Daily Roundup

Crimson Consulting Sweetens Kip McGrath Takeover Bid

Crimson Consulting Australia has upped the ante in its pursuit of Kip McGrath Education Centres, lifting its offer price from $0.73 to $0.75 per share. The revised bid represents a 66.7% premium to Kip McGrath's last closing price, and it's now unconditional—meaning there are no remaining hurdles for the deal to proceed.

The Kip McGrath board has done a complete about-face, withdrawing its previous rejection and now unanimously recommending that shareholders accept the offer. Those who've already signed on will also benefit from the higher price. Shareholders can accept online or through a personalized form, with the offer closing on October 19, 2026.

Crimson already holds 32.37% of Kip McGrath's shares, giving it substantial control as it seeks to take the education centre operator private.

Southern Cross Electrical Engineering Makes Major Acquisition Play

Southern Cross Electrical Engineering is making a bold move to expand its footprint, agreeing to acquire Entire Operations for up to $112.1 million. Entire, a leading provider of fire protection and HVAC services, will significantly broaden SCEE's multi-disciplinary capabilities and geographic reach, particularly in Victoria.

The deal structure includes $70 million upfront and up to $42.1 million in deferred payments tied to future EBIT performance. Entire is expected to contribute over $60 million in additional recurring maintenance and services revenue annually, with completion anticipated for November 1, 2026. The acquisition is immediately accretive to earnings and aligns neatly with SCEE's strategy to diversify geographically and expand into adjacent service areas. The company has also raised its FY27 EBITDA guidance to at least $110 million, including Entire's expected $10 million contribution.

GenusPlus Bolsters Telecom Presence in New Zealand

GenusPlus Group is making its own acquisition splash, snapping up UCG Holdings for NZ$38.25 million upfront. UCG is a telecommunications construction and maintenance powerhouse in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, with a decade-long relationship with Chorus, the country's largest telecom infrastructure provider.

The deal includes NZ$1.75 million in deferred payments and up to NZ$25 million in earn-outs based on FY27 and FY28 performance. Completion is expected by the end of October. For GenusPlus, the acquisition immediately adds scale and capability to its telecom offerings, providing a springboard for further growth in the region.

Stakk Accelerates Past Revenue Targets

Stakk Limited is firing on all cylinders, reporting Q1 FY2027 pro-forma revenue of A$16.1 million, a robust 16.5% increase. More impressively, that translates to an annualized revenue pace of A$64.3 million—already surpassing the company's FY2027 target of A$55.2 million.

The momentum is remarkable considering Stakk's revenue has surged 151% since March 2025. The company has already locked in 100% of its FY2027 revenue target through recurring contracts with existing customers, and the pipeline for FY2028 looks substantial and expanding. Major customer wins and cross-selling opportunities, particularly following the ParaScript acquisition, are driving the growth.

Cobre Takes Full Control of Chilean Copper Project

Cobre Ltd has exercised its Control Call Option to increase its stake in the Sierra Atacama copper project to 62.86%, paying approximately US$12 million to Minera Salar Blanco. The move elevates Cobre to majority shareholder status, granting it three of five board seats and full economic and governance control as the project moves into its next expansion phase.