Is an approach from Haven Equity Group an offer?

No. An approach is an expression of interest, not an offer — it commits you to nothing. Offers come much later, usually in writing as an indicative offer or term sheet, and only after both sides have chosen to engage.

Do I have to reply straight away?

No. There is no clock on your side of the conversation. A considered reply a week later reads better than a rushed one the same afternoon, and a genuine buyer will still be there. You set the pace.

Should I share my financials with Haven Equity Group?

Not in a first conversation. An early, low-specificity approach rarely warrants sharing numbers. If the conversation gets serious, information changes hands progressively and under a signed NDA — at a pace you control.

How do I know if Haven Equity Group is serious?

Read the approach itself: who sent it (a partner or CEO signals more intent than an analyst template), how specific it is about your actual product, customers, or numbers, and whether there is a concrete reason they are reaching out now. Generic praise that could have been sent to a hundred companies usually means a routine sweep.

Do I need an advisor before responding?

Not to acknowledge an email. But before sharing anything material — numbers, customer names, growth plans — a second opinion from someone whose only job is to represent you tends to pay for itself. An advisor can read the approach, tell you how much interest it really signals, and keep your options open.

What happens if I just ignore it?

Usually nothing bad — an unanswered email doesn't close any doors, and a genuinely interested buyer will follow up. What you give up is information: understanding why they reached out now can tell you a lot about how your business is being seen, even if you have no intention of selling.

← Who is Haven Equity Group?

If you’ve been approached

Haven Equity Group approached me — what now?

An acquirer reaching out can feel like a big moment, and it’s normal to be unsure what it means or how to respond. An approach is not an offer, and it doesn’t commit you to anything — it’s the start of a conversation you get to run at your own pace.

The most useful thing to do first is slow down and understand what kind of approach this actually is. The rest of this page walks through who Haven Equity Group is, how to read the signals, and the practical moves that keep your options open.

Who they are, in short

Haven Equity Group is the trading name of HET Capital Pty Limited, a Melbourne-headquartered acquirer of small and medium Australian industrial businesses, founded in 2018. It is a small team rather than a fund manager, and acquisitions are funded from its own internal resources rather than a drawn-down third-party fund. Haven describes itself as committed to long-term ownership and operation of the businesses it acquires, not resale. Its portfolio spans six privately held businesses across hoarding, tools, industrial equipment, powder coating and fire services.

Read the full profile of Haven Equity Group

What they look for

Haven's stated thesis is well-established Australian industrial businesses with a strong record of profitable trading, sector-agnostic within that industrial frame. It describes an acquire-and-operate model, indicating it seeks full or majority ownership rather than a minority stake. Capital comes from its own internal resources rather than a third-party managed fund, so there is no fixed investment period tied to a fund life. Haven does not publish target revenue, EBITDA, enterprise-value or cheque-size figures, a geography limit beyond Australia, or a platform-versus-bolt-on acquisition preference.

Sector focus: Well-established Australian industrial small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with a strong record of profitable trading; the firm 'seeks to invest in well established industrial businesses that have a strong record of profitable trading.'
Ownership: Full acquire-and-operate model, not passive/minority investment: 'Haven Equity acquires and operates small and medium size enterprises (SMEs)... Haven Equity is committed to long-term ownership and operation of acquired businesses. We apply our experience and capabilities to further develop the businesses.'
Majority or minority: Not stated using the words 'majority' or 'minority', but the site's 'acquires and operates' / long-term-ownership language describes a full-acquisition model rather than a minority growth-equity stake, consistent with 100% or majority ownership of each acquired business.
Capital model: Funded from the firm's own internal/balance-sheet resources rather than a drawn-down third-party fund: 'We have substantial internal funding resources and have a strong track record in completing acquisitions. Our experience and financial capacity provides potential sellers with confidence that a successful business sale will be achieved.'
Hold period: Long-term / indefinite hold, no fixed exit horizon stated: 'Haven Equity is committed to long-term ownership and operation of acquired businesses.'
Founder ownership: Sam Bond (Managing Director, HET Capital Pty Limited, trading as Haven Equity Group, since Jun 2018) and Joe Grixti (General Manager, since Nov 2018) are the named principals per their own LinkedIn profiles; no public ownership percentage is disclosed for either.

How they run acquisitions

Haven describes its acquisition process as deliberately simple. It asks only for a general conversation to start, not a formal presentation or business profile. For its initial review it relies on sales records, financial statements and tax returns rather than a full information pack. Discussions are kept confidential, and Haven says it gives quick feedback and uses standard contract documents to reduce legal costs. It says it can typically complete a transaction, from initial discussion to settlement, in under six weeks. Haven says it welcomes contact directly from business owners as well as from agents and brokers.

Reading the approach

Not every approach means the same thing. A serial acquirer might be running a wide net, or might have a specific reason to want your business. Here’s how to tell the difference.

The signal

Routine BD outreach

Genuine acquisition intent

Who sent it
Routine BD outreachAn analyst or associate, often via a generic template or LinkedIn note.
Genuine intentA partner, principal, or the platform's CEO — someone who can actually transact.
How specific it is
Routine BD outreachPraises the sector and your growth in general terms; could be sent to a hundred companies.
Genuine intentReferences your actual product, customers, or numbers — they've done real homework.
What they ask for
Routine BD outreachA quick intro call to learn more and get to know you for the future.
Genuine intentA view on whether you'd consider a transaction, and often an early sense of scale.
Their timeline
Routine BD outreachOpen-ended relationship building with no particular urgency.
Genuine intentA concrete reason they're reaching out now — a fund mandate, a thesis, a nearby deal.
Where it leads
Routine BD outreachAdded to a pipeline and periodically checked in on.
Genuine intentToward an indicative offer, diligence, and a process — if you engage.

Neither is bad, and neither is a commitment. The point is to read the approach for what it is before deciding how much time and information to give it — an early, low-specificity note rarely warrants sharing numbers, while genuine interest is worth understanding properly.

The moves that protect your position

Whatever the intent, a few simple habits keep you in control of the conversation and your information.

Reply politely and keep the door open — you lose nothing by being courteous.
Ask who they are, why now, and what stage of interest this is.
Take your time; a serious buyer will wait for a considered response.
Get your own read on what the business could be worth before discussing price.
Loop in an adviser who represents you, not the buyer, before sharing anything sensitive.

Don’t

Don't name a price first, or react to a number floated casually on a call.
Don't share detailed financials or customer data before there's an NDA and real intent.
Don't negotiate against yourself by signalling how keen — or how nervous — you are.
Don't let a single unsolicited approach turn into an exclusive, one-buyer conversation.
Don't agree to a binding timeline or exclusivity just to keep them interested.

Common questions

Is an approach from Haven Equity Group an offer?: No. An approach is an expression of interest, not an offer — it commits you to nothing. Offers come much later, usually in writing as an indicative offer or term sheet, and only after both sides have chosen to engage.
Do I have to reply straight away?: No. There is no clock on your side of the conversation. A considered reply a week later reads better than a rushed one the same afternoon, and a genuine buyer will still be there. You set the pace.
Should I share my financials with Haven Equity Group?: Not in a first conversation. An early, low-specificity approach rarely warrants sharing numbers. If the conversation gets serious, information changes hands progressively and under a signed NDA — at a pace you control.
How do I know if Haven Equity Group is serious?: Read the approach itself: who sent it (a partner or CEO signals more intent than an analyst template), how specific it is about your actual product, customers, or numbers, and whether there is a concrete reason they are reaching out now. Generic praise that could have been sent to a hundred companies usually means a routine sweep.
Do I need an advisor before responding?: Not to acknowledge an email. But before sharing anything material — numbers, customer names, growth plans — a second opinion from someone whose only job is to represent you tends to pay for itself. An advisor can read the approach, tell you how much interest it really signals, and keep your options open.
What happens if I just ignore it?: Usually nothing bad — an unanswered email doesn't close any doors, and a genuinely interested buyer will follow up. What you give up is information: understanding why they reached out now can tell you a lot about how your business is being seen, even if you have no intention of selling.

Want a second opinion?

If it would help to talk it through with someone whose only job is to represent you — not the buyer — that’s exactly what we do. A short, no-obligation conversation is often enough to know where you stand.

Get in touch Read the full guide: a firm approached me — what do I do?

The truth, first.

General information, not legal, financial, or tax advice. Every situation is different — talk to an adviser about yours.