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With historically low interest rates, significant interest from foreign investors, corporates with strong balance sheets and acquisitions being a key driver for growth in the current economy, conditions are ripe for strong continued M&A activity in Australia.
Having advised on the 2nd highest number of completed deals in the Australian market in 2016, HWL Ebsworth’s M&A team is well placed to advise local and international businesses on all aspects of their acquisition, divestment and succession planning strategies.
We have extensive experience advising on sale processes, negotiated acquisitions and disposals, competitive bid private treaty transactions, regulated takeovers, demergers, schemes of arrangement, joint ventures, MBOs, cross-border M&A (including both inbound and outbound investment), regulatory approvals (including in relation to foreign investment), corporate restructures and reorganisations, capital reductions and share buy-backs.
Our skilled team and unrivalled value offering allows us to work effectively on large and mid-market transactions across a broad range of industries.
Experience
- S. Kidman & Co, Australia’s largest land owner, in relation to its sale for $386 million by way of off-market takeover;
- Centuria Capital Group on its $320 million takeover bid for GPT Metro Office Fund and on its $217 million acquisition of 360 Capital Group’s real estate funds management platform;
- Allegro Funds Management on its sale of Great Southern Rail, the operator of The Ghan, The Indian Pacific and The Overland, to Quadrant Private Equity;
- Eureka Funds Management on its acquisition by AXA Investment Managers, representing a significant expansion of AXA’S real assets operations in Asia-Pacific;
- Colonial First State Global Asset Management on its acquisition of Water Utilities Australia from Blue Sky Alternative Investments Limited;
- McMillan Shakespeare on its $115m cash and scrip acquisition of Presidian Holdings and $42m acquisition of United Financial Services;
- Funlab, the operator of Strike bowling bars and Sky Zone trampolines centres, on its sale to private equity firm Next Capital; and
- Hoyts on its acquisition of Active Media Group, from Oaktree Capital Management. Active Media Group is the creator of media content and operates a digital screen network across Fitness First and Goodlife Health Clubs Australia wide.