International Energy Services Pty Limited (IES) is Australia’s leading provider of distribution and logistics services and product handling equipment for the petroleum, liquefied petroleum gas and aviation industries.  IES consists of two principal businesses, Cootes Transport Group and Liquip. The Cootes Transport Group plays a leading role in Australia’s energy supply chain, distributing oil, petrol, bitumen, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and hazardous chemicals from terminals to regional depots, service stations and industry. Liquip is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of specialty liquid-handling equipment and the only player providing a total range of equipment primarily for the oil and gas storage, transport and processing industry. Both businesses are known for their high standards of customer service and their strong safety record for handling and transporting hazardous materials.

In early 2004 CHAMP executives recognised the initial signs that IES’s parent company could face financial difficulties, and identified IES as a non-core subsidiary that could be divested as part of a parent company restructuring.  CHAMP partnered with IES management to acquire the business in January 2005 for A$144 million from the administrators of industrial conglomerate, ION Limited. By refocussing IES as a stand-alone entity, providing capital for continuous asset upgrades and assisting management’s growth strategy, CHAMP is reinvigorating the company and building on its pre-eminent market position and strong operational practices.