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Agri and regional services provider Elders Limited (Elders) has acquired Townsville-based finance brokerage AAA+ Financial Solutions and AAA Consulting for an undisclosed sum, bringing the brokerage into its financial services offering, Elders Finance.
AAA+ Financial Solutions, an established finance brokerage co-founded and led by broker director Paul Hautaniemi, has been providing home, commercial, and rural lending services to clients across regional Queensland since 2001.
Its consulting arm, AAA Consulting, headed up by co-founder and director Ashley Evans, complements the broking services by providing business advisory to regional and rural businesses, including succession and business planning for complex family and agribusiness clients.
As part of the acquisition, AAA+ Financial Solutions will continue to operate under its existing brand but will become part of the Elders group, enabling it to access Elders’ broader product range and national network.
Nick Clark, Elders’ general manager for financial and agency services, said the acquisition represented an important step in expanding Elders’ broking offering, which has been growing since the cessation of the Rural Bank partnership in the 2023 financial year.
“Expanding our presence in regional finance brokerage remains a key part of our strategy, as we focus on supporting clients and communities through a broader range of services,” he said.
“This acquisition strengthens our ability to provide integrated, localised financial solutions for clients, particularly across regional Queensland where AAA+ has built strong and longstanding relationships.”
Elders Finance – which offers a brokerage model across all loan types – rolled out an employed broker model in FY25, encompassing commercial, agriculture, and asset finance loans.
Clark said: “Ashley Evans and Paul Hautaniemi have built a highly regarded business, and bring over 30 years of experience across banking, finance and mortgage broking. Their knowledge and client focus will be a very valuable addition to Elders’ existing capability.”
Speaking of the decision to join Elders, Evans and Hautaniemi said the move would allow their businesses to further strengthen their client offering while maintaining their strong local presence.
In a joint statement, they said: “Being part of Elders gives us the backing of a well-established network, allowing us to spend more time with our clients and continue to build on the level of service we provide. We’re proud of the reputation we’ve built, and this is an opportunity to enhance that further.
“We’re particularly looking forward to being part of a brand that is well known and respected across regional communities. It positions us to continue expanding our presence in the rural market, while complementing the relationships and trust we’ve already established with our clients.”
[Related: Bendigo Bank pulls back on Elders and Homesafe investments]
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