Count buys 30% of Apiary as Q1 revenue climbs 23% to $52.1M
What's the deal? Count Group has agreed to acquire a 30% stake in Apiary FinancialDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a Brisbane-based accounting and financial advice firm. Apiary principals Scott McDonald and Craig Dobbs keep a combined 70% stake and continue to lead the business, which generated $3.5 million in revenue in FY26.
The specifics: The transaction is expected to complete on December 1, subject to customary conditions and regulatory approvals. Apiary already operates under Count Financials' AFSL.
What's the endgame? Count wants to use the stake to extend financial advice services to Apiary's accounting clients and pursue bolt-on acquisitions. "Our initial investment provides Scott and Craig with the support and capital to accelerate their growth ambitions, while creating a clear pathway for Count to increase its investment as the business grows," chief executive Hugh Humphrey said.
By the numbers: Separately, Count's first-quarter revenue rose 23.2% to $52.1 million year on year. Underlying EBITA climbed 66.6% to $12.7 million, lifting the margin to 24.5% from 18.1%, while funds under management hit a record $6.7 billion, up 31.3%.
Yes, but: Count attributed part of the quarter's strength to carried-over work in its equity partnership segment and strong actuarial consulting revenues — so the result may not signal a sustained step-change.
Why now? The deal extends an acquisition-led growth push. Count completed 10 transactions in FY26, including the acquisition of Oracle Group — rebranded Count Wealth — and an equity partnership in Melbourne firm Tailored Lifetime SolutionsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →.
The signal: Count is scaling its equity-partnership model one firm at a time, using capital to buy into advice businesses while leaving founders in control. The Apiary stake is small, but it gives Count a platform to deepen its reach into accounting clients and keep consolidating a fragmented market.
Read more: financialnewswire.com.au
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