Coates Hire

Coates, historically branded as Coates Hire, is an Australian equipment-rental business and a wholly owned subsidiary of Seven Group Holdings. Its roots extend to 1885, when the company began as a small engineering enterprise in Melbourne. The business later moved beyond engineering and manufacturing-related activity into equipment hire, developing the rental model that became central to its identity. The transition into equipment rental followed the Second World War. A significant early step was the purchase of a vibratory roller that was made available to prospective customers under a “try before you buy” approach. This helped establish a practical rental proposition: customers could use specialized machinery without making an immediate purchase, while the company could build a recurring equipment-hire business around construction and industrial demand. Coates became a public company on the Australian Securities Exchange in 1955. In 1972, it was acquired by Australian National Industries. The company continued to develop its rental operations and expanded internationally in 1993 by beginning operations in Indonesia. It later returned to the ASX in August 1996. A further stage of consolidation occurred in 2002, when Coates acquired Wreckair from Brambles Limited. In January 2008, Coates was delisted after being acquired by private investors including The Carlyle Group and National Hire Group. The transaction was followed by the combination of Coates’ hire activities with those of National Hire Group, bringing together two of Australia’s largest equipment-rental businesses. Seven Group Holdings first invested in Coates in 2008 through its WesTrac subsidiary, alongside The Carlyle Group and management. On 25 October 2017, Seven Group Holdings acquired the remaining 53 percent held by The Carlyle Group and minority owners, making Coates a wholly owned Seven Group Holdings business. The company changed its public-facing name from Coates Hire to Coates on 10 June 2021. The rebrand reflected a broader corporate identity while retaining the company’s established position in equipment rental. Coates operates across all Australian states and territories and supplies hired equipment to sectors including construction, infrastructure and industrial services. Its offering is based on access to machinery and associated equipment rather than outright ownership by customers. The business has also maintained a visible presence in Australian motorsport. Coates has sponsored Supercars teams, championships and events, including title sponsorships connected with Nick Percat’s 2012 Development Series campaign, the 2013 Australian Carrera Cup Championship and the 2014 V8 Supercars Championship campaign. It has also held title sponsorships for events such as the Ipswich SuperSprint, Sydney 500, Supercars Challenge, Melbourne 400 and Newcastle 500. As of 2023, the company’s hire fleet was reported at A$1.87 billion in equipment at original cost. This figure describes the original-cost value of hire equipment and is not a reported revenue or market-capitalization figure. Coates remains an active Australian rental brand within Seven Group Holdings.

Coates traces its origins to 1885, when it was established as a small engineering company in Melbourne. Its later development was shaped by the postwar expansion of equipment rental. After the Second World War, the company purchased a vibratory roller and made it available to potential customers through a trial-oriented rental arrangement. This “try before you buy” approach helped demonstrate the commercial value of hiring equipment and became an important step in the company’s evolution into a dedicated rental business. The company was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in 1955. In 1972, Australian National Industries acquired Coates. During the following decades, Coates expanded the scope of its equipment-hire activities and, in 1993, began operating in Indonesia. It was re-listed on the ASX in August 1996. Coates strengthened its position in the Australian rental market through acquisitions. In 2002 it acquired Wreckair from Brambles Limited. The company was subsequently taken private in January 2008, when it was acquired by The Carlyle Group and National Hire Group together with other investors. The hire businesses of Coates and National Hire Group were then merged, consolidating two of Australia’s largest equipment-rental operations. Seven Group Holdings entered the ownership structure in 2008 through its WesTrac subsidiary, investing alongside The Carlyle Group and management. On 25 October 2017, Seven Group Holdings bought the remaining 53 percent from The Carlyle Group and minority shareholders. Coates consequently became a wholly owned subsidiary of Seven Group Holdings. On 10 June 2021, the company changed its brand name from Coates Hire to Coates. The revised name was intended to provide a broader and more contemporary identity while preserving the company’s established rental heritage. The business continues to operate throughout every Australian state and territory. Its core model is to supply equipment on a rental basis to customers in construction, infrastructure, industrial and related fields. Coates has also used sponsorship to build brand visibility, particularly in Australian motorsport. Its sponsorship history includes title support for Nick Percat’s 2012 Development Series campaign, the 2013 Australian Carrera Cup Championship and the 2014 V8 Supercars Championship campaign. It has additionally served as title sponsor for a number of Supercars events, including the Ipswich SuperSprint, Sydney 500, Supercars Challenge, Melbourne 400 and Newcastle 500. The scale of the company’s asset base was illustrated by a 2023 report that valued its hire equipment at A$1.87 billion on an original-cost basis. Coates remains active as an Australian equipment-rental company under Seven Group Holdings.

• 2021

  Rebrand to Coates

  [1]Coates Hireen.wikipedia.org

  The company changed its name from Coates Hire to Coates.

• 2017

  Seven Group Holdings takes full ownership

  [1]Coates Hireen.wikipedia.org

  Seven Group Holdings acquired the remaining 53 percent of Coates from The Carlyle Group and minority owners.

• 2008

  Private acquisition and hire-business merger

  [1]Coates Hireen.wikipedia.org

  Coates was delisted after acquisition by The Carlyle Group and National Hire Group, followed by a merger of their hire businesses.

• 2002

  Wreckair acquisition

  [1]Coates Hireen.wikipedia.org

  Coates acquired Wreckair from Brambles Limited.

• 1996

  Re-listed on the ASX

  [1]Coates Hireen.wikipedia.org

  Coates returned to the Australian Securities Exchange in August.

• 1993

  Operations begin in Indonesia

  [1]Coates Hireen.wikipedia.org

  Coates expanded outside Australia by commencing operations in Indonesia.

• 1972

  Acquired by Australian National Industries

  [1]Coates Hireen.wikipedia.org

  Australian National Industries purchased the company.

• 1955

  Initial ASX listing

  [1]Coates Hireen.wikipedia.org

  Coates was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.

• 1885

  Company founded in Melbourne

  [1]Coates Hireen.wikipedia.org

  Coates began as a small engineering company in Melbourne.

A large Australian equipment-rental provider focused on giving construction, infrastructure and industrial customers access to machinery without requiring direct ownership.

• Equipment rental

  Construction and infrastructure equipment hire

  Coates provides rented equipment for construction and infrastructure work, allowing project operators to obtain machinery for defined periods instead of purchasing and maintaining every asset themselves. The offering supports the company’s core role as an equipment-access provider across the Australian market.

• Compaction equipment

  Vibratory rollers

  A vibratory roller was among the early pieces of equipment used to develop Coates’ rental model after the Second World War. It was offered to prospective customers under a trial-oriented arrangement, helping demonstrate the practical value of hiring specialized machinery before purchase.

• Specialist equipment rental · 2002

  Wreckair equipment-rental operations

  The acquisition of Wreckair from Brambles Limited in 2002 expanded Coates’ equipment-rental portfolio and contributed to the consolidation of specialist hire capabilities within the business.

• 2014V8 Supercars Championship sponsorship

  Australia

  Coates provided title sponsorship connected with the V8 Supercars Championship campaign.

  Source
• 2013Australian Carrera Cup Championship sponsorship

  Australia

  Coates sponsored the Australian Carrera Cup Championship as title partner.

  Source
• 2012Nick Percat Development Series sponsorship

  Australia

  Coates served as title sponsor for Nick Percat’s Development Series campaign.

  Source
• Supercars event sponsorships

  Australia

  Coates has held title sponsorships for Supercars events including the Ipswich SuperSprint, Sydney 500, Supercars Challenge, Melbourne 400 and Newcastle 500.

  Source

• 2021

  Rebrand from Coates Hire to CoatesStrategy

  Background

  The company had operated for many years under the Coates Hire name.

  Action taken

  On 10 June 2021, the company adopted Coates as its public-facing brand name.

  Aftermath

  The business continued operating as an equipment-rental company under the shorter Coates identity.

  Source

• 2017

  Seven Group Holdings acquires remaining Coates stakeM&A

  Background

  Seven Group Holdings had invested in Coates through WesTrac in 2008 alongside The Carlyle Group and management.

  Action taken

  Seven Group Holdings purchased the remaining 53 percent held by The Carlyle Group and minority owners.

  Aftermath

  Coates became a wholly owned subsidiary of Seven Group Holdings.

  Source

• 2008

  Private acquisition and merger with National Hire GroupM&A

  Background

  Coates was delisted after being acquired by private investors including The Carlyle Group and National Hire Group.

  Action taken

  The hire businesses of Coates and National Hire Group were merged to consolidate their Australian rental operations.

  Aftermath

  The transaction combined two of Australia’s largest equipment-hire businesses.

  Source

• 2023

  Coates equipment fleet reaches A$1.87 billion at original cost[1]Coates Hireen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The company was reported to have A$1.87 billion of hire equipment measured at original cost.

• 2021

  Coates changes its name from Coates Hire to Coates[1]Coates Hireen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The equipment-rental company adopted the shorter Coates name as part of a corporate rebrand.

• 2017

  Seven Group Holdings acquires full ownership of Coates[1]Coates Hireen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Seven Group Holdings purchased the remaining 53 percent held by The Carlyle Group and minority owners, making Coates wholly owned by Seven Group Holdings.

1. 1Coates Hireen.wikipedia.org