Grant Thornton Australia says $1bn buyout to feed burgeoning growth strategy

Grant Thornton Australia’s $1 billion buyout and move to join the Grant Thornton Advisors (GTA) platform will see a continuation of its advisory and tax services, as well as its governance.

The deal follows a majority vote by the Australian firm’s partners and is expected to be completed in late August 2026 in line with standard regulatory conditions.

This deal will see the Australian firm absorbed into the multinational platform, which includes almost 20 firms across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia Pacific region.

“This is a landmark moment for our business … our partners have given their strong endorsement to a transaction that will realise an exciting new chapter for Grant Thornton Australia,” the firm’s chief executive for Australia, Said Jahani, said in a statement.

“By joining the GTA platform, we gain accelerated access to the world-class technology, AI capabilities, and growth capital needed to build Australia's most modern, globally connected professional services firm while realising remarkable outcomes for our clients, and market-leading career pathways for our people.”

Greenhill provided financial advice to Grant Thornton Australia for the transaction, while Allens and Maddocks provided legal advice to the firm.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP and Gilbert + Tobin provided legal advice to Grant Thornton Advisors LLC for the transaction.

Grant Thornton Advisors LLC and the leader of its multinational platform, chief executive Jim Peko, said: “Grant Thornton Australia is a standout firm – with strong momentum, exceptional leadership and a culture that has earned deep respect in its market.”

“Its agreement to join our platform reflects a shared ambition: to build something more connected, more capable and more forward-looking for our clients and for our people,” Peko said.

“Together, we can accelerate growth across the Asia Pacific region while strengthening how we serve clients seamlessly across borders. This is exactly the kind of partnership we seek as we continue to build a differentiated platform with scale and purpose,” Peko said.

Speaking to Accounting Times, Jahani said the decision for the Australian firm was about long-term value creation.

“We have set aside a sizeable reserve of equity for our growing and future talent, which includes lateral hires and M&A targets.”

“The structure recognises the value of the business built to date, but it is equally designed to create compelling incentives for future leaders and talented people responsible for realising the next phase of growth.”