WA giants shun big-ticket M&A
Two of Western Australia’s most influential companies are turning their backs on big-ticket mergers and acquisitions, opting instead to drive down debt and buy small bolt-on businesses.
Two of Western Australia’s most influential companies are turning their backs on big-ticket mergers and acquisitions, opting instead to drive down debt and buy small bolt-on businesses.
Overall, Fonterra has flagged $4bn of assets for divestment globally, about half of which are in its ANZ unit.
It may have been a quiet year for initial public offerings, but it will end on a high with two deals in the works.
Top-tier executives at Australian real estate investment trusts are leaving, as groups trim ranks while making new hirings.
The $6bn listed industrials group Incitec Pivot is set to announce a revived sale process for its fertiliser business when it reports annual earnings, and is prepared to break up the division.
Parties in talks with Woodside Energy to buy a stake in its US Gulf Coast Driftwood LNG development are showing interest in also taking part of its Scarborough asset in WA.
Demand for the float of Cuscal will no doubt be a positive for those hoping the IPO market will reopen, but much of it will depend on how it trades once listed.
Chemist Warehouse and Sigma will be worth more than $30bn when their backdoor listing deal is finalised, close to Woolworths’ valuation and several billion more than Coles.
Cuscal has shaken off weak sentiment in the market to attract demand for its $336.8m float which, if successful, will be the largest this year.
The Australian investment banking industry could enjoy a sugar hit from Donald Trump’s election victory, based on the way some of the biggest Wall Street banks have traded following the result.
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/bridget-carter/page/4