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SCD Advisory supports Alceon on its acquisition of Engage Squared

Posted On : 21st September 2026
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SCD Advisory is pleased to announce a transaction within the Microsoft ecosystem!

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Alceon Private Equity is an Australian private equity investor that partners with founder-led businesses in the mid market.

Engage Squared is a Melbourne-headquartered Microsoft partner delivering Microsoft 365, Copilot and Power Platform solutions across Australia, New Zealand and Japan.

Alceon invested in Engage Squared to provide capital to scale further across the Microsoft ecosystem, both organically and through add on acquisitions, and to support continued delivery for clients adopting AI while the team expands its position within the broader Microsoft stack.

SCD advised Alceon on the Microsoft ecosystem, sizing the ANZ partner landscape and setting out where Engage Squared sits within it. SCD carried out a strategic assessment and commercial due diligence on Engage Squared, covering both quantitative and qualitative factors.

On the role of SCD Advisory, Zac Midalia (Head of Private Equity, Alceon) said:

 

Engage Squared sits in a part of the Microsoft ecosystem that is moving quickly, and we wanted a clear view of it before we committed. SCD Advisory gave us that view, backed by commercial diligence we could rely on and clear advice on how the opportunity fits within the broader sector. Their knowledge of the space gave us conviction in our investment decision.

Pierre Briand, Founder of SCD Advisory added:

 

This marks our eighth Microsoft partner transaction and it reflects the full spectrum of configurations we advised on in this market, including buy-side and sell-side, local and cross-border, founder-led businesses and private equity platforms. Engage Squared is riding the wave of AI implementation across Australia, New Zealand and Japan, and Alceon’s investment highlights how quickly this segment is accelerating. It is a clear example of private equity backing a high-performing Microsoft partner to scale at a time when demand for AI-enabled productivity solutions is expanding at pace. We wish Engaged Square and Alceon great success in this journey, which represents Alceon’s first investment in their newly launched Alceon Private Equity Access Fund.

At SCD Advisory, we offer a range of services from deal preparation to transaction execution. Contact us at info@scdadvisory.com to find out more.

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Pierre Briand preview image
Written by: Pierre Briand, Founder & Managing Partner

Pierre brings 25 years of expertise in advising entrepreneurs, with a deep background in management and financial advisory across corporate finance, private banking, and wealth management. His extensive experience includes numerous sell-side and buy-side deals, IPOs, mergers, integrations, and consulting projects for both small businesses and large global corporations. As an established and highly regarded advisor, Pierre is known for his savvy, trusted guidance.

Pierre’s career began in Australia before he moved to France, where he worked with prominent business figures like billionaire François Pinault on M&A deals within the Artemis group. He then founded BC&D, an M&A small-cap firm in Paris, where he managed corporate advisory services across Europe, covering both origination and execution. His work extended beyond transactions, advising entrepreneurs on wealth management strategies to optimise the transition from business ownership.

In Paris, he held advisory roles at the Belgium Family Office (DeGroof) and as a senior private banker and head of the HNW segment for France at JP Morgan. Returning to Australia in 2015, Pierre established the ANZ subsidiary of a UK-headquartered M&A firm, executing 9 M&A transactions across Australia. In 2019, he launched SCD Advisory, where he has since completed 35+ transactions, earning multiple global awards in M&A advisory from 2021 to 2024. Notably, he was named ‘Deal Maker of the Year’ by Finance Monthly in 2022 for his sale of Hypothesis to McKinsey & Co.

Pierre graduated from the Business of Troyes in France and has a postgraduate in Corporate Finance from the University of Caen. He is also a certified Financial Analyst and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD). Pierre further enhanced his credentials by completing the “Leading Professional Services Firms” program at Harvard Business School. His track record and accolades highlight his dedication to excellence and his exceptional skill in delivering successful outcomes for his clients.

Pierre is French, Australian citizen, Overseas Citizen of India. He is married and has two children. He is passionate about international travel, gastronomy, sailing and golf. As an experienced sailor, his motto in business and life in general is: “We cannot direct the wind, but we can trim the sails”

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