Softide Buys Stake in AH Beard, Saving 200 Jobs
Smart bed brand Softide has bought a stake in the 127-year-old Australian mattress maker, which had entered voluntary administration.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Manufacturing
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Smart bed brand Softide bought a stake in AH Beard on Monday, rescuing the Australian-made mattress and commercial retailer after it announced in April that it would enter voluntary administration. The deal secures 200 jobs across six Australian states.
Why it matters
The rescue keeps a long-established domestic manufacturer operating and preserves jobs across multiple states. Administrator documents from July showed the business owed $10.23m to suppliers and other creditors and $2.87m to staff before the backing arrived.
Administrator documents from July put AH Beard's debts at $10.23m owed to suppliers and other creditors and $2.87m owed to staff. The company, which produces up to 10,000 mattresses a week, has not disclosed the size of Softide's stake or the terms of the deal.
The players
AH Beard
An Australian mattress and commercial retailer operating for 127 years, with factories across six states.
Softide
A smart bed brand that bought a stake in AH Beard to rescue the company from administration.
The details
AH Beard has factories and staff in Padstow NSW, Geebung Queensland, Edwardstown South Australia, Derrimut Victoria, Glenorchy Tasmania and Kewdale Western Australia. Its chief executive said the company is ready to invest further in innovation with fresh capital and a global strategic partner.
Timeline
AH Beard was founded in 1899.
AH Beard announced in April 2026 that it would enter voluntary administration.
Administrator documents in July 2026 showed the company's debts to creditors and staff.
On Monday, 9 November 2026, Softide bought a stake in the business.
Manufacturing Context
The rescue follows the voluntary administration pathway under the Australian Corporations Act, in which a buyer can take a stake to keep a distressed business trading. Here, the deal preserves domestic mattress manufacturing capacity across six states rather than winding the company down.
Customers buying AH Beard mattresses can expect the brand to keep operating, as the rescue preserves its factories and retail operations. The source does not indicate any change to product prices or availability.
The takeaway
A rescue deal can keep an established manufacturer running and its workforce employed when administration would otherwise threaten both. Readers tracking distressed businesses can watch how administrator reports and buyer stakes shape a company's next stage.
Further reading
For more on domestic production and factory operations, see Manufacturing.
Source note: This article includes information reported by News24.
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