Leading national law firm Mills Oakley served as legal advisor to Straight Bat Private Equity in the investment by Straight Bat Private Equity into Australia’s leading temporary fence and complimentary hire company 1300TempFence.

Straight Bat is an income oriented private equity fund that plays the long game. It invests in mature, robust, profitable, medium sized Australian businesses for slightly old fashioned reasons – income, wealth preservation and sustainable capital growth. Straight Bat typically partners with mid-sized Australian businesses alongside families, employees and long-term minded founders.

The investment saw Straight Bat become a 50/50 business partner to founders Martin and Bruce Fouracre. Martin and Bruce will continue in their current active roles in the business, supported by the existing management team.

1300TempFence has been around for more than 25 years, from its inception in 1999 where it was founded by Martin and Bruce Fouracre, and best mate Mark Eaves. 1300TempFence now manages the largest hire fleet of temporary fence in Australia and New Zealand, and also offers an extensive fleet of hoarding, site cameras, water-filled barriers, portable toilets and other complimentary hire products from branches across every state of Australia and New Zealand.

1300TempFence serves the civil, government, major infrastructure, industrial, commercial and residential building sectors, as well as events. It’s known for supplying fencing to such major events as the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix in Melbourne and LIV Golf Adelaide.

The Mills Oakley Team was led by Corporate Partner, Nick Manuell, who was assisted by Senior Associate Zhong Wu, fellow corporate Partner James McCarthy, lawyers Prue Tyson and Georgina O’Leary, with specialist assistance across other areas of the firm including Lisa Egan (IP), Adam Lunn (Employment) and Pablo Fernandez (Property).