InterFinancial helps LGIAsuper deliver Suncorp acquisition and member value

01.6.2021

InterFinancial has advised LGIAsuper on its successful bid and agreement to acquire Suncorp’s superannuation business, Suncorp Portfolio Services Limited (SPSL).

The acquisition, announced in April 2021, makes history, being the first Australian profit-for-members super fund to acquire a retail super fund.

LGIAsuper members will benefit from increased size, scale and, ultimately, reduced costs with the acquisition of SPSL, which has $6.4 billion in funds under management and 137,000 members (as of 30 December 2020) in 2022.  

LGIAsuper has been the superannuation fund for Queensland local government employees and their spouses since 1965, and provides highly recognised superannuation services, trusted advice, low fees and industry-leading performance.

InterFinancial Executive Chair Sharon Doyle said the transaction was the latest milestone in LGIAsuper’s plan to grow and improve the fund, and to ensure its long-term sustainability and performance for members.

“Our brief was to help LGIAsuper qualify SPSL as a target, lead the commercial engagement with Suncorp and the business case analysis with LGIAsuper, and importantly work creatively to ‘find the solution’ as we identified obstacles,” Ms Doyle said.

“The LGIAsuper CEO and Board were incredibly commercial and demonstrated a willingness to break new ground in order to deliver great outcomes for members. This preparedness to embrace innovation was critical to our ability to deliver this outcome for LGIAsuper”.

​LGIAsuper CEO Kate Farrar said an extensive due diligence process, regulatory consultation, and analysis of member benefits had concluded that the Suncorp acquisition would ultimately provide significant advantages to current and future members of LGIAsuper, Energy Super and Suncorp’s superannuation business.

“This acquisition, combined with the Energy Super merger, will achieve an ideal, sustainable fund size, while maintaining our status as a boutique and personal superannuation provider,” Ms Farrar said.

Ms Farrar said InterFinancial had represented LGIAsuper throughout the process, from preparing the bid, to managing the due diligence process, and assisting with the SSA negotiation.

“InterFinancial’s contribution to this process was absolutely pivotal at all stages,” Ms Farrar said.

“Sharon and her team rolled up their sleeves and were outstanding at representing the interests of LGIAsuper and its members through a complex, industry-defining process.

“This transaction represents an innovative way for a profit-for-members superannuation fund to achieve scale in a rapidly changing market, solving a problem that superannuation funds across Australia have been struggling to solve.”

On completion of the acquisition of SPSL and LGIAsuper’s merger with Energy Super the combined fund size is expected to be circa $28 billion, with approximately 250,000 members.
The total consideration for the acquisition is estimated at $45 million. This includes a fixed amount of $26.6 million, plus regulatory reserves.

25.6.2025

Sector dashboards June 2025

Our monthly sector dashboards are out! Our dashboards look at the valuation multiples across seven key sectors, each made up of a number of subsectors. The data takes into account the sale prices of similar companies based on; products, end markets, services, assets classes or other characteristics. The publications include all companies listed on the […]

Read more
25.6.2025

Mapping the PE landscape: Types of Private Equity in Australia (Part 1)

Australia’s private equity (PE) sector is a dynamic and multifaceted market that supports companies through all stages of growth, from fledgling startups to mature enterprises. While it’s common to categorise private equity by business stage (early, growth, mature), several other key factors will help decide what may be the most practical private equity investor, these […]

Read more
25.6.2025

China’s 2025 Outbound Investment Outlook

The global M&A market has been in decline since 2022, following a record-setting surge in 2021. The downturn was primarily driven by rising interest rates, economic uncertainty, and geopolitical tensions. China’s M&A market is no exception. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chinese economy has faced unprecedented challenges, including slowed GDP growth, weak consumer spending, an […]

Read more
25.6.2025

Employee Q&A: Natalie Knight

She’s not one to chase the spotlight. But for the past nine years, Natalie Knight has been a quiet force behind the scenes at InterFinancial. As our Administration Officer, she brings structure, calm and a sense of order to the everyday chaos that comes with managing a busy advisory firm.   From coordinating packed calendars, […]

Read more
28.5.2025

Sector dashboards May 2025

Our monthly sector dashboards are out! Our dashboards look at the valuation multiples across seven key sectors, each made up of a number of subsectors. The data takes into account the sale prices of similar companies based on; products, end markets, services, assets classes or other characteristics. The publications include all companies listed on the […]

Read more
28.5.2025

What geopolitical uncertainty means for M&A in Australia?

Over the past six months, global uncertainty has escalated significantly. Trade wars, continued conflicts in Europe and the Middle East and market volatility have dominated our press. The M&A landscape in Australia is not insulated from the effects of these issues.   These issues have introduced a new set of challenges for dealmakers. But amid the […]

Read more
28.5.2025

Celebrating 15 years with Mark Steinhardt

From running shorts to suits and ties, Mark’s built a career defined by endurance, focus and momentum. Joining InterFinancial in 2010, Mark has worked his way up to Executive Director today. Known for being sharp, strategic, and approachable, he’s earned the trust of both clients and colleagues through his ability to solve complex problems and […]

Read more
28.5.2025

Metrics that matter: What tech investors are looking for? (Part 2)

In our last article, we revealed four of the key metrics that investors use to evaluate software businesses. We focused on Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR), ARR Growth Rate, Gross and Net Revenue Retention, and Gross Margin. These indicators are often the first place investors look when assessing the strength and potential of a SaaS or […]

Read more
30.4.2025

Sector dashboards April 2025

Our monthly sector dashboards are out! Our dashboards look at the valuation multiples across seven key sectors, each made up of a number of subsectors. The data takes into account the sale prices of similar companies based on; products, end markets, services, assets classes or other characteristics. The publications include all companies listed on the […]

Read more