Australian consultancy Proximity joins global player Systems Planning & Analysis
Australian consulting firm Proximity has become part of Systems Planning & Analysis (SPA), a global advisory and technical services firm focused on the national security and defence sectors.
Since its founding in 2011, Proximity has grown into one of the nation’s leading government-focused consulting firms, providing management advisory, legal and commercial services to federal departments, Commonwealth agencies, and other governments institutions.
Across its three practice areas, the consultancy offers change management, procurement and contract management, program and project management, commercial law, public law and legal support services, with its team now 115-strong across offices in Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide.
Through the joining of forces with Systems Planning & Analysis, Proximity now becomes part of a global group – the US-headquartered company employs more than 2,200 people worldwide with 15 office locations across the US, UK and Australia.
Sean King, one of Proximity’s two co-founders (the other being James Dunn), said that the deal marks an exciting next chapter for the firm. “Proximity has always been an ambitious company. This next chapter with SPA is exciting for employees as it broadens opportunities for professional growth. For our clients, it means increased offerings and more diverse services, supporting them to achieve their strategic objectives.”
The deal will see Proximity team up with SPA’s existing team in Australia, which comprises around 15 staff in Canberra. SPA works mainly for the Department of Defence, providing military operational and analytic experience, access to advanced modelling and analysis tools, and security expertise.
The integration
The combined team will be led by Zoe Lynam, the CEO of Proximity, who has been appointed as Managing Director of SPA’s Australian operations.
“We’re proud of the name we’ve earned in the Australian market, and SPA is a natural fit given our shared commitment to integrity and client service as well as SPA’s deep defence and technology expertise. We look forward to a bright future with a global company of SPA’s calibre,” said Lynam.
Meanwhile, over in the US, SPA’s CEO Rich Sawchak welcomed the deal, commenting: “Proximity is a sought-after and highly respected government consultancy with an impressive client list. It has strong legal, commercial and consulting specialisations and will broaden our capabilities. This acquisition reinforces our commitment to Australia and presents an opportunity to further build on our global success.”
Terry Benedict, President at SPA, highlighted Proximity’s leading position in the defence sector. “Proximity brings a leadership team that understands Australia’s defence issues at a critical time for strategic considerations in the Pacific theater. I look forward to working with the team to expand our advisory and analytic support for our defence-focused clients.”
Proximity will continue to operate under its own brand, with the tagline ‘An SPA company’ added to its identity.
Dealmakers
Proximity’s shareholders were advised throughout the deal process by Equiteq, which led M&A advisory, with support from Grant Thornton (accounting & tax) and Corrs Chambers Westgarth (legal).
US-buyer SPA was supported by Big Four firm PwC (accounting & tax) and law firms Johnson Winter Slattery (Australia) and Sheppard Mullin (US).
