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PRESS RELEASE: Canon Business Services acquires Satalyst

January 2022

A JOHNSONS CORPORATE ACQUISITION

*Luke Clark, CEO – Canon Business Services ANZ*

Johnsons is pleased to announce the successful acquisition of a private, mid-sized Australian business by a strategic trade buyer. After facilitating a comprehensive, end-to-end acquisitions campaign, our client – Canon Business Services (CBS) – has purchased Satalyst for an undisclosed amount. Headquartered in NSW, CBS is a leader in business process outsourcing as well as providing clients with secure managed IT services, IT infrastructure and Cloud technologies. WA-based Satalyst, is one of Microsoft’s most experienced and tenured cloud and security solutions partners based in Australia.

The team at Johnsons were pleased to act as lead advisors to CBS’s executive team and would like to extend our congratulations to both the purchaser and the vendor.

In early 2021, CBS engaged Johnsons to assist in the execution of an acquisitions program. Targeting strategic industry sectors, the objective was to accelerate CBS’s growth goals by providing customers with adjacent / complimentary solutions, while reenforcing CBS’s leading market position.

Using custom research and running an anonymous marketing campaign, Johnsons identified various “off-market” acquisition opportunities. These parties were then thoroughly screened, resulting in a short-list of pre-qualified targets. After completing detailed company profiles and facilitating a series of management meetings, Johnsons assisted CBS in narrowing its focus to a preferred candidate, Satalyst. As a leading Microsoft cloud and security partner, Satalyst was an excellent strategic and technical fit with Canon Business Services ANZ. The acquisition strengthened CBS’s application, security, data and AI capabilities, while providing the Satalyst business with the backing needed to fast-track its expansion plans.

PRESS RELEASE: ASI Solutions acquires Int Tec Solutions

July 2021

A JOHNSONS CORPORATE ACQUISITION

*Int Tec’s premises based in Mildura, VIC*

Johnsons is pleased to announce the successful acquisition of a private, mid-sized Australian business by a strategic trade buyer. After facilitating a comprehensive, end-to-end acquisitions campaign, our client – ASI Solutions – has purchased Int Tec Solutions for an undisclosed amount. Headquartered in NSW, ASI is a leading IT managed services provider, servicing commercial customers across Australia’s eastern seaboard. From its base in the regional city of Mildura, Int Tec Solutions provides computer support services to businesses across northeast Victoria.

The team at Johnsons were pleased to act as lead advisors to ASI Solution’s directors and would like to extend our congratulations to both the purchaser and the vendor.

In late 2020, ASI engaged Johnsons Corporate to assist in the execution of a strategic acquisitions program, targeting IT product and services businesses operating in either Australia and/or New Zealand. Investment criteria included an established offering in IT services, managed services provision, and/or hardware sales; a portfolio of B2B customers; and an experienced team of technical staff.

Within 8 weeks Johnsons presented ASI’s board with a qualified, short-list of 33 targets. After further vetting, the directors prioritised Int Tec Solutions, recognising in it an established and well-reputed player with a complementary service offering that represented a good fit for its diversification objectives.

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PRESS RELEASE: Ausdeck Group sold to Alpin Group

March 2021

A JOHNSONS CORPORATE DIVESTMENT

*The Ausdeck Group is comprised of four interrelated business units. Each operates from an independent site under its own management team.*

Johnsons is pleased to announce the successful sale of a private, mid-sized Australian business to a financial buyer. After facilitating a comprehensive, end-to-end sales and negotiations process, our client – Ausdeck Group – has been acquired by Alpin Group for an undisclosed amount. Based in Queensland, Ausdeck Group represents a collection of specialised manufacturing businesses, primarily serving the Australian home improvement and construction industries. The Australian buyer, Alpin Group, is an integrated investment and advisory house focused on privately-owned enterprises with operations in Australia and/or New Zealand.

The team at Johnsons were pleased to act as lead advisors to Ausdeck’s directors and would like to extend our congratulations to both the vendor and the purchaser.

In early 2020, Johnsons was engaged by Ausdeck’s founder to undertake an international divestment campaign, with a view to finding a strategic acquirer for the Business. His objective was to exit his shareholding, crystalising historical growth, while ensuring continuity for the Group’s businesses, their long-dedicated management teams, and employees. In the face of many Covid-19 induced challenges, Johnsons secured Offer & Acceptance and successfully brought the deal to completion.

Commenting on the divestment experience, Ausdeck’s founder Stewart Craig remarked: “I guess to sum it all up, the team at Johnsons led me through the whole process and provided invaluable guidance along the way. They assisted me to overcome numerous obstacles, which were unforeseen from my perspective and managed the multiple stakeholders from beginning to end.”

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PRESS RELEASE: Fluid Power Services sold to Coventry Group

May 2021

A JOHNSONS CORPORATE DIVESTMENT

*Fluid Power’s long-standing Devonport premises.*

Johnsons is pleased to announce the successful sale of a private, mid-sized Australian business to a strategic trade buyer. After facilitating a comprehend-sive, end-to-end sales and negotiations process, our client – Fluid Power Services – has been acquired by Coventry Group Ltd for an undisclosed amount. Based in Tasmania, Fluid Power is a long-established provider of hydraulic engine-eering services to customers in the Mining & Metals, Infrastructure, Trans-port & Logistics, Building & Construction Timber, and Industrial Services sectors. ASX-listed Coventry Group provides industrial solutions to the mining, cons-truction and manufacturing sectors.

The team at Johnsons were pleased to act as lead advisors to Fluid Power’s directors and would like to extend our congratulations to both the vendor and the purchaser.

In 2019 after growing the Business for almost 30 years, Fluid Power’s directors engaged Johnsons Corporate to conduct a national divestment campaign. They sought to exit the Business and create a succession plan for its future continuity by way of a sale to a third party. In the face of Covid-19 induced challenges, Johnsons secured Offer & Acceptance in late 2020.

Commenting on the sales process, Fluid Power’s Richard Lawson explained: “As they say timing is everything, and Johnsons stayed with us every step of the way to complete the transaction. In the end it may have taken us longer than we first thought, but both of us are extremely happy with the result. We can’t recommend Johnsons highly enough. Coventry Group is a great fit with Fluid Power, and we couldn’t have gotten here without them.”

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PRESS RELEASE: Beemart sold to JE Tipper

June 2020

A JOHNSONS CORPORATE DIVESTMENT

*Wholesale distribution of fresh produce*

Johnsons is pleased to announce the successful sale of a private, mid-sized Australian business to a synergistic trade buyer. After facilitating a comprehensive, end-to-end sales & negotiations process, our client – Beemart Fruit & Veg – has been acquired by JE Tipper for an undisclosed amount. Based in Bundaberg, Beemart is a long-established wholesaler of fresh fruit and vegetables, comprising wholesaling, marketing, transport, retail and banana ripening operations. The acquirer, JE Tipper, is one of Australia’s premier fresh fruit marketing, wholesaling and logistics businesses.

The team at Johnsons were pleased to act as lead advisors to Beemart’s founding director and shareholders and would like to extend our congratulations to both the vendor and the purchaser.

In 2019, Beemart engaged Johnsons Corporate to undertake a divestment campaign of behalf of its founder. After 50+ years building the company, Neville Beston sought to step back and set in place a succession strategy for his retirement. Within 12 weeks of going-to-market, Johnsons’ proactive approach secured Offer & Acceptance from a synergistic firm to acquire the Business.

Commenting on the sales process, Mr. Beston stated: “We were highly impressed with how Johnsons managed the sale process and kept it on track during what was one of the most difficult financial periods for businesses in the foreseeable past in what has been the Covid-19 epidemic.”

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PRESS RELEASE: Vision Environment sold to Trinity Consultants, Inc.

June 2020

A JOHNSONS CORPORATE DIVESTMENT

Johnsons is pleased to announce the successful sale of a private, mid-sized Australian business to an international trade buyer. After facilitating a comprehensive, end-to-end sales and negotiations process, our client – Vision Environment – has been acquired by Trinity Consultants Inc. for an undisclosed amount. Based in Northern Queensland, Vision is a boutique environmental consultancy firm that specialises in the evaluation, oversight and conservation of water environments. Texas, USA-head-quartered Trinity is an EHS consulting company with offices across the U.S. and in Canada, the UK, and Asiapac.

The team at Johnsons were pleased to act as lead advisors to Vision Environment’s directors and would like to extend our congratulations to both the vendor and purchaser.

In 2019, after 10+ years building the Business, Vision’s owners sought to create a succession strategy that would ensure continued future growth for the firm. They appointed Johnsons Corporate to manage an international sales campaign with the objective of finding a strategic acquirer to take the Business to the next level. Within 4 months of going-to-market, Johnsons’ proactive approach had secured Offer & Acceptance to acquire the Business.

Commenting on the sales process, Vision director Dr Andersen stated: “Given the specialist nature of our business, and likely suitors, we needed a very strategic and targeted divestment strategy. Our appointed broker, Johnsons Corporate, certainly delivered on this front.” Both directors added, “We are thrilled about joining Trinity.”

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PRESS RELEASE: Empowered Learning sold to Modern Star – Johnsons Corporate Divestment

November 2019

Empowered staff displaying screen technology

Johnsons is pleased to announce the successful sale of a private, mid-sized Australian business to a strategic trade buyer. After facilitating a comprehensive, end-to-end sales and negotiations process, our client – Empowered Learning – has been acquired by Modern Star for an undisclosed amount. NSW-based Empowered Learning is a long-standing and market leading provider of interactive audiovisual technologies to the education sector. The Sydney head-quartered acquirer, Modern Star, is a multinational supplier of educational resources to early childhood services, primary schools, and before and after school care programs.

The team at Johnsons were pleased to act as lead advisors to Empowered Learning’s director and would like to extend our congratulations to both the vendor and the purchaser.

In 2019, having positioned the Business for continued growth in Australia’s education sector, Empowered Learnings owner decided to exit by way of sale to a third party, seeking new owners with the scale & capabilities to continue growing the business at a national level. After engaging our services, Johnsons Corporate secured Offer & Acceptance for the Business on his behalf within 8 weeks of going to market.

Regarding the sales process, Empowered’s director commented: “In the end, we did the deal within about 6 months of going-to-market. We were very pleased with the outcome in relation to both price and deal terms secured.”

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PRESS RELEASE: Workforce Clothing sold to ATOM – Johnsons Corporate Divestment

November 2019

Model wearing workforce safety shirt, gloves, and goggles

Johnsons is pleased to announce the sale of a private, mid-sized Australian business to a related trade buyer. After facilitating a comprehensive, end-to-end sales and negotiations process, our client – CIGL Pty Ltd – has successfully divested its Workforce Clothing business, which provides high quality industrial workwear to the Mining, Engineering, Transport, Manufacturing and Civil Con-tracting sectors across Australia. The acquirer – ATOM – is one of Australia’s leading and fastest growing Industrial Hardware & Safety Equipment suppliers.

The team at Johnsons were pleased to act as lead advisors to CIGL’s directors and would like to extend our congratulations to both the vendor and the purchaser.

A privately owned and diversified industrial products company, CIGL had originally acquired the Workforce Clothing business in 2011. In 2018 the directors made a strategic decision to divest non-core assets and re-focus their energy and resources on CIGL’s primary operations. They engaged Johnsons undertake a divestment campaign on their behalf, seeking a strategic acquirer with the resources to continue its growth and development.

“Our initial discussions with Johnsons Corporate led us to the conclusion, that whilst a divestment of this asset would require some ‘heavy lifting’ given the dynamics within the sector, with the right approach and a genuine commitment to the divestment process, an outcome could be achieved.” Within 8 weeks of going to market, Johnsons secured Offer & Acceptance with the strategic trade buyer.

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PRESS RELEASE: Eastern Automation sold to HI Fraser Group – Johnsons Corporate Divestment

May 2019

Hydraulic engineers working on Eastern Automation's workshop floor

Johnsons is pleased to announce the successful sale of a private, mid-sized Australian business to a strategic trade buyer. After facilitating a comprehensive end-to-end sales and negotiations process, our client – Eastern Automation – has been acquired by the H.I. Fraser Group for an undisclosed amount. Based in Victoria, Eastern Automation is a niche provider of fluid power & process control solutions to a select mix of blue chip custo-mers, who span the transport, water, construction, manufacturing, waste and petrochemical industries among others. H.I. Fraser Group is a growing professional engineering firm, operating from WA & Sydney, with expertise in a number of fields.

The team at Johnsons were pleased to act as lead advisors to Eastern Automation’s director and would like to extend our congratulations to both the vendor and the purchaser.

In 2018 Johnsons Corporate was engaged to undertake a strategic divestment campaign on behalf of the Business’s director. Our mandate was to find a strategic suitor, who could best lead the Business on its next stage of growth and provide succession for its owner. Johnsons ran a ran a direct marketing campaign that targeted a wide range of diversified engineering services providers as well as more generalised industrial services providers and industrial products distributors. These efforts generated 41 expressions of interest, and Johnsons secured offer and acceptance within 10 weeks of going to market.

For over 50 years Johnsons Corporate has specialised in the provision of business sales and acquisition services for mid-sized, private Australian companies. Our clients get results because Johnsons’ approach is specifically designed for the mid-market business sector. Custom research and direct marketing capabilities, combined with expertise in sales and negotiations, create a service unavailable elsewhere in the field of traditional business broking and corporate advisory.

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PRESS RELEASE: Edington Agencies sold to Aldridge Capital – Johnsons Corporate Divestment

March 2019

Johnsons is pleased to announce the successful sale of a private, mid-sized Australian business to an Australian financial buyer. After facilitating a comprehensive end-to-end sales and negotiations process, our client – Edington Agencies – has been acquired by Aldridge Capital for an undisclosed amount. Based in QLD, Edington offers best practice solutions for electric motor and power transmission applications in HVAC systems. Aldridge Capital is an Australian investment company, based in Sydney that holds multiple industrial businesses in its portfolio.

The team at Johnsons were pleased to act as lead advisors to Edington’s director and would like to extend our congratulations to both the vendor and the purchaser.

In 2018 Edington’s director engaged Johnsons Corporate to undertake a strategic divestment campaign on his behalf. Having established and grown the Business since 1991, he thought the timing was right to pass ownership to a strategic suitor, who could best lead the Business on its next stage of growth.

Johnsons ran a ran a broad direct marketing campaign that targeted distributors of electrical motors, power transmission equipment and other related industrial products as well as service providers in the HVAC space. These efforts generated 28 expressions of interest, and Johnsons Corporate secured offer and acceptance within 10 weeks of going to market. For over 50 years Johnsons Corporate has specialised in the provision of business sales and acquisition services for mid-sized, private Australian companies. Our clients get results because Johnsons’ approach is specifically designed for the mid-market business sector. Custom research and direct marketing capabilities, combined with expertise in sales and negotiations, create a service unavailable elsewhere in the field of traditional business broking and corporate advisory.

> READ THE CASE STUDY