Grant Thornton Australia

Preparing your business for a potential capital raise or exit requires a strategic and considered plan – and it’s never too early to prepare. The technology sector is rapidly changing, so it’s even more critical that tech businesses understand how to scale and position themselves effectively, ensuring they remain attractive to potential investors. With a shifting industry landscape and evolving investor expectations, there are some key steps business leaders should consider. So, what are the key considerations, opportunities and challenges for technology businesses thinking about future raises or exits?

The recent release of the 10th Edition of Dealtracker shared insights from the last 18 months of deals in the Australian mid-market. Despite global uncertainty and geopolitical shifts, the Australian mid-market has remained resilient and maintained stability in the number of deals. There’s been strong focus in the IT and industrials sectors, with Australia remaining attractive to international buyers, particularly in the US and Canada. So what other trends were revealed in the findings?

The Federal Budget was handed down less than a month ago, and since then, global changes have continued to unfold. The ever-evolving tariff landscape is impacting industries both in Australia and worldwide. The economy faces significant structural challenges, including rising costs in defence, aged care, health, and the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Additionally, the uncertainty brought about by tariffs and geopolitical volatility is creating further opportunities and challenges for Australian businesses. Given this complex environment, what is the current economic landscape, and how can Australian businesses remain resilient amidst the uncertainty?

The adoption of technology is positively influencing and driving efficiencies in many industries – the audit profession is no exception. From streamlining the audit process, to creating efficiencies in client communications, auditors can perform more complex and deeper analysis for their clients because of technology. They’re able to leverage the power of machine learning for repetitive tasks and can analyse large volumes of data. Instead of sample testing a population, certain tech tools can assist in analysing all data to identify discrepancies or outliers. So, how else can technology and AI empower auditors in their day-to-day work?

Significant changes have been made to the AML/CTF regulations in Australia to better align with international standards. The new laws will require stricter governance from Boards and Directors and with so many changes, staying on top of what needs implementing will be their responsibility too. With limited experts in Australia, how can organisations that are currently reporting and new entrants into the regime be sure they’re compliant? 

Businesses in Australia are currently struggling to navigate the complexities involved with payroll remediation challenges. It’s critical for businesses of all sizes to understand the best way to manage these large-scale projects and remain agile when challenges arise. Not only do organisations need to ensure they’re legally compliant, but payroll remediation is also a moral and ethical challenge that businesses must get right.  So, what strategies can a business use to detect potential issues early, and how can they effectively address these problems to prevent them from escalating?

Preparing for hosting the Olympics requires meticulous planning and execution. From infrastructure delivery to enhancing community engagement and legacy planning, having eight years to prepare suddenly doesn’t seem like long enough. Local businesses will be bidding for competitive contracts that could see them going from supplying a local market to the global stage. With all this in mind, it’s critical to understand how the city is preparing and what’s left to do. So, what crucial steps must Brisbane and those businesses that want to be involved be taking to ensure it’s ready for this global event?

In the latest episode of Beyond the Numbers with Grant Thornton, Private Business Tax and Advisory Partners and Family Business accredited advisors, Kirsten Taylor-Martin and Kirstin Stewart discuss the critical elements of effective succession planning. They explore effective succession planning, open communication and how aligning family expectations can position the rising generation to successfully lead the family into the future. Tune in to learn how you can help build a lasting family legacy.

The Small Business Restructure (SBR) regime came into force at the beginning of 2021 as a cost-effective method for distressed businesses to reorganise and negotiate businesses debts up to $1m. While this restructuring tool was underutilised during the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s recently been an increase in the adoption of SBRs as a restructuring tool by distressed businesses. So, what’s the reason for this recent uptick, and how can small businesses under pressure start the process? 

The May Federal Budget saw the Government reaffirm its commitment to a ‘Future Made in Australia’ by allocating $22.7b to boost investment and rejuvenate Australia's domestic manufacturing capabilities, thereby strengthening Australia's position in the global economy. However, what are the practical implications for the manufacturing sector and when will we see the investment have impact on the sector in Australia?

In the lead-up to an election year, the Labor Government faces the task of easing cost-of-living pressures for Australians who are feeling the financial strain. While we’ve already witnessed significant announcements, such as HECs reforms, payments for trainee teachers, nurses, and social workers during university placements, and the allocation of $167.8m for Tranche 2 Anti-Money Laundering regulations, there’s more to address. So, what else did the Federal Government allocate spending to this year and how will it assist Australian businesses?

In 2023 Australia began implementing Tranche 2 of its AML and CTF reforms – part of the government’s plan to align Australia’s AML regime with international standards. The reforms have far-reaching implications for Lawyers, Accountants, and Real Estate Professionals, who will be required to take a more active role in deterring money laundering and terrorist financing. So, what’s the status of the reforms, and is Australia potentially falling behind its global counterparts? 

Victoria’s property market is dynamic. With the recent announcement for changes in stamp duty on commercial and industrial properties, it will make the current landscape more complex. So, what’s been the reaction to the proposal, and how should potential buyers or owners of commercial and industrial properties navigate this proposed change?

‘Option ready’ refers to a firm being able to choose which strategic option they want to pursue – whether it be continuing to enjoy equity returns, fund expansion of their business, bring new equity participants in or consider a merger opportunity. Beyond these characteristics, cultural alignment and a shifting employee landscape are also critical to success. So how can a firm consider these factors to ensure sustainable and competitive growth into the future?

Innovation is a key driver of productivity for businesses. To help them achieve their objectives, the government offers various programs such as the R&D Tax Incentive and government grants. These programs encourage businesses to develop new or improved products and services, lower environmental impacts, attract potential investment and keep Australian competitive on a global scale. The level of innovation support in Australia can be influenced by political cycles, however one of the main challenges is business awareness around eligibility for these key programs that support innovation and ESG initiatives. So, how can we change this disconnect and further showcase the importance of innovation incentives when it comes to ESG initiatives, given ESG is revolutionising the way businesses operate?

COVID-19 fast-tracked flexible work practices that are now the norm, enabling employees to achieve a work-life balance. These policies – initially adopted as a necessity in the face of the global pandemic – can now be seen as part of an ESG strategy for employers. While remote work poses some challenges in terms of social connectivity, it is clear that it’s now the future of work. Flexible working mainly relates to the ‘social’ aspect of ESG, but what about the environmental and governance aspects that can be integrated into employment solutions?

The Modern Slavery Index 2023 estimated that in 2021 there were 41,000 people living in a form of slavery throughout Australia. It also found that imported products such as electronics, garments, solar panels, textiles and fish were most at-risk of involving modern slavery. While Australia is one of the least vulnerable countries when it comes to modern slavery in business supply chains, there are still business practices putting the vulnerable at risk of exploitation. So, what does modern slavery mean in the context of supply chains, and how can companies ensure they’re not passively taking part in such exploitation?

The business world is becoming more complex with increased focus on governance, risk and reporting; a steady flow of change to taxation and superannuation; and uncertainty due to economic movement – so how does an internal finance function steer through these times? With rapid change comes challenges, which is why it’s critical businesses are nimble and can adapt quickly. So how can internal finance functions navigate the business landscape to ensure they’re on top of all finance requirements? 

With a growing demand for organisations to provide transparency on their commitment to sustainability and disclosure of the non-financial impacts of their business activities, it’s more important than ever to be informed about the latest ESG requirements. While we often hear about the environmental component of ESG, the term is also used to describe a business’ social and governance frameworks. So, what does this all mean, and who is responsible for making sure reporting requirements are met in this evolving landscape?

Businesses often encounter growth opportunities that exceed their immediate capital resources and this is where attracting external funding can be pivotal. Whether it's funding a specific project or seeking longer term strategic investment, there are options available to help businesses capitalise on future growth. So, with the current economic and commercial uncertainty for some businesses, what are the considerations that businesses should make if they are looking to attract external funding?