ABBA Group is a Sydney-based business brokerage, along with a mergers and acquisitions (M&A) advisory firm, that has recently confirmed that it manages over $800 million in active business transactions across its Australian and global portfolios. It mainly represents deals at different stages of completion and negotiation with the help of a team of commercial loan brokers, underscoring the growing interest across the mid-market acquisitions and the role of the firm as the main facilitator in this segment.

The transactions span multiple industries, including healthcare, hospitality, logistics, technology, retail, and manufacturing, which projects wide market activity across the small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) marketplace. As stated by the company representatives, this volume includes both confidential off-market possibilities and on-market listings facilitated through ABBA Group's private network of vetted acquirers and investors.
A Snapshot of Australia’s M&A Mid-Market
The staggering $800 million figure arrives at a time when the mid-market M&A activity in Australia shows signs of expansion and recovery following the disruptions from the global economic uncertainties in 2022-23. Although the larger transactions capture the headlines, it is mid-sized deals that generally range between $1 million and $50 million, representing the bulk of business transfers in Australia, according to the data from the M&A activity reports in Australia.

The Australian Financial Review and other industry analysts have recently highlighted that foreign interest in acquiring stable, revenue-generating businesses in Australia remains strong. A Pitcher Partners (2024 Mid-Market M&A Outlook) report even revealed that family-owned businesses and professional services firms have growingly become alluring targets for strategic buyers and private investors in search of long-term value across mature markets.
Inside ABBA Group’s Transaction Pipeline
Upon being contacted, the management of ABBA Group offered more clarity on how the transaction value is calculated. The total value is inclusive of the businesses listed for sale, those under negotiation, under due diligence, or awaiting the final legal and financial settlement, all with the help of business finance solutions. The firm stated that the data is compiled from the internal flow management system tracking the valuation ranges and buyer engagement levels on a consistent basis.

A notable part of the current deal flow involves overseas buyers showing interest in acquiring Australian businesses with proven earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of over $1 million. Numerous buyers originate from Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and parts of North America, driven by the favorable currency exchange conditions and Australia's economic stability.

The firm cites one instance without naming any specific businesses due to confidentiality agreements: a cross-border acquisition in the logistics sector with an estimated value exceeding $25 million. Another consistent transaction involves the partial divestment of the national healthcare services provider in New South Wales.
Confidentiality as a Core Differentiator
The defining feature of ABBA Group's approach is its emphasis on off-market business sales. Unlike traditional business brokers who depend mainly on public advertising, ABBA Group operates directly with a database of qualified investors and buyers, both private and institutional, who are vetted before gaining access to the business details.

The company's website stated that business sellers benefit greatly from the approach of business property loans, which safeguards operational continuity, staff morale, and customer confidence during such transactional processes. Off-market sales attract serious buyers, as a lack of open-market noise filters out opportunistic interest.

ABBA Group's spokesperson stated that several clients are business owners who wish to keep their sales private and often operate businesses with decades of operational history. Their method offers greater control, discretion, and more aligned outcomes for both sides.
International and Local Buyer Trends
ABBA Group even reports a growth in interest from visa-motivated buyers in acquiring qualifying businesses under Australia's Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP). The buyers are often from Vietnam, China, the UAE, and India, which mainly target established businesses.

Australian investors are constantly in demand to enter new sectors, mainly among high-income professionals and consortium buyers who pool funds for strategic acquisitions. The firm's transaction pipeline projects a growing interest in post-retirement succession planning, where baby boomer business owners prepare to exit over the next five to ten years.
Industry Recognition and Broker Network
ABBA Group operates through a national network of licensed business brokers and M&A advisors, many of whom bring sector-specific experience to every transaction. The firm's team consists of professionals with backgrounds across corporate finance, franchise operations, commercial real estate, and legal due diligence.

As reported in Q1 2025, ABBA Group continues to advertise positions for additional advisors and brokers, specifically in Queensland and Victoria, with the expansion in the volume of mandates. The firm even offers structured mentorship and onboarding for new agents designed to maintain a consistent standard of representation for clients across all regions.

The brokerage becomes affiliated with the Australian Institute of Business Brokers (AIBB), and the listings are verified against the due diligence checklists, which are aligned with the AIBB recommendations.
Outlook for 2025
Since macroeconomic conditions remain unpredictable due to changing interest rates and global supply chain issues, ABBA Group believes that the fundamentals of the Australian SME acquisition market remain solid. The consistent interest from local and overseas buyers, paired with the general ownership changes, suggests that the volume of private business sales is expected to remain high in the medium term.

In the middle of the inflation pressures and economic uncertainties, several Australian business owners consider the exit strategies and brokers such as ABBA Group, which finds a corresponding increase in inquiry volume as shared by the recent data by the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, in the late 2024 up to 25% of small to mid-sized business owners who explore the succession or the sale options in the next five years.

ABBA Group plans for the consistent rise in the deal profile while investing in technology for streamlining the client onboarding, buyer-matching algorithms, and valuation assessments.