Count changes pace, acquires 100% of Oracle

Mike Taylor

Managing Editor and Publisher

1 April 2026

Count Limited has undertaken a strategic pivot with its acquisition of Oracle Group by not applying an “owner/driver” approach and going for 100% ownership while substantially adding to its salaried planning division.

The transaction values Oracle at $72.2 million comprised of an upfront consideration of around $59.3 million payable on completion, comprising $49.8 million of cash and $4.1 million of Count shares to be issued to certain existing Oracle Group shareholders.

There is also a deferred cash consideration of up to $18.3 million in aggregate, payable in years one and two following completion.

However, most market attention has been directed towards the capital raise of $35.9 million.

The terms of the transaction need to be weighed against the reality that Oracle had FY25 net revenue of $26.4 million on EBITA of $8.6 million and forecast EBITA of $10 million.

Count Limited told investors yesterday that the key acquisition benefits from the transaction is that it grows the firm’s core pillars, bolsters the company’s presence in regional areas and, perhaps, more importantly “establishes a salaried financial planning division with further potential for growth through additional tuck-in acquisitions”.

In raw numbers, the transaction will increase Count employed adviser numbers from 76 to 98.

As acquisitions go, the Oracle transaction is significant for Count without being major and is consistent with Count’s strategy of acquiring financial advice/accounting firms but on this occasion, there is also the benefit of Oracle Investment Management.

Commenting on the transaction, Count Limited chief executive, Hugh Humphrey referenced the alignment with the company’s strategy and the expansion of the of the advice value chain.

He said it would grow Count’s financial planning revenues to over 50% of Equity Partnership revenues within five years.

“The acquisition will significantly enhance Count’s east coast presence and, importantly materially grow our exposure to highly attractive Wealth segment revenues,” Humphrey said.