WARP Traffic Management, guided by Piper Alderman, acquired by Altus Traffic

Piper Alderman has assisted WARP Traffic Management on the acquisition of its traffic management businesses in Western Australia and Queensland by Altus Traffic, the largest provider of traffic management services in Australia and New Zealand.

Piper Alderman advised WARP on all aspects of the sale transaction, which was completed on 30 September. The firm worked closely with WARP’s tax and financial advisers, Carbon Group, as well as advised and implemented certain pre-completion restructure steps.

The firm shared that the transaction was complex, considering that numerous group companies and businesses across WA and Queensland belong to the WARP’s traffic management businesses.

Paul Sartori and Andrew Rankin, partners, and Mareli Treurnicht, senior associate, led the Piper Alderman deal team.

Sartori, a Perth-based corporate and commercial lawyer, has more than 25 years of experience in public and private mergers and acquisitions, equity capital markets, shareholder investor arrangements, and general corporate advisory matters, according to his profile on the firm’s website.

He has managed and worked on various international and domestic corporate transactions across multiple industry sectors, as per his profile. He has handled matters involving deal structuring, due diligence, document preparation, and contract negotiation.

Rankin is also a corporate and commercial lawyer with over 25 years of experience, according to his profile on the firm’s website. His practice includes competition and consumer law, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance law.

He has acted for private companies and publicly-listed companies alike, with a focus on advising clients in the financial services, health and life sciences, mining, and agribusiness sectors, as per his profile.

Parties’ plans

Following the transaction, Altus expects its workforce to grow to over 5,000 staff members across its more than 50 operating regions, according to its news release. Altus plans to fully integrate WARP into its traffic business in the coming months.

Following the commencement of certain recent contracts, Altus has committed additional capital to its plans to expand the operating fleet in WARP’s markets, said the news release of Altus. It also intends to contribute to growing the number of employees using its recruitment systems.

“We’ve known the Warp Group and its leadership for many years and have always admired their commitment to road worker safety and customer fulfillment,” said Ben Marsonet, Altus Group’s chief executive officer, in the news release. “Their ongoing investment in systems and governance also speak highly to their commitment to building out a sustainable and reputable business.”

“I’ve seen personally how [Altus Group’s] business has grown and developed over the last decade and have a strong affection for many of their people.” said Steve O’Dwyer, WARP’s managing director, in the news release. “They will be a great fit for our teams and customers and give us the capital needed for continued growth.”