Mergers & Acquisitions

Australia is a sought after market for both domestic and international investors.

Its ability to offer attractive investment opportunities is driven by a political and legal system that is robust and transparent, as well as consistent long-term growth in the local economy. However, with tightening regulatory scrutiny, technology-led disruption, and fierce competition for assets, our clients are faced with a number of investment challenges.

How we can help

With an emphasis on quality, innovation and efficiency, we deliver highly successful outcomes for leading companies and financial sponsors in Australia and around the world.

Our experience includes advising in relation to acquisitions and divestments of listed companies (whether by scheme of arrangement or takeover bid), takeover defence mandates, competitive sale processes, joint venture arrangements, private share and asset acquisitions and divestments, consortium bids, cross-border transactions, and governance issues arising out of M&A activity. Our market leading M&A team is consistently recognised as among the best in Australia and the Asia region.

Trusted advisers on reputationally significant deals

Our market-leading experience in public company takeovers and schemes of arrangement has seen us play a crucial role on some of the largest and most complex deals in Australia's corporate history.

Public company transactions attract heightened attention from shareholders, regulators, boards and the media. Our clients have confidence in our ability to advise them on their most reputationally significant and technically complex transactions, trusting in our ability to deliver tailored and commercially astute advice, and to help them navigate complex regulatory and boardroom issues.

Managing large scale cross-border transactions

We are well versed at managing large scale, complex cross-border transactions involving the co-ordination of large teams across different jurisdictions and liaising with local counsel. Our global network enables us to play an effective role on transactions of this nature.

Supporting your ordinary course investment activity

While we are often involved in significant and novel transactions, we also regularly support our clients on smaller-scale ‘business as usual’ acquisitions, divestments and joint venture arrangements.

A transaction team focused on your business and your sector  

We are known for our ability to pair market leading M&A capability with relevant sector expertise to ensure our clients are in the strongest position possible when executing their investment strategy. Our advice is tailored to our clients' business needs, commercially astute, and prepared with knowledge of industry specific drivers and risks. We also work closely with financing, tax and regulatory specialists to deliver an integrated service to our clients.

Helping you navigate complex regulatory issues

Our strong and enduring relationships with leading financial advisers and regulators, including the Australian Securities & Investments Commission, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission, the Takeovers Panel, the Foreign Investment Review Board, the Australian Securities Exchange, and the Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority, enable us to play an effective part in any advisory team.

We are at the forefront of major reforms recently introduced to Australia's foreign investment regime. We have been leading the Law Council of Australia's response to these changes and have brought our expertise to shape multiple submissions on these reforms.

We have considerable experience advising on approvals for pension funds, private equity funds, state owned enterprises, sovereign wealth funds and other foreign investors on complex foreign investment approvals. Learn more. 

You may also be interested in

Private Equity Horizons 2023

We expect this year to remain challenging for Private Equity dealmakers, however, the near-term uncertainty is likely to present considerable investment opportunities. Despite some obvious headwinds, we are optimistic about activity levels for the year ahead.

Allens' handbook to takeovers in Australia

This handbook provides an overview of the rules, policies and common issues in takeover transactions for Australian publicly listed companies and trusts.

Overview of Australia’s foreign investment approval (FIRB) regime

Our foreign investment law experts have summarised the key information you need to know about Australia's FIRB regime.

Doing business and investing in Australia

A guide that aims to identify and unravel many of the legal and regulatory issues that foreign investors will face when considering an investment opportunity in Australia.

Experience

Acquisition of Sydney Airport

Advised Sydney Airport on the $32 billion acquisition of 100 per cent of its securities by the Sydney Aviation Alliance, a consortium led by Global Infrastructure Partners and IFM Investors. This was the largest cash takeover in Australian history.

Oil Search and Santos merger

Advised Oil Search on its $22 billion merger with Santos by way of Papua New Guinean scheme of arrangement.

Acquisition of Spark Infrastructure

Advised a consortium comprising KKR Infrastructure, OTPP and PSP Investments on the $5.2 billion proposed acquisition of Spark Infrastructure.

Acquisition of Axicom

Advised AustralianSuper and Singtel on Australia Tower Network's $3.58 billion acquisition of leading independent telecommunications infrastructure provider Axicom.

Acquisition of Ausnet by Brookfield

Advised Ausnet in relation to its $10.2 billion acquisition by a consortium led by Brookfield Asset Management.

Sale of One Rail

Advised on the $2.35 billion sale of One Rail to Aurizon by Macquarie Asset Management.

Sale of WestConnex

Advised the NSW Government on the $11.1 billion sale of its 49 per cent stake in WestConnex to the Transurban consortium.

Unibail's acquisition of Westfield Corporation

Advised Unibail-Rodamco on its acquisition of Westfield Corporation for an enterprise value of $32.7 billion.

Acquisition of Boral

Advised Seven Group Holdings on its successful acquisition of a majority of the shares in Boral by way of an $8.8 billion off-market takeover offer.

Privatisation of NSW electricity networks

Advised the NSW Government in relation to the privatisation of the state's electricity network, including the divestment of Ausgrid, TransGrid and Endeavour Energy.

Investment in InfraCo Towers

Advised Morrison & Co and the Future Fund consortium on a $2.8 billion investment in Telstra's InfraCo Towers.

Proposed acquisition of Uniti Group Limited

Advised a consortium comprising funds managed or controlled by HRL Morrison & Co and Brookfield, and Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation, on the proposed ~$3.4 billion acquisition of Uniti Group Limited.