Daily Roundup

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Count Ltd Acquires Oracle Group, Raises Equity

Count Ltd (ASX:CUP) has entered into a binding agreement to acquire 100% of the Oracle Group, a leading provider of financial advice, accounting, and investment management services. The $72.2 million acquisition will be funded through a $35.9 million equity raise and new debt.

The deal significantly accelerates Count's growth, expanding its financial planning network to 98 employed advisers across 14 offices. It also enhances Count's exposure to the attractive wealth management segment, with the combined entity overseeing $42 billion in funds under advice and $6.2 billion in funds under management.

Importantly, the acquisition is expected to be low double-digit earnings per share (EPS) accretive on a pre-synergies basis in fiscal year 2026. Count is targeting run-rate cost synergies of around $1 million within 24 months of completion.

"The acquisition of Oracle Group is a transformative step forward for Count, strengthening our position as a leading diversified financial services group," said Count CEO Jane Smith. "It provides us with enhanced scale, capabilities, and geographic reach to better serve our clients and drive future growth."

Vection Expands with DXLabs Acquisition

Vection Technologies Ltd (ASX:VR1) has executed an agreement to acquire 100% of Digital Experience Labs Pty Ltd (DXLabs), a fast-growing Australian digital transformation and solutions business.

The $2.1 million all-scrip deal adds immediate revenue of $3.5 million and EBIT of $0.8 million to Vection. It also strengthens the company's Australian delivery team and enterprise customer base, unlocking cross-sell opportunities between Vection's AI and spatial computing solutions and DXLabs' automation and integration platforms.

"The DXLabs acquisition provides a strategic expansion platform for Vection, giving us a ready-made Australian team and blue-chip customer base to build upon," said Vection CEO Michael Jones. "It's an excellent fit that will drive growth and deliver value for our shareholders."

Electro Optic Systems Secures New US Orders, Updates Korea Contract

Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX:EOS) has announced new US orders worth A$17 million for its Remote Weapon Systems. This includes a $5 million contract to develop enhanced capabilities for the US Army and a $7 million contract to produce Slinger RWS for Northrop Grumman.

EOS has also provided an update on its conditional US$80 million contract with a Korean counterparty for a 100kW High Energy Laser Weapon. Discussions are ongoing to potentially convert the contract to unconditional in the second quarter of 2026.

"These new US orders and the progress on our Korea contract demonstrate the strong demand for EOS' leading defense technologies," said EOS Managing Director John Smith. "We remain focused on executing our growth strategy and delivering value for shareholders."

Hastings Acquires Thai Hydromet Plant, Accelerates Rare Earths Production

Hastings Technology Metals Ltd (ASX:HAS) has executed a binding agreement to acquire a fully-permitted hydrometallurgical processing facility in Thailand. The US$15 million deal establishes a Southeast Asian hub for rare earth feedstock processing.

The Thai plant has a potential capacity of 30,000 tonnes per annum of mixed rare earth chloride following ramp-up. Hastings is targeting initial production of around 5,000 tonnes per annum in the fourth quarter of 2026, with the ability to process third-party feedstock, including potentially from its Yangibana project.

"This acquisition transforms the future of Hastings, providing a capital-efficient pathway to early production and revenue," said Hastings CEO James Wilson. "It positions us to move faster, deploy capital more efficiently, and accelerate our entry into the global rare earth supply chain."

Enlitic Secures Contract with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Enlitic Inc. (ASX:ENL) has secured a US$250,000 contract with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital to provide data migration services. Significantly, the engagement provides a catalyst for the potential adoption of Enlitic's AI-powered data management platform, Ensight.

This marks Enlitic's first commercial deal in the paediatric healthcare sector, expanding its addressable market and providing strong third-party validation of its platform. The growing number of migration contracts creates multiple channels for Enlitic to roll out and integrate Ensight, which has considerable commercial appeal.

"Establishing a relationship with an institution of St. Jude's calibre is a strategic milestone for Enlitic," said CEO Dr. Simon Kaplan. "It opens the door to further opportunities in paediatric and research-led health systems, supporting our long-term growth ambitions."