Blue Benefits Consulting Inc., an affiliate of Top 100 accounting firm Blue & Co., has merged in Indiana Benefits Inc., effective Jan. 2, 2017, expanding the firm’s benefits consulting business.

Blue plans to retain IBI’s current offices in Bloomington, Ind. Blue & Co., based Carmel, Ind., ranked 55th on Accounting Today’s 2016 list of the Top 100 Firms, with $70.76 million in annual revenue.

“This merger will combine the long-standing relationships and expertise that have been established by IBI with the broad network of Blue Benefits Consulting’s resources that will enable us to continue to provide effective and custom solutions along with great relationships to our existing and future clients,” said Mickie Murphy, head of Blue Benefits Consulting, in a statement. “Our goal has always been to continually improve upon the customer experience and we feel that this merger helps us in further reaching that goal,” said Mickie Murphy, head of Blue Benefits Consulting.

IBI managing partner Peter Gould will lead the Bloomington office of Blue Benefits, continuing to service IBI’s current clients with his team. He said his firm and Blue had been friendly competitors for many years.

“It has always been notable that we share many core values, including: doing the right thing for our clients, taking care of our staff members so they are able to provide excellent client service, performing quality work, staying up-to-date with industry developments, and enjoying what we do,” Gould said in a statement. “Now it seems very natural for us to join forces.”

Michael Cohn, editor-in-chief of AccountingToday.com, has been covering business and technology for a variety of publications since 1985.