Last monthly M&A blog for FY24, with an SCD deal

2. Nous adds student experience platform Ziplet to NousCubane

Nous Group has added student experience platform Ziplet to its specialist education sector wing NousCubane, with founder and CEO Ben Barnett rejoining the consultancy as a managing director. Barnett established Ziplet in Melbourne in 2016 after previously spending seven years with Nous as a consultant and principal. The platform has since been used by more than 15,000 institutions in over 120 countries. Ziplet provides educators with an easy digital solution to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes, such as through ‘check-ins’, goal-setting, reflections and more, which in turn serve to improve instruction.

3. Jester Strategy launches in Australia through the acquisistion of SJS Strategy

Dutch strategy consulting boutique Jester Strategy has expanded into the Australian market through the acquisition of SJS Strategy. Hot on the heels of its 10-year anniversary, Jester Strategy has hit another major milestone with its inaugural operation outside of the Netherlands, where it is based in the town of Amersfoort. Perth-based SJS Strategy has been on Jester Strategy’s radar for a while. The two boutiques have worked together “on numerous projects in recent years” confirmed De Vries, who also is closely connected with SJS Strategy founder Sander van Amelsvoort – he established the firm five years ago following a 15-year career in Australian business.

4. Tech Data acquires Orca Tech in specialist security play

TD enhances technical capabilities, solutions and security portfolio and adds hyperscaler marketplaces with AWS and Microsoft. Tech Data, a TD Synnex company has acquired independent value-added distributor Orca Tech in Australia and New Zealand (A/NZ). The acquisition will see Tech Data boost its security footprint through enhanced technical capabilities, solutions and portfolio. With a specialised focus on security, Orca Tech’s team possess deep technical knowledge and capabilities, which will combine with, and complement the existing Tech Data A/NZ security competencies, vendors and partners. Tech Data will add hyperscaler marketplaces with AWS and Microsoft through its StreamOne Ion platform and help simplify the cloud transition process for Orca Tech’s vendors and partners through its centre of excellence environments and practice builder toolsets. Founded in 2017 by Martin Christmas and Jack Sabo, Orca Tech is highly specialised in sales, technical and marketing services.

5. Aggregator Software Combined makes eighth buyout, scoops up NZ’s Dbvisit

Dbvisit specialises in the provision of standby, or “warm”, disaster recovery software. Sydney-based software aggregator Software Combined Group has acquired Auckland database disaster recovery software specialist Dbvisit. The buyout is Software Combined’s second swoop on a Kiwi technology company in 2024 following its April acquisition of another Auckland-based company, Activate. The deal is Software Combined’s eighth acquisition since its establishment in 2020. Dbvisit specialises in the provision of standby, or “warm”, disaster recovery software across enterprise databases including Oracle SE, SQL Server and PostgresSQL. The company has relationships with more than 1700 customers across 120 countries, with a significant and growing presence in key markets, particularly Europe.

6. Forvis and Mazars bring $5 billion global merger to Australia

The union between French-origin international accounting and consulting network Mazars and leading US counterpart Forvis is now official, creating a new $5 billion global player. Announced toward the end of last year, the new entity Forvis Mazars has now come into effect with the turn of the month, and will push for a top ten global ranking with a 40,000-strong presence in more than 100 countries. That includes Australia, where Mazars has been enjoying strong growth in recent times, including a 17% rise in its past financial year to cross the $70 million revenue mark and a headcount now pushing toward 500 professionals. Forvis Mazars describes its formation as a shake-up of the professional services industry and the largest new entrant in the global rankings in decades, combining Mazars’ revenues of approximately $3 billion with a $1.7 billion contribution from Forvis, the eighth largest network of its kind in the US.

7. Energetics acquired by global sustainability consultancy ERM

Energetics, one of Australia’s larger climate risk and energy transition consultancies, has been acquired by global player ERM. In ERM’s second deal in Australia this year, coming hot on the heels of the purchase of The Big Middle and The Big Zero, the global sustainability consultancy has now snapped up Sydney-based Energetics for an undisclosed sum. Founded in 1984, Energetics has grown to a team of 100 people across four states. Working with ASX100 corporates and mid-sized businesses, Energetics ranks as one of Australia’s leading sustainability consulting firms. With over 8,000 experts in 40 countries, ERM bills itself as the world’s largest specialist sustainability consultancy. The firm has grown strongly over the past few years, driven by a buy-and-build campaign backed by investor KKR.

8. Next Capital acquires of Scentia, a leading Australian education and training provider.

Scentia provides education and training services via its subsidiary businesses Australian Institute of Management (AIM) and Australasian College of Health and Wellness (ACHW), including leadership and management training, vocational training services in project management, human resources, leadership and management, post-graduate qualification education services in business administration and undergraduate qualification education services in dermal aesthetics.

9. Ultra Commerce and Comestri Join Forces to Create a Comprehensive eCommerce Offering

Global ecommerce company, Ultra Commerce has acquired Comestri, bringing together Comestri’s award-winning eCommerce SaaS platform with Ultra Commerce’s full-service eCommerce and Marketplace platform. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. As a result of the acquisition, Comestri will be gradually folded into the Ultra Commerce brand. Retail and eCommerce executive Anita Dorwald will step down as CEO of Comestri, retaining a key leadership role as Chief Transformation Officer, focusing on integrating the two companies smoothly and effectively. Matthew Hyland will continue as CEO, with over seven years of experience leading Ultra Commerce. Hyland brings a wealth of expertise and unwavering enthusiasm to this exciting new chapter for the combined entity. Phil Morgan will assume the role of Group CTO for the merged business.

10. Perth marketing firms join forces as Dilate Digital acquires Aligned Agency

Two founder-led marketing agencies in Perth will operate under the same banner following the acquisition of boutique website developer and search engine optimisation (SEO) specialist Aligned Agency by full-service outfit Dilate Digital. The news comes just a few months after Scotland-based global advertising services company xDNA Group acquired a majority stake in Dilate Digital in March, with founder Bodie Czeladka and director Tom Parker partially selling down their holdings. Since 2012 Czeladka has built up a team of more than 100 marketing strategists, SEO specialists, developers, designers, copywriters, content creators and media buyers. He has already been friends with Aligned Agency founder Hursh Dodhia-Shah for eight years, mentoring him throughout his journey with the business in what is an otherwise competitive environment.

11. Fusion5 acquires NZ’s GoCloud Systems

Australasian business solutions company Fusion5 has acquired Wellington-based managed service provider GoCloud Systems. Formed in 2016, GoCloud provides IT strategy, cloud adoption and managed IT services to the New Zealand government, the not-for-profit sector and a range of small to medium businesses. Services range from procurement, cyber security and cloud computing, including advanced skills across both Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services (AWS), and support offerings include managed desktop, security and Microsoft 365.

12. Virtual IT Group Signs Definitive Agreement to Secure Investment from The Riverside Company to Accelerate Growth

VITG provides comprehensive outsourced IT services including cloud, communications, business continuity, and cyber security to over 1,200 mostly mid- and increasingly large-size clients across Australia and globally. Founded in 2015 by Christian Pacheco, it employs over 200 local staff and has a strong heritage in innovation and automation, partnering with the likes of Microsoft, Sophos, WatchGuard, and Kaseya. VITG has expanded rapidly along Australia’s east coast including most recently into Victoria, targeting Australia’s 18,000+ middle market companies that contribute nearly one quarter of the country’s total income. The $167 billion digital technology sector information is growing fast, expanding by 80 percent in just 5 years according to the Australian Trade & Investment Commission. The spend on IT services in Australia is also currently estimated at $45 billion annually, growing at high-single digit rates as organisations invest heavily in critical areas such as security and cloud.