AZ NGA buys stake in Melbourne financial advisory firm
AZ NGA has acquired a minority economic interest in Cranage Financial Group, the self-licensed Melbourne-based advisory firm founded by former footballer Paul Cranage.
The group, which was set up in 1984 and specialised in financial planning, property advice and mortgage broking, currently had $300 million in funds under management.
The firm has six financial advisers including Paul Cranage and three of his four children.
According to Paul Barrett, AZ NGA chief executive, the transaction highlighted the capability and capacity of AZ NGA to structure deals to meet the business’ immediate and longer-term needs and objectives, whether this was for succession planning, capital for growth, and/or banking and debt solutions.
Under the terms of the deal, AZ NGA would provide board, governance and management support.
“The team at Cranage, led by Ben, Sam and Laura, are passionate about delivering high quality advice, serving the needs of their clients, and continuing to build a strong business,” Barrett said.
“This is a dynamic business with a clear vision and ambitious goals for the future, and a keen desire to partner with an experienced business and capital partner to help them get there.”
Since 2015, AZ NGA had completed 90 transactions.
Recommended for you
As the first quarter of 2024 comes to a close, Money Management looks back on the corporate regulator’s bans and AFSL cancellations in the financial advice sector.
Insignia Financial is holding ‘relatively steady’ onto its rank as Australia’s second-largest financial advice licensee after the Godfrey Pembroke exit but Count is hot on its heels.
Liberal senator Slade Brockman has said the government needs to have a “cold hard look” at the level of regulation in the financial advice space and the costs of running a business.
FAAA chief executive, Sarah Abood, has warned changes in the first tranche of the QAR legislation around advice fees documentation could create more work for advisers rather than less.