11 deals in November including SXiQ sold to IBM, an SCD Advisory transaction

2. FirstWave acquires QLD’s Opmantek in $62M deal

Publicly listed FirstWave Cloud Technology is to acquire Queensland-founded network management, automation and IT audit software provider Opmantek in a deal valued at $62 million. As a result of the agreement, Opmantek’s executive chairman Danny Maher will become FirstWave’s managing director and CEO, replacing the recently departed Neil Pollock. FirstWave will acquire 100 per cent of Opmantek via an all-scrip takeover under which approximately 691 million new FirstWave shares will be issued to Opmantek’s shareholders. Following completion of the deal, Opmantek shareholders will hold approximately 42 per cent of FirstWave’s issued shares. A spokesman for FirstWave confirmed to ARN that despite the share exchange, the deal is termed as a “takeover” under the Companies Act. Founded in Australia and headquartered in San Francisco, Opmantek primarily sells its software-as-as-service to managed services providers and small-businesses in North America.

3. Nitro Software to raise $140 million for Connective acquisition

Australian document productivity software group Nitro Software (ASX: NTO) has today announced it will raise $140 million in order to buy a Belgium-based eSign software as a service (SaaS) business called Connective NV. Melbourne-headquartered Nitro says the acquisition, which implies an enterprise value of $110 million, will cement its position as a global SaaS player, giving it access to fast-growing European markets.

4. Illawarra MSP Virtual IT Group buys up Melbourne’s ITtelligent

ITtelligent was founded in 2006 by now-former director Robert Adelman and its growth over the following years saw it being named in the CRN Fast50 for both 2018 and 2019. The acquisition was announced on LinkedIn via a post that said, “Today we are celebrating the culmination of 18 months as ITtelligent Consulting Services & Virtual IT Group officially coming together at last. The partnership is strongly secured by a similar suite of products, services and customers in the same fields, but most importantly, an alignment of values to have a singular focus on our customers.” VITG customer, product and marketing general manager Nic Ferraro told CRN that ITtelligent joins three other companies in being acquired by VITG this year; Dark Horse Systems and ITonCloud, both in Sydney, and Flexible Solutions in Griffith, NSW.

5. Brisbane MSP Exceed ICT acquires Telstra partner MG Corporate

Queensland-founded service provider Exceed ICT has acquired MG Corporate in an effort to ramp up its Telstra footprint. Also based in Brisbane, MG Corporate was founded in 1992 as a Telstra partner and provides IT, communications and managed services. According to Exceed, the acquisition is part of the company’s strategy to become Australia’s largest service delivery partner for Telstra by 2025.  The company claimed the deal strengthens its internet of things (IoT), communications and 5G business, while coinciding with the launch of Aspect, its procurement, provisioning, asset management and expense analytics portal.

6. ASG Group picks up Canberra consultancy Pragma Partners

In its second Canberra-based acquisition in less than 24 months, digital consultancy ASG Group has picked up management consulting firm Pragma Partners. Digital strategy and transformation advisory ASG Group has acquired Canberra-based human-centred design and services management consultancy Pragma Partners, which focuses on the public sector and higher education. Pragma Partners will continue to operate under its own brand according to the terms of the deal, with CEO and managing director Jay Wilton continuing to lead the business alongside a team of 30-plus staff.

7. Health and public policy consultancy Siggins Miller joins Deloitte

Deloitte has brought on board influential healthcare and public policy consultancy Siggins Miller. Founded close to 25 years ago, Siggins Miller is a consulting firm recognised for its influence on national health legislation, including work on pregnancy warnings on alcohol and plain tobacco packaging. Siggins Miller was founded in 1997 by Mel Miller, who also serves as an adjunct professor in the Health and Behavioural Sciences faculty at the University of Queensland and professor in the Health Group at Griffith University, and her late husband Ian Siggins, an internationally recognised historian and human rights advocate who held a number of senior Australian public healthcare roles.

8. Bastion creates the big independent as it acquires NZ agency Shine

Bastion becomes Australasia’s “largest” independent agency with the acquisition of New Zealand’s Shine, expanding operations across the Tasman on its mission to create a new world agency, globally. Commecial details of the deal haven’t been revealed but both independent agencies position themselves against what they see as the cumbersome and archaic global agency model. The New Zealand agency didn’t want to be swallowed by a multinational holding group but sought to be part of an independently run global network. Shine, an independent creative and digital agency, will rebrand to Bastion Shine. Its clients include Air New Zealand, telco Spark, diversified energy company Genesis and Tip Top. These join Bastion’s global roster including Microsoft, Google, KFC, AIA, L’Oreal and Carl’s Jr.

9. WA consultancy 360 Environmental joins global player SLR

Western Australia-based company 360 Environmental has been picked up by fellow environmental management consultancy SLR. The UK-headquartered global environmental consultancy SLR has continued a recent run of acquisitions with the purchase of Western Australian management consulting firm 360 Environmental for an undisclosed sum. The deal will see SLR grow its local footprint by 60 professionals, adding to a global headcount of more than 1,800 operating out of 100-plus offices in 13 countries worldwide.

10. Volaris Expands in Healthcare and Insurance

Volaris Group today announced the acquisition of AMS (Advanced Management Systems), an Auckland, New Zealand, based provider of mission-critical software solutions for people management in healthcare settings and insurance providers. AMS will continue to operate under its own brand while leveraging additional resources and best practices from Volaris Group. The acquisition is viewed as a highly positive move by the AMS board and management.

11. MYOB acquires Star Business Solutions

Melbourne-based business and accounting software vendor MYOB has acquired its Diamond partner Star Business Solutions as part of its Australia and New Zealand enterprise growth strategy. Star Business Solutions, also headquartered in Victoria, was founded in 1991 and purchased by Trish and Norman Hall 16 years ago. The reseller specialises in business management and accounting software solutions, and also has an in-house team of programmers and developers offering customisable software options. The acquisition of Star Business Solutions is anticipated to bolster MYOB’s direct sales and service channel for enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions, bringing decades of global software market experience, including customisation and implementation of Greentree, MYOB’s on-premise ERP solution.