Today
PwC brings M&A partnership to eight, recruits former Bondi Partners chief
M&A operative Anthony Lazzoppina has gone full circle, rejoining the firm that gave him his start in the financial services industry 24 years ago as a partner.
Yesterday
Project Knox: Inside Brookfield’s $6.8b play for National Storage REIT
Brookfield’s Ruban Kaneshamoorthy and GIC’s Australian head Richard Massey have fronted up with an innovative strategy.
Mystery global player flirted with battered Monash IVF, was rebuffed
The offshore interest is a reminder that Monash’s share price carnage, triggered by two diabolical embryo mix-ups in a year, has put it on the radar globally.
Merger law overhaul risks killing company rescues
The extra costs and time it will take to get ACCC clearance or waiver will make it harder to save struggling companies, particularly active trading companies.
AUB’s private equity suitors walk from $5b buyout of insurance broker
The company said EQT and CVC Capital Partners indicated they did not intend to proceed with a $45-per-share bid, and that it was confident in its strategy.
November
Blackstone moves to lock down Firmus multibillion-dollar debt package
Sources close to the talks say Blackstone has exclusivity, and a deal is likely to be signed in the next two weeks.
Banks, credit funds feast on El Jannah’s takeover financing
This column revealed on Friday that the Estephan family had agreed to bring in buyout firm General Atlantic as majority shareholder
Kiwi healthcare group Tamaki Health set to change hands
TPG’s Joel Thickins-led deal makers in Australia have had a busy year and are coming in hot to Christmas.
Yarra Capital to shut down Tyndall AM
Its value-focused investing style, once red-hot with institutional clients, has fallen out of favour.
Winner winner! Offshore PE comes for cult chicken chain El Jannah
The founding family will retain a significant stake in the business and remain involved. Houldin is also expected to stay on as CEO.
Meet the bank watching Oleg Vornik’s back amid DroneShield’s saga
You would have to think JPMorgan offered Vornik a word or two of advice in recent weeks, after the company lost nearly half its market value.
Betashares to buy stake in ex NAB execs’ stablecoin biz
Sources said Betashares would hold the stake on its balance sheet, and sees long-term potential for stablecoins in the Australian market.
Macquarie’s ‘bittersweet’ $11.6b Qube bid backed by big investors
The takeover offer for the ASX-listed logistics group is being supported by some institutions, but others think the infrastructure investor could pay more.
Brookfield, GIC lob $4b takeover offer for National Storage REIT
The $2.86 all-cash offer comes at a generous premium to the self-storage operator’s last trading price and shows how strong the interest is in the niche sector.
Trade buyers circle CSR’s buzzy building blocks biz Hebel
Street Talk understands Saint-Gobain’s CSR has been on the receiving end of inbound interest for its growing building blocks unit Hebel.
KKR’s Laser Clinics brings in bankers to sell sprawling Australia biz
Laser Clinics has more than 100 locations across Australia and New Zealand, offering laser hair removal, injectables, facials and fillers.
Brookfield, GIC prepare multibillion bid for National Storage REIT
The real estate business runs a network of self-storage facilities across Australia and New Zealand and has a market capitalisation of more than $3 billion.
The three days when BHP tried to crash a copper mega deal
BHP stunned markets with a second surprise takeover bid for Anglo American – but the attempt sank within days, raising questions about the miner’s strategy.
Third-best option is right medicine for Ramsay’s antsy shareholders
If it could’ve sold Sante for a good price, David Thodey would’ve signed on the dotted line ages ago. Spinning it off now might be best for shareholders.
‘Auction from hell’: Mail seeks final say in tortuous Telegraph sale
Many permutations of ownership have emerged during a process that has sparked geopolitical tensions and pitted Wall Street titans against a truculent newsroom.