HACH Private Group Launched to Include Its Rebranded Corporate Advisory Business and a New Family Office Division

Roger Allen AM joins as Executive Director of HACH Private Capital

Sean Cortis retires from Chapman Eastway to lead new international Family Office division

SYDNEY–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#PE–HACH Private Capital, a leading provider of corporate advisory and M&A services, today announced a business restructure and rebranding, separating the executive team from Chapman Eastway in order to facilitate its independence, whilst at the same time enhancing its board and advisory capabilities.

Under the restructure, Fergus Herbert and Darren Heathcote were named joint CEO’s, with Roger Allen AM and Sean Cortis being appointed Executive Directors. The business has also been rebranded to form the “HACH Private Group” encompassing the both the entities of HACH Private Capital and HACH Private Family Office.

The name HACH (pronounced ‘hatch’) recognizes the new founders, being an acronym based on the surnames of Heathcote, Allen, Cortis and Herbert.

On explaining the decision to become independent from its previous accounting firm partner, Chapman Eastway, Heathcote said, “the restructure gives us greater independence and flexibility to seek out best of breed service providers. Working internationally, we need an independent and trusted network of service providers, not only covering accounting and tax, but also legal, intellectual property and technical experts. The move expands our reach and further aligns us with the interests of our clients.”

HACH Private Capital provides M&A, corporate advisory, strategic consulting and capital raising services to privately held businesses pursuing global growth opportunities, capitalizing on its extensive networks throughout the Asia-Pacific region. HACH works with a global network of legal, tax and advisory specialists to provide comprehensive solutions to clients. HACH has substantial industry experience in technology, agriculture, media, consumer goods and healthcare, but has the capabilities to serve business in any market sector.

Herbert said, “HACH is an agile, innovative corporate advisory firm that knows how to build businesses through acquisition, organic growth or both. HACH works with management teams to create a strategic roadmap for success and offers bold ideas to help businesses no matter what stage of their lifecycle. We look forward to working with dynamic businesses interested in what’s possible when great ideas and growth capital come together.”

World-Class Team

HACH’s management team has a long track record of delivering exceptional results.

Roger Allen AM has had three careers: as an IT entrepreneur, Venture capitalist and Philanthropist. His career began from a small Melbourne suburb where he built the Computer Power Group into a substantial global IT business employing over 3,000 people with revenues in today’s dollars of over $1 billion. Subsequently he co-founded Allen and Buckeridge, a venture capital company with offices in Silicon Valley and Australia, providing over $300m of much needed capital to over 50 early stage companies. He served on two Prime Ministers’ Science and Technology Councils and has chaired both Victorian and NSW Government ICT Advisory Boards. He was deputy Chairman of Austrade for 7 years.

In 2011 Allen received an Order of Australia Honour (AM) for his services to the information technology sector through leadership roles, venture capital investment and professional development and in recognition of his support of the Indigenous community and philanthropic interests.

“Roger Allen is widely credited for founding the venture capital industry in Australia and his experience and insights bring an incredible value add when it come to our modus operandi and the selection of which businesses and investments we choose to align with. Ultimately our desire for strategic long-term alignment benefits our clients”, Heathcote said.

Herbert has served as a founder and either CEO or Chairman of numerous growth businesses and has more than 25 years of experience. He has deep expertise in private equity, corporate advisory, investments, property, publishing and marketing. Heathcote also has served as a CEO and founder and has more than 30 years of experience in banking, private equity and capital raising. He has provided strategic advice to firms seeking to grow or restructure their operations in multiple industry sectors.

Heathcote has also been a founder himself of several companies and has been a corporate advisor for many firms seeking to raise debt, equity or execute M&A. Heathcote currently serves, or has served, as Chairman or as a director for a number of companies across various sectors including Energy, Agriculture, Technology and Investment. Earlier in his career, Heathcote worked for Investec Bank (Australia) Ltd, NM Rothschild & Sons (Australia) Ltd, Hambros Bank & Trust Company and Barfield Bank & Trust Company.

Cortis was a senior partner for 20 years at Chapman Eastway, serving his last 8 years as CEO. He has over 30 years of practice experience, with specialised skills in taxation, estate and succession planning, business advisory and family office services. His expertise includes strategic consulting and corporate advisory assignments, such as public listings, business sales, debt and equity raisings, valuations, and M&A. Cortis is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and New Zealand, a Chartered Tax Advisor and has received TEP designation from the Society of Tax and Estate Practitioners for his experience as a tax and estates practitioner.

Family Office Division

Cortis, a recognized thought leader on Family Offices, retired from Chapman Eastway to join HACH Private Group and oversee the development of a trusted and independent multi-family office. His role of advising business families on matters of governance, structures and wealth preservation also aligns with the ability of HACH to aid those families on both complex due diligence and strategy for their private market investments.

“Having Sean Cortis retire his CEO role to join HACH Private Group full time is a testament to our vision and business model”, Herbert said. “We now have a world-class team which collectively has over a hundred years of experience, with a multi-disciplinary capability, both in the corporate context as well as in the family business/family office context. Our collective experience and expertise, allows HACH to deliver a full portfolio of services to power the growth of dynamic businesses and help families preserve wealth.”

For more information about HACH Private Group, contact Eric Kamal on +61 0406 958 959 or eric@hachprivate.com

About HACH Private Group

HACH Private Group provides M&A, corporate advisory, strategic consulting, capital raising services and Family Office services to dynamic businesses and families globally. The business remains dedicated to its founding principles: To align itself with opportunities that create and preserve wealth whilst consistently providing independent and aligned advisory services with the highest standards of professionalism.

For more information, visit www.hachprivate.com.

Contacts

Eric Kamal, +61 0406 958 959

eric@hachprivate.com