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Governance & Succession

Good governance today enables smooth succession tomorrow. We implement board/meeting structures, model sale or transfer options and align shareholder and family objectives to protect value and relationships.

Strong governance and succession planning provide the foundation for long-term business resilience, leadership clarity, and family harmony. At Apprise Harpel Group, we help owners and directors implement frameworks that balance commercial discipline with personal aspirations, ensuring every decision supports both stability today and continuity tomorrow.

Our governance and decision-making services establish transparent structures, boards, and reporting systems so leaders can act with clarity and confidence. Succession planning goes beyond timing — integrating legal, financial, and emotional factors to protect value, retain loyalty, and prepare the next generation of leaders. For business partnerships, we bring fairness and mediation-first protocols to shareholder agreements, ensuring alignment on vision, dividends, and exit strategies.

When it comes to mergers and acquisitions, we simplify complexity with valuation modelling, due diligence, and integration planning, turning transactions into sustainable growth. For owners seeking freedom, our work-life balance strategies align business outcomes with lifestyle goals, enabling reduced involvement without compromising financial security. Finally, in family businesses, we design charters, role structures, and succession pathways that protect both legacy and relationships.

Across every service, our goal is simple: to reduce uncertainty, safeguard value, and give business owners the confidence to make decisions that last.

Governance & Decision Making

We facilitate the creation and enhancement of governance structures, board protocols, and decision-making frameworks that ensure organisational transparency and effective oversight. Our guidance is designed to empower leadership with clarity and confidence in every decision.

Strong governance is the foundation of a resilient business, providing clear roles, responsibilities, and lines of accountability. We help businesses implement tailored structures that streamline decision-making, reduce ambiguity, and support long-term stability. By embedding these frameworks, we aim to reduce personal stress for leaders and foster a culture where informed, timely decisions drive sustainable growth.

How it works

Establish or refine board structures. segregation of duties, conflict-of-interest registers, compliance calendar.
Charter, agenda, and minutes for board or partner meetings.
Transparent KPI tracking and reporting. Board/BoA cadence → charters & authorities → decision logs → KPI dashboards.
Integration of governance into succession and strategic planning.

Client stories

A healthcare provider with five directors lacked clarity in roles. We introduced a governance framework that clarified accountability, reducing conflict and improving speed of decisions.

A fast-growth startup struggled with chaotic meetings. We implemented board charters and quarterly KPI reviews, allowing the founders to focus on strategy, not firefighting.

Succession Planning

We create tailored succession plans that safeguard your business’s value, maintain leadership stability, and address the interests of both family and shareholders. Our approach goes beyond simple timing considerations, integrating legal, financial, and emotional aspects to ensure a smooth transition. By focusing on your goals and the unique dynamics of your family or ownership structure, our succession frameworks provide clarity and continuity for the future.

How it works

Business valuation and “value gap” analysis.
Drafting governance and shareholder agreements.
Modelling sale, family transfer, or management buyout options.
Emotional and family considerations integrated into the planning process.

Client stories

Second-generation farming family

A Riverina-based agribusiness faced tension between siblings after the founder stepped back. One wanted to modernise operations, the other wanted to stay traditional. We developed a governance framework, set up a family council, and clarified roles and ownership shares. Within 18 months, harmony was restored and the business had its most profitable harvest season in five years.

Engineering firm succession

A Melbourne-based engineering consultancy wanted to sell to long-standing employees rather than an external buyer. We modelled buy-in options, structured staged ownership transfers, and introduced accountability KPIs for the new directors. This gave the founders a clear exit path while ensuring the next generation of leaders retained staff loyalty and client trust.

Business Partnerships

We support the formation and management of partnerships through clear governance frameworks, shareholder agreements, and succession planning. Our mediation-first approach helps prevent disputes and preserve relationships. Strong partnerships can accelerate success — weak ones can destroy value. We bring structure, governance, and fairness to business relationships.

How it works

Draft or review shareholder agreements and governance frameworks. Vision alignment → shareholders’ agreement (roles, voting, dividends) → BoA mediation format for disputes → buy/sell funding.
Integrating partnership planning with personal financial goals — ensuring alignment between business and family wealth.
Risk and opportunity assessments built into the annual risk and value drivers review. Shotgun/valuation clauses, funded buy-sell (insurance), conflict protocol, meeting minutes trail..

Client stories

Two partners in a growing trade business faced conflict about reinvesting profits vs drawing dividends. With our mediation, they agreed to a staged reinvestment plan. Within 18 months, profit margins grew by 20%, and both partners had clarity on cash flow. Reinvest-vs-dividend standoff resolved; margins up 20% in 18 months.

Mergers & Acquisitions

We guide you through the complexities of buying, selling, or merging businesses with clear valuation modelling, due diligence support, and integration planning. Our focus is on achieving strategic fit and long-term value.

Buying, selling, or merging a business is one of the biggest decisions an owner will make. Our role is to reduce complexity and give you confidence in both the numbers and the strategy.

How it works

Valuation modelling to establish a realistic range.
Due diligence support, ensuring risks and opportunities are properly identified.
Integration planning to align people, systems, and cash flow post-deal.
Accountability through scheduled reviews — making sure the transaction delivers on value, not just completion.

Client stories

A manufacturing business sought to acquire a competitor. We modelled multiple “what if” scenarios showing cash flow impacts, and highlighted integration risks. By staging the acquisition with performance hurdles, the owners reduced risk and protected their equity.

Work-Life Balance

We help business owners transition away from day-to-day operations while maintaining both oversight and financial security. By developing bespoke financial strategies that reflect personal goals, we ensure your business supports your ideal lifestyle instead of constraining it. Through careful planning and structured governance, your company can thrive independently, giving you the freedom to focus on what matters most.

How it works

Cash flow and profitability modelling to enable reduced hours or delegation.
Governance structures to maintain oversight while stepping back.
Alignment of business outcomes with personal financial goals.
Accountability reviews to ensure balance is maintained long term.

Client stories

A retail owner worked 70-hour weeks. With our support, they hired a manager, delegated effectively, and restructured finances. They now spend three months a year overseas while the business thrives.

A consulting firm owner wanted to transition out of daily operations. Our governance framework allowed them to reduce involvement without reducing income, creating freedom without instability.

Managing a Family Business

Managing a family business requires a thoughtful balance between commercial objectives and maintaining family harmony. Our support focuses on navigating succession, governance, and relationship dynamics, using structured planning and mediation to benefit both the business and its stakeholders.

We guide families in establishing clear governance frameworks, defining roles and responsibilities, and ensuring equitable remuneration and succession planning. With objective advice and conflict management protocols, we facilitate transparent decision-making processes that protect both the business interests and the family’s long-term relationships.

How it works

Develop a family charter with values, roles, and governance rules. Family charter → roles & remuneration model → succession pathway → BoA family council.
Structure remuneration and responsibilities for fairness and accountability.
Map a clear succession pathway for next-generation leadership.
Facilitate regular family council or Board of Advice meetings.

Client stories

A family agribusiness with three siblings faced unclear responsibilities and disputes. We introduced clear role descriptions and KPIs, improving harmony between the siblings.

Founders of a retail group wanted to retire but doubted the next generation’s readiness. We designed a 3-year phased glide path, with mentoring and accountability, allowing the founders to step back confidently.

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