RECENT DEALS
Delivering exceptional results for our clients.
Recent deals
DETAILS
Transaction type: Majority sale
Southgate Partners role: Lead advisor
Sector: Agricultural services, advanced manufacturing
Year: FY24
Lead adviser to Granular Products on its majority sale to Resilient Search Partners
Founded in 2005, Granular Products is an Australian-owned business with sites in Rockhampton, QLD, and Orange, NSW. It is dedicated to the development, production, and supply of high-quality granular herbicides that increase productivity in Australia’s farmlands.
Granular Products appointed Southgate Partners to run a comprehensive and confidential sale process, which saw interest come from several domestic and overseas parties. The ultimately successful acquirer was Resilient Search Partners, an investment company dedicated to identifying, acquiring, and growing exceptional rural and regional businesses in Australia.
The transaction was successful in meeting the vendors’ objectives, including identifying a buyer that would retain the company’s culture and team, position the business for its next phase of growth and provide a liquidity event for the vendors.
DETAILS
Transaction type: 100% sale
Southgate Partners role: Lead advisor
Sector: Occupational rehabilitation, disability services, allied health
Year: FY23
Lead adviser to CAC on its 100% sale to Howden
CAC is one of the largest independently-owned providers of occupational rehabilitation, disability and wellbeing services in Victoria.
CAC appointed Southgate Partners to run a comprehensive and confidential sale process, after previous discussions with parties had not yielded a result. The process was highly competitive, with multiple overseas parties conducting extensive due diligence and many rounds of negotiations.
The ultimately successful acquirer was Howden, a UK-headquartered insurance broker. The acquisition allows Howden to expand its risk solutions offering in the Australian market.
The Vendors gained peace of mind knowing the business’ legacy would be managed by a reputable owner who shared their vision and values, there would be additional career opportunities for CAC staff, as well as a significant liquidity event and transition to retirement for the Vendors.
DETAILS
Transaction type: 100% sale
Southgate Partners role: Lead advisor
Sector: Industrial products (steel reinforcement)
Year: FY23
Lead adviser to Transfab on its 100% sale to Civilmart
Transfab is a leading value-added manufacturer of prefabricated steel reinforcement products in Victoria. The company has experienced strong growth, benefiting from unprecedented levels of government infrastructure spend across the state.
Southgate Partners was appointed by Transfab to run an end-to-end sale process, with the Vendors looking to simplify their business interests ahead of retirement. The successful bidder was Civilmart, a private-equity backed, Australian-based manufacturer and distributor of precast concrete products. The transaction allows Civilmart to broaden its steel fabrication capabilities and follows a series of strategic acquisitions by the group.
DETAILS
Transaction type: 100% sale
Southgate Partners role: Lead advisor
Sector: Industrial products
Year: FY22
Lead adviser to Plascorp on its 100% sale to Geofabrics Australasia
Plascorp is one of Australia’s leading privately owned manufacturers of industrial products including PVC pipe, mine ventilation, steel reinforcement, ducting and hose, with manufacturing plants in Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland.
Plascorp appointed Southgate Partners to run a comprehensive and confidential sale campaign. The process resulted in offers from both local and offshore parties, with the ultimately successful acquirer being Geofabrics Australasia. The transaction creates one of the largest private companies nationally in the sector and realised our client's key objectives, including transitioning out of the business they had been running for over 20 years.
DETAILS
Transaction type: Equity investor
Southgate Partners role: Lead advisor
Sector: Hospitality software (SaaS)
Year: FY22
Lead adviser to SaaS-based restaurant reservations provider Obee
Obee is a prominent online restaurant reservation and table management software platform used by restaurants, bars, wineries and cafés across Australia. Its customers include 25% of all hatted restaurants in Australia, including the likes of Attica and Brae.
Southgate Partners was appointed in late 2019 to run an end-to-end process, including presenting marketing materials to more than 50 local and offshore investors. Early interest was strong, however the onset of COVID-19 and impact on Obee’s customers caused the process to be paused in March 2020. Obee successfully navigated the challenges of COVID-19 and the process was resumed in 2021, with the transaction ultimately finalised in mid 2021.
DETAILS
Transaction type: 100% sale
Southgate Partners role: Lead advisor
Sector: Specialty chemicals (personal care)
Year: FY22
Advised Ingredients Plus on the sale of its China & HK operations to Azelis
Ingredients Plus (IP) is a leading independent distributor of personal care products in the Asia-Pacific region, headquartered in Sydney. Its China business employs over 40 people in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong, where it serves a sizeable customer base, with an attractive portfolio of world-renowned Principals.
Southgate Partners assisted IP to successfully navigate a cross-border transaction process involving multiple potential buyers and a broad shareholder base. A key aspect of the role was providing a high level of support to the Australian and overseas management teams. A transaction was agreed with global specialty chemicals company Azelis (headquartered in Luxembourg), which achieved the objectives of IP’s various shareholders.
DETAILS
Transaction type: 100% sale
Southgate Partners role: Lead advisor
Sector: Specialty chemicals (agricultural)
Year: FY21
Lead Advisor to the shareholders of SACOA on their 100% sale to DKSH
SACOA is a leading Australian formulator of premium agrichemical products that support sustainable farming. Founded in 1994, the family-owned business develops, formulates and sells spray oils, adjuvants and soil treatments for agricultural markets across Australia.
Southgate Partners was appointed to run an end-to-end sale process, which included a comprehensive preparation, marketing and negotiation program over eight months. The sale process was competitive, and the successful bidder was global chemicals giant DKSH. The acquisition was highly strategic for DKSH, enabling them to become the leader in this specialty market in Australia. The sale was an exceptional outcome for SACOA's shareholders, significantly exceeding their expectations.
DETAILS
Transaction type: 100% sale
Southgate Partners role: Advisory services
Sector: Education technology
Year: FY21
Advisor to the shareholders of eCreators on their 100% sale to Learning Technologies Group
eCreators is an education technology business providing Learning Management Systems, content development and consulting services.
Southgate Partners assisted the shareholders of eCreators to develop a sale strategy and evaluate offers for the business.
The purchaser was Learning Technologies Group (LTG), a global leader in the workplace e-learning and talent management sectors. eCreators enhances LTG’s position within the Australian market, adding significant Corporate and Further Education clients.
Our Directors have over a decade of experience running M&A projects and are proud of the client outcomes achieved during their careers. A selection of clients includes:
