A dozen of deals in the services sectors, including an SCD Advisory transaction

2. Deloitte adds 50-strong team, 4Impact to insurance tech consulting practice

Deloitte has boosted its insurance consulting practice with the hire of a 50-strong team of consultants from Brisbane-based technology company 4Impact. The new team, which is led by John Ryan (the former CEO of 4Impact), consists of consultants and specialists with a track record in technology transformation, focused on the Guidewire platform. Guidewire is a popular technology platform for the insurance sector. The company’s cloud-based platforms such as InsuranceSuite and InsuranceNow help insurers with digitising and automating their operations in areas including product development, policy management, finance, customer relationships and claims management.

3. ConnectWise snaps up Melbourne-based Wise-Sync

ConnectWise has acquired Melbourne-based integration payment automation platform Wise-Sync. The acquisition will pair ConnectWise’s IT solution provider (TSP) software and services platform with payment processing and invoicing automation functionality. The platform was designed when founder Paul MacNeill saw a need to ease the challenge of automating payment collection and is an integration that allows TSPs to improve cash flow, remove errors and allow businesses to scale. As a result of the acquisition, MacNeill will join ConnectWise as general manager of payments. In addition to the integration being available in ConnectWise Manage, both groups also announced that partners using ConnectWise Sell now also have access to Wise-Pay as a payment processor, enabling them to fully automate payment collection as their customer approves a quote.

4. Welcoming St. George Project Services and Valorem Advisory to The APP Group

St. George Project Services is a leading Queensland project management and infrastructure consultancy with a strong market-presence in North and Far North Queensland. Valorem Advisory offer infrastructure lifecycle advisory services including business case development, delivery and procurement strategy, transaction management and commercial advisory in the transport, social infrastructure, renewable energy, and education sectors. The APP Group presents an integrated property and infrastructure service offering that supports the full asset capital investment lifecycle. These new partnerships expand our national reach and strengthen our capabilities and expertise with a particular focus on infrastructure. The group works on over $20 billion of capital value for 500 clients across 800 projects annually, delivered by a 550 strong team.

5. SLR acquires 4Sight Consulting

SLR has acquired 4Sight Consulting. A highly respected expert environmental services consultancy based in Aotearoa, New Zealand, 4Sight are committed to achieving balanced outcomes for land, people and water and share SLR’s vision of helping our clients achieve their sustainability goals. The addition of the 4Sight team will build upon SLR’s recognised environmental advisory capabilities, further enhancing our ability to provide clients with balanced project outcomes through better planning and environmental decisions. Led by Managing Director Aaron Andrew, 4Sight are a team of over 140 talented professionals who bring not only a depth of experience to their projects, but a real passion for getting the best outcome. Like SLR, they take their commitment to their clients and sustainability seriously, underpinned by their corporate values of believe in better, act with integrity and thrive together.

6. Aussie digital agency, Two Bulls acquired by European giant DEPT

Melbourne-based digital agency Two Bulls is being acquired by one of Europe’s biggest challenger consultancies, DEPT, as part of an expansion by the Amsterdam-based firm into the Asia Pacific. The terms of the deal, made up predominantly of cash but with a scrip component, were not disclosed, but Two Bulls generates more than $20 million of revenue each year. Product development agencies typically fetch higher multiples than other professional services firms. The foundations for the deal date back seven years, when DEPT made a strategic decision that resulted in dramatic growth and the expansion of the agency into new geographies and fields. For almost 20 years DEPT had focused on providing design and technology services in the Netherlands, but in 2015 the agency decided it wanted to take its services global and expand into new fields including communications and creative content work.

7. PEXA acquires UK’s Optima Legal

Property Exchange Australia (PEXA Group) has set its sights on acquiring remortgage processing firm Optima Legal in a bid to expand into the UK market. The Leeds-based firm provides legal services in the UK remortgage market and is considered one of the largest remortgage processing firms in the UK, with around 22 percent market share. PEXA sees the piurchase of Optima Legal from its existing owner Capita as a chance to integrate its own digital platform into Optima Legal’s systems and create benefits for the UK market. The company said it has already successfully launched its digital remortgage platform in the UK this week, with the Hinckley & Rugby Building Society and conveyancing firm, Muve already live, and Shawbrook Bank set to ‘go live’ soon.

8. Grant Thornton expands its Risk Consulting team, appoints Neil Jeans as Partner and welcomes the team from Initialism

Grant Thornton is pleased to welcome the team from Initialism into its Risk Consulting practise, bolstering its Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorism Financing (CTF) service offering for new and existing clients. As a result of the intensified focus on AML/CTF activity from Australian regulators – particularly by the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) – there has been an increase in the number of recent high profile regulatory actions and penalties for AML/CTF non-compliance, and Grant Thornton expects this trend to continue. Initialism’s team of specialists provides industry leading expert knowledge, experience, and real-world perspectives on AML/CTF through their work with high profile clients across many industries, including financial institutions, gaming and pubs and clubs. By merging with Initialism, Grant Thornton strengthens its AML/CTF practise offering services across risk assessment, compliance programs, independent reviews and advisory solutions delivered by its senior and highly experienced consultants.

9. Technical energy consultancy Clean Technology Partners joins DNV

Clean Technology Partners, a Melbourne-based renewable energy company, has been acquired by global group DNV. Founded in 2011, Clean Technology Partners helps clients across sectors with renewable energy projects across the entire project lifecycle, from upfront feasibility studies through to system commissioning and operational troubleshooting. Since its inception, the firm has completed over 1,500 projects across Australia.

10. Fujitsu strengthens security practice with acquisition of leading New Zealand cybersecurity firm InPhySec

Fujitsu Limited and Fujitsu Australia and New Zealand have moved to strengthen their security services capabilities with the acquisition of New Zealand cyber security company InPhySec. This move marks the latest milestone in Fujitsu’s global M&A strategy and builds upon services offered by recently acquired firms Versor, oobe, and Enable Professional Services, to empower customers on their digital transformation journeys. Founded in 2015, InPhySec is one of New Zealand’s largest providers of security consulting and managed security services. Its comprehensive range of managed security services includes SIEM (security information and event management), as well as cloud; network; and endpoint detection and response services, delivered through its global 24/7 Security Operations Centres across 3 locations. Specialist services are delivered through secret grade server rooms which provide data localization and additional physical security, services of particular importance to the New Zealand government and other regulated industries. InPhySec’s secret- and top secret-cleared staff give it a competitive advantage in the New Zealand market.

11. Argon & Co grows New Zealand presence with Intent Group deal

Argon & Co has expanded its team in Australia and New Zealand with the acquisition of Intent Group, in a move that lifts the size of its regional team to 100. Founded in 2003, Intent Group is an Auckland-based operational improvement consultancy with a focus on manufacturing sectors. With expertise in supply chain, procurement, finance and shared services, the firm helps its clients raise their productivity and performance. The bolt-on adds a team of around 20 consultants to Argon & Co’s business.

12. Avocado Consulting expands cyber capabilities with Cyberisk deal

Technology consultancy Avocado Consulting has beefed up its cyber security capabilities with the acquisition of Cyberisk, a boutique cyber and information security specialist in Victoria. The deal sees a team of 15 employees join Avocado Consulting, including Cyberisk’s owner David Vohradsky, who now leads the combined Cyber Security practice. Avocado Consulting’s Cyber Security practice provides advice and technology support in areas including governance, risk and cyber security frameworks, risk quantification, remediation planning, business continuity, control assurance, and security architecture. Established in 2004, Avocado Consulting also supports clients with product delivery, Cloud and testing services.