Yesterday
After banking $4b in 2024, dealmakers expect a bumper year
Some of the country’s top dealmakers say a more certain outlook will finally dislodge transactions that have been stuck, paving the way for higher fees.
- Updated
- Emma Rapaport
This Month
ASX rises; 2025’s M&A wave starts; Why men get belly fat
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
December 2024
The top AFR Magazine reads of 2024
From what Rich Listers teach their kids to why Saudi Arabia is luring so many Australians, here’s a collection of some of our best-read features this year.
Japan’s car industry consolidates: Honda and Nissan reveal merger plan
The Japanese car giants will merge to create the world’s third-largest automotive group by 2026, as the two companies struggle to keep up with global competitors.
- Jessica Sier
Insignia rejects Bain’s billions as lacking ‘fair value’
Major shareholder Tanarra Capital described the private equity firm’s offer as “highly opportunistic” as Insignia shares tumbled.
- Updated
- Michelle Bowes
Labor lifts M&A fees and bolsters phoenixing crackdown
Jim Chalmers’ mid-year budget update has increased fees for company takeovers and provided funding to boost penalties for dodgy behaviour.
- Tom McIlroy
Insignia board weighs $2.7b Bain bid against turnaround
Bain’s cash has Insignia shareholders wondering whether they should cut and run ahead of a complex but credible turnaround strategy.
- Updated
- Jonathan Shapiro
Inside the morning meeting of the market’s biggest fee payer
The big year of deal making at David Di Pilla’s HMC Capital has been a blessing for investment banks in an otherwise patchy 12 months. Can it maintain the pace?
- Jemima Whyte
Omnicom to buy Interpublic in $20.6b deal
The merger of the two agencies will create the world’s largest advertising company, taking that title from London-based WPP.
- Fareed Sahloul and Mark Bergen
Guardian owner pushes through sale of The Observer despite strike
A “slow news” start-up has bought the 233-year-old Sunday paper for $49 million, amid a slew of deals that are shifting Britain’s media landscape.
- Hans van Leeuwen
November 2024
Macquarie offers $1.4b in cash in fresh bid for Renewi
The asset manager said it has reached a preliminary agreement with the London-listed waste management company on a possible cash offer.
- Aaron Kirchfeld and Vinicy Chan
Webjet misled customers on fares for years, says ACCC
The online travel agency allegedly charged one customer $21,764 more after the booking had been made. Webjet says it is cooperating with the regulator.
- Ayesha de Kretser
Pacific Equity Partners in talks to acquire SG Fleet in $1b-plus deal
The provider of fleet management, vehicle leasing and salary packaging services has over 277,000 vehicles and listed on the ASX in March 2014.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Monday’s big deal shows domestic M&A is definitely not dead
For all the bluster we hear from bankers and lawyers about the ACCC, companies are still willing to take on the competition regulator.
- Anthony Macdonald
M&A deals to spike ahead of merger reforms, says Corrs
The new regime is likely to capture more deals and involve longer reviews, the law firm has warned.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Merger shake-up gets Coalition’s blessing
The opposition will support the federal government’s biggest overhaul of the laws in 50 years, after lobbying from the ACCC’s Gina Cass-Gottlieb.
- John Kehoe
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
How toll road ‘beeps’ became Australian infrastructure’s hottest issue
Politics and business are colliding in Australian infrastructure. Do we really believe in miracle “win-win” scenarios?
- Anthony Macdonald
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Seller’s remorse casts shadow over infrastructure needs
Privatising roads and ports gave state governments plenty of cash to fund new work. But NSW’s struggle with $64 toll roads shows there is a long tail of consequences.
- Anthony Macdonald
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Fuel on the fire: Wall Street star Brian Friedman on the Trump trade
The Jefferies president arrived in Sydney as his company’s shares were closing 11.2 per cent higher. He can thank Donald Trump for the boost.
- Anthony Macdonald
Macquarie, Wylie lead charge into Japan as deal activity surges
In a country once closed to foreign investors, companies are looking for new sources of capital and selling assets. But it isn’t easy getting through the door.
- Updated
- Jessica Sier