M&A Deals

Merger of Robert Bird Group

December 2017

Robert Bird Group is a Brisbane based engineering firm with revenue of $100 million and 600 staff across more than 10 offices around the globe. The group was founded by Robert Bird in 1982 and offers consulting engineering services across five disciplines within built environment including structural engineering, civil engineering, construction engineering, geotechnical engineering and digital engineering.

Robert Bird Group has been a long standing client of BDO. BDO managed the successful merge of Robert Bird Group with Surbana Jurong. BDO’s role included:

  • Managing the due diligence process;
  • Assistance with all taxation and accounting matters;
  • Providing advice on commercial and financial structuring issues;
  • Managing and leading negotiations;
  • Providing input into the sale and purchase agreement and other necessary legal documents; and
  • Other sundry matters as required to complete the transaction.

Downer purchases Urban Grid

August 2017

Urban Grid who provides specialist services in the development, operation and maintenance of Western Australia’s essential water, energy and communications networks engaged BDO’s (then Tomkins Turner) M&A team to advise on the potential purchase.

Sale of Koramba Cotton

July 2017

Dean Phillips, the owner of United States based HNB National Bank, who is also President and Chairman of T&C Bancorp in Missouri, engaged BDO’s M&A team to sell Koramba, a large cotton farming and ginning enterprise near Goondiwindi, Queensland.

Mr Phillips bought the property in 1985 when it was used solely for grazing. In the pioneering spirit of several American families Mr Phillips converted the property into a large cotton irrigation and dryland cropping farm. Seven years later he established a vertically integrated business by developing a cotton gin.

A successful sale was achieved to Australian Food and Fibre Limited for a purchase price in excess of $100 million. BDO’s role included:

  • Preparing the information memorandum which included an outline of the investment thesis, description of the Australian cotton and water industry; details on operations, and the financials;
  • Developing a detailed 3-way financial model;
  • Marketing to a targeted list of buyers based on our in-depth knowledge on food and agribusiness investors;
  • Managing and leading negotiations; and
  • Other tasks involved to bring the deal to a successful close.

Bids were received from trade buyers, institutional investors, and high net worth investors based in Australia, North America, Europe, and the Middle East.

Global expansion for Minnovare

April, 2016

Looking to expand their footprint internationally and market their specialized Azimuth Aligner technology to mining companies and drilling contractors globally, Minnovare co-founders Callum McCracken and Mick Beliby sought help from BDO (then Tomkins Turner) M&A team to advise on capital raising options and help secure funding from Jolimont Global Mining Systems (Jolimont Global), a private equity group that invests in high growth mining equipment, technology and services companies, and Viburnum Funds, an Australasian-focused mid-market private equity investment manager with extensive experience in mining and oilfield services investment.

Decmil buys telco business: $14 million up-front

April 2015

SC Services Founder, John Ryall sought BDO’s (then Tomkins Turner) help to find a suitable buyer for the business which provides a suite of design, installation and commissioning services to telecommunications network owners, manufacturers and NBN service providers.
The acquisition was made on a cash and debt-free basis and provided Decmil with direct exposure to the telecommunications infrastructure services market in Australia. Under the terms of the agreement, Mr Ryall became general manager of the business which remains trading under the same name.

PwC buys Appian Group

April 2015

Highly regarded project advisory firm Appian Group, led by its three partners, Richard Mickle, Nadia van Dommelen and Sydney-based Steve Cary sought advice from BDO (then Tomkins Turner) on the potential acquisition by PwC. PwC was looking to build on its projects and infrastructure team to build capacity in response to the growing government and private sector demand for management services for large complex projects.

Multi-Color acquires Supa Stik - An all cash deal

October 2015

Don Holywell, retiring Director and owner of Supa Stik, WA’s leading label press engaged BDO (then Tomkins Turner) to help progress the business through a generational change and set it on a course for bigger things. Under the terms of the deal, Peter Holywell, Don’s son will continue to lead the team from the current facility in Balcatta.

Multi-Color Corporation, a US-based labelling solutions firm with interests globally, made an all cash deal for Supa Stik. BDO assisted Mr & Mrs Holywell across all aspects of the transaction.

Sale of Di Bella Coffee

February 2015

The Di Bella Coffee group, a specialty roasting and wholesale coffee business, was sold to Retail Food Group Ltd (‘RFG’), a listed entity engaged in the ownership, development and management of retail food systems.

Total consideration included an initial payment of $30.0m and up to $17.3m in milestone and earn out performance based payments. The initial payment included $2.6m in RFG shares.

BDO’s M&A team was engaged by the vendors, Phillip Di Bella and Gianna Di Bella, to perform sale side transactional services.

Scope buys NEC Australia

June 2014

Scope systems, a systems integrator undertook a strategic review to identify growth opportunities in the wake of a slowing mining industry. Troy Morrison, Managing Director of Scope Systems engaged BDO (then Tomkins Turner) to work on options to grow by acquisition as part of a long-term strategy to expand its client-base and diversify across a number of industries.

Buying in: Details of the deal are confidential, but the purchase was the equivalent of a like-sized firm. With the purchase of NEC, it’s estimated that they doubled their business/client base.

Swedish SSAB buys into Perth’s G&G

June 2014

Richard Ladny, Chief Executive of G&G, specialists in fabrication, design and refurbishment of mining earthmoving equipment engaged BDO’s (then Tomkins Turner) M&A team to advise on the potential purchase. Ladney believed the deal would strengthen the company combining SSAB’s wear and materials knowledge at the same time SSAB director of wear services Claes Lowgren commented that it would help them establish a major presence in the Western Australian market, bringing them closer to mining end-users.

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