Leading the separation transaction for a Victorian school
A Victorian school, with annual revenue of $60 million, needed support to transition to a new proprietorship model under regulatory direction.
Related Services
Performance ImprovementRelated Industries
EducationA Victorian school, with annual revenue of $60 million, needed support to transition to a new proprietorship model under regulatory direction.
This included negotiating its licence transfer, preparing operational readiness, and reducing annual service fees.
Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA), which governs more than 55,000 students across 50 schools in three states, was required to transfer proprietorship and licensing to its Victorian schools as part of this process.
How we helped
Our role
We were appointed by the school’s Board to lead the transition. Working closely with school management and legal advisors, we supported negotiations, managed stakeholder engagement, and developed a comprehensive plan to ensure a smooth Day One handover.
Objectives
- Support legal negotiations on the form of the transfer and the establishment of the school’s new constitution
- Develop and support the school to deliver a plan to be ready for Day One of proprietorship
- Liaise with Regulators to ensure obligations were met
- Conduct discovery on the liabilities that would transition to the school upon separation
- Define the changes that the school needed to make to meet licence obligations
- Analyse and negotiate the adjusted annual service fee that the school would pay in future.
Outcomes acheived
Our team delivered successful outcomes for the school, including:
- Full visibility of potential liabilities, giving the Board confidence in its decision-making.
- Successful navigation of regulatory and legal requirements, meeting tight timeframes in a challenging environment.
- Reduction of annual service fees by approximately $900k.
- A clear transition plan outlining roles and responsibilities for the Board and leadership team.
- A communications plan to support staff, parents, and the broader school community throughout the process.
Through this engagement, the school achieved a seamless transition to its new proprietorship model — delivering outcomes that count for its students, staff, and community.
