Today’s Australian business sale news shows how much the right buyer matters. Treasury Wine Estates is selling Rosemount back to the family that founded it, St Kilda’s Stokehouse has passed to a new owner after 36 years, and a listed contractor paid 5.1x EBIT upfront with an earn-out on top. Accountants are also warning business owners to plan for a valuation as at 30 June 2027 under the new CGT rules.
Today in numbers
- 5.1xEBIT paid upfront by GenusPlus for telco contractor UCG
- 36 yrsvan Haandel family ownership of St Kilda’s Stokehouse
- 76 → 30brands in Treasury Wine Estates’ portfolio after its cull
- 10,933 haof AKD pine plantations notified to the ACCC
Today’s top business sale and M&A stories
Oatley family buys back Rosemount from Treasury Wine Estates
Treasury Wine Estates is selling Rosemount, Ingoldby (McLaren Vale, SA) and Secret Stone, with their inventory, to A.G. Oatley Wines as it cuts its portfolio from 76 brands to 30. Bob Oatley founded Rosemount in 1969, and it merged into Southcorp in a $1.5 billion deal in 2001. The price wasn’t disclosed and completion is expected on 23 October.
Source: Business News Australia, 12 October 2026
Why it matters: large groups regularly sell good businesses that no longer fit their strategy, and the buyer with the strongest connection to the asset is often the one who pays the most.
Stokehouse sold after 36 years of family ownership
The van Haandel family has sold the St Kilda beachfront restaurant Stokehouse to Andrew McConnell and Jo McGann’s Trader House, the group behind Gimlet, Supernormal and Marion. Terms weren’t disclosed.
Source: HWLE, 7 October 2026
Why it matters: for hospitality owners, a buyer who will look after the name and the team can be as important as the price.
GenusPlus pays 5.1x EBIT upfront for telco contractor UCG
ASX-listed GenusPlus will pay about NZ$38.25 million upfront, NZ$1.75 million deferred and up to NZ$25 million in earn-outs for Chorus contractor UCG, which had FY26 revenue of about NZ$96 million and adjusted EBIT of about NZ$7.8 million. Genus puts the upfront price at 5.1x EV/EBIT.
Source: Business News Australia, 12 October 2026
Why it matters: about 38% of the maximum price depends on future profit. Earn-outs are now a standard part of mid-market deals, so it pays to understand the targets and floors before you agree to one.
Accountants warn of a rush for 30 June 2027 business valuations
Simon Terry of Porters CA says the CGT reforms are “fairly meaningless” for new businesses because indexation mainly helps assets with a high cost base. Some businesses will need a valuation as at 30 June 2027 for the transitional calculation, and he estimates that no more than 1 in 100 businesses was valued in a normal year. Treasury says value built up before 1 July 2027 keeps the old 50% discount.
Sources: Accountants Daily, 13 October 2026; Treasury
Why it matters: a valuation dated 30 June 2027 helps you show how much of a future gain still qualifies for the old discount. Book one early.
New Forests notifies ACCC of AKD’s 10,933-hectare pine plantation estate
Funds managed by New Forests, with Allianz as a minor co-investor, are buying family-owned AKD’s softwood plantations in the Green Triangle, central Victoria, the Murray Valley and the NSW Central Tablelands. AKD keeps its sawmills. The ACCC’s Phase 1 decision is due on 23 November.
Source: ACCC acquisitions register
Why it matters: selling non-core assets while keeping the operating business is a common way for family companies to release capital. Under the ACCC’s mandatory merger rules, notifiable deals need about six weeks for Phase 1.
Elixinol signs a share-funded deal for supplement brand Vitable
Elixinol has signed a binding term sheet to buy the assets of personalised-vitamin subscription business Vitable. It will pay mostly in new shares, in instalments, with later payments tied to revenue and earnings targets. The price wasn’t disclosed.
Source: Kalkine Media, 12 October 2026
Why it matters: when you are paid in shares, the value you receive depends on the buyer’s share price, so look for a floor price and escrow terms you can live with.
Market evidence from today’s deals
| Deal | Sector | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| GenusPlus / UCG | Telco infrastructure services | 5.1x EV/EBIT upfront; up to NZ$65m including earn-outs | ASX, 12 Oct 2026 |
| TWE / Rosemount, Ingoldby, Secret Stone | Wine brands | Carve-out of non-core brands with inventory; price undisclosed | BNA, 12 Oct 2026 |
| New Forests / AKD plantations | Forestry | 10,933 ha of plantations sold, sawmills retained | ACCC, 12 Oct 2026 |
What today’s news means for business owners
- Know who your natural buyers are. Competitors, suppliers, consolidators and people with a personal connection to your business usually pay more than a general buyer.
- Expect an earn-out in the offer. Negotiate clear earnings definitions, sliding scales and short terms.
- Plan your 30 June 2027 valuation. The new CGT rules apply in every state, from Adelaide and Melbourne to Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.
Frequently asked questions
What multiples are businesses selling for in Australia in 2026?
It depends on size, sector and risk. In October 2026, ASX-listed GenusPlus paid 5.1x EBIT upfront for a telco contractor. Smaller private businesses usually sell on lower multiples, so a valuation based on your own sector’s evidence is the best guide.
Do I need a business valuation before the CGT changes on 1 July 2027?
Many owners will. Value built up before 1 July 2027 keeps the old 50% CGT discount, so a valuation at 30 June 2027 helps you prove that split when you sell. Check with your accountant whether the transitional rules apply to you.
Thinking about selling or valuing your business?
I’m Shweta Sharma, a business broker, M&A adviser and Registered Business Valuer with Accelerate Business Sales, working with owners in South Australia, Victoria and across Australia. Book a business valuation, request a confidential appraisal or read more in our Knowledge Centre.
General information only, not financial, legal or tax advice. Figures are as reported by the sources linked. Images are illustrative.
