Acquisition and restructuring of iconic hospitality group

Matthews Hospitality has been an Australian industry pioneer for more than 70 years. The company specialises in hospitality consultations as well as hotel and spa development.

Piper Alderman advised on the acquisition, restructure, and refinancing of Mathews Hospitality, the largest family-owned hotel group in South Australia. As part of a succession planning strategy, the group reshaped its portfolio to ensure the family legacy continues for future generations of hoteliers. The complex deal, which came into effect on 7 September 2020, involved the acquisition of seven of nine Matthews Hospitality venues by siblings Lisa, Scott, and Ward Matthews.

The remaining venues of Matthews Hospitality are the Feathers, Maylands, Buckingham Arms, Eyre, Mount Gambier, Park and South Eastern Hotels, and Colhurst House B&B and Witches Brew Liquor. The siblings retained the company name and brand, and the group’s General Manager, Andrew Kemp, was made CEO.

Piper Alderman’s team advised Matthews Hospitality on the deal. They assisted the company in developing and implementing the transition, including all aspects of the acquisitions. Our experience in mergers and acquisitions enabled us to oversee the deal successfully.

What our client said:

Director and shareholder, Lisa Matthews, commented:

“The practical, logical, commercial and timely advice we received from our legal team at Piper Alderman, led by Martin Lovell, over the 12 months of our family business transaction was more than impressive. Apart from providing us with the legal advice we needed, the coordination and open dialogue between Pipers and our accountants, bankers, valuers, family members, and the day to day business management team was the key to the successful resolution of our needs”.