This Month
Cat Daddy time! How ARN, Southern Cross could resume merger dance
The obvious step is for ARN to approach Catalano and nut out a deal which would effectively see ACM assume Anchorage’s original position.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
May
ARN throws a Hail Mary to revive collapsed radio merger
Takeover target SCA gave a dim view of the revised plan, which doesn’t include private equity firm Anchorage Capital.
- Nick Bonyhady
- Updated
- Media & marketing
$250m deal to reshape radio market collapses
Southern Cross Austereo’s regional TV stations proved the sticking point for Anchorage Capital Partners’ deal. ARN is left to try and salvage a way forward.
- Updated
- Sam Buckingham-Jones
December 2023
Hamish McLennan confronts rugby’s biggest lie
Coach Eddie Jones always denied there were plans to ditch the Wallabies. Events seem primed to blow up in the faces of Rugby Australia, including the board.
- Mark Di Stefano
ARN to fight forced sale of Southern Cross stake
The owner of KIIS FM and Pure Gold radio network rejected a Takeovers Panel ruling it illegally bought shares in the rival.
- Zoe Samios
November 2023
Hamish McLennan puts on the boxing gloves and hopes for a soft landing
Despite simmering public criticism and the Rugby Australia dispute, the executive remains among the country’s most influential corporate players.
- Updated
- Jemima Whyte
Inside the Zoom board meetings which flipped rugby on its back
Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan is gone, and he’s made sure everyone knows it. But where to from here?
- Zoe Samios and Mark Di Stefano
Ares, Pacific Equity Partners line up for Rugby Australia debt
Negotiations with credit providers are entering extra time as the code looks for $60 million.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
- Updated
- Australian rugby
New Rugby boss Dan Herbert says ‘everyone recognises’ game is broken
But deposed chairman Hamish McLennan, who was ousted in a boardroom coup on Sunday, has warned his exit will lead to “more division ... not less”.
- Updated
- Kylar Loussikian and Zoe Samios
- Updated
- Business of sport
Hamish McLennan out of Rugby Australia after late night board meeting
Rugby executives from several states including Queensland had demanded his resignation and were preparing to call an extraordinary general meeting.
- Updated
- Zoe Samios
Hamish McLennan’s wife joins the ruck
Hours before Rugby CEO Phil Waugh took responsibility for the game’s mess, the chairman’s wife was taking on Instagram trolls, shifting the blame back to the players.
- Mark Di Stefano
October 2023
Southern Cross trades Grant Samuel for UBS amid takeover
Sources said UBS has taken the reins as pressure mounts on the SCA board to engage with ARN Media and Anchorage Capital Partners.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Welcome to rugby union’s burning platform
Australia just had its worst World Cup campaign in history. Everyone knows what the sport needs to do but making those changes is another matter entirely.
- Zoe Samios
Mystery share raid finally makes sense
The country’s radio landscape could soon be dramatically reshaped, after a stunning takeover bid for Southern Cross. It had been plotted for months.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones
Rugby Australia: Jones told us this week he’s staying
Jones met chief executive Phil Waugh in Paris on Tuesday to reiterate he remained committed to coaching the embattled Wallabies until their home World Cup in 2027.
- Zoe Samios
September 2023
This is ‘rock bottom’: Rugby boss Mclennan
Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan says the code must embrace a more centralised structure after the Wallabies suffered a brutal 40-6 loss to Wales.
- Gus McCubbing and Peter Ker
August 2023
Andrew Formica named new Magellan chairman
The 52-year-old former CEO of Janus Henderson is the new chairman of the funds management group, after joining the board less than three weeks ago.
- Updated
- Jonathan Shapiro
July 2023
- Exclusive
- AFR Magazine
Eddie Jones: Union to take on league in rugby heartland
Rugby union’s top dogs are preparing to take the fight to rival codes with a private-equity war chest to poach more players.
- Jonathan Shapiro and Zoe Samios
Magellan appoints former funds management exec to its board
Magellan has attracted former funds management executive Andrew Formica to its board, a move that is likely to appease activist investors.
- Jonathan Shapiro
June 2023
Hamish McLennan buys $30m Sydney house
Vendor Mark Kerry. the Olympic gold medallist-turned-recruitment boss, was hoping for around $35 million
- Lucy Macken