Brown.
UHY International's global revenue was approximately US$550 million with a presence in 89 countries, while Crowe Horwath International has global revenue of US$3.7 billion and ranks as the eighth-largest auditing firm worldwide, he said. UHY ranks around 16th largest.
"The CHI agreement and structure allow us to expand in other Caribbean Islands. This was attractive as I want to operate a Caribbean-integrated firm," Brown told Gleaner Business.
Dawgen Group pays membership fees to Crowe, but he said the amount was confidential.
In Trinidad, the merged entity would offer new services, including audit and accounting services, business advisory and consulting services, information technology services, legal audit/legal access services and risk management.
Brown said he would head the expanded operation, but that there would be different managers for different areas of the practice. He also expects the new operation to deliver bigger fees.
"Trinidad & Tobago is the wealthiest country in the Caribbean as well as the third-richest country by GDP per capita in the Americas, after the United States and Canada," said Brown. "Trinidad & Tobago has a GDP per capita of US$31,900, while in Jamaica, the GDP per capita is US$9,000. Based on the above, audit revenue per client will be higher in TT than Jamaica," he said via email.
In Jamaica, he said Dawgen ranks among the top five auditing firms.
"We expect to be among the top seven firms in TT in the first 24 months," he added.
Companies Office records indicate that Brown is the sole shareholder of Crowe Horwath Jamaica Limited. Brown said the eight-member Dawgen Group also comprises Crowe Horwath Trinidad & Tobago, Dawgen Professional Services Limited, Dawgen Professional Services Limited, Dawgentech Limited, Dawgen HR Solutions Limited, Trident Limited, and Dawgen Corporate Secretarial Services Limited.