Private Equity

We have a leading Private Equity team in Australasia, comprising corporate, debt financing, fund formation, tax and insolvency specialists. By advising our clients across the full spectrum of a private equity fund, including fund establishment and management, capital raisings, new investments and strategic acquisitions, capital restructuring, governance, exit strategies and the restructuring of assets, we are able to provide sound strategic counsel that aligns with our clients' legal and commercial needs.

Having worked on many high-profile transactions, we have amassed a significant amount of experience on the legal and commercial issues typically facing private equity firms enabling the delivery of viable outcomes for our clients.

We advise on the full range of private equity transaction types, including leveraged buyouts (LBOs), management buyouts, growth capital investments, venture capital, take-privates and schemes of arrangement, consortium bids, co-investments, minority stake acquisitions, bolt-on acquisitions for portfolio companies, dual track processes (simultaneous IPO and trade sale), competitive auction exits, acquisition and leveraged finance, and large-scale real asset transactions across logistics, infrastructure and accommodation. We also advise funds on formation of new fund vehicles and management equity plans.

We offer:

• market leading execution skills, from acting on some of Australasia's largest and most complex public-to-private transactions and strategic investments;

• a multidisciplinary team providing a seamless and integrated service across corporate, equity, debt, tax, insolvency and litigation;

• outstanding lawyers who combine first-rate technical skills with sound strategic and commercial judgment;

• particular expertise in developing tax-effective structures including structures with flow-through benefits for offshore investors, gained from advising US and European funds;

• unique experience in debt-financing including in relation to debt structuring of leveraged acquisitions and on debt restructuring in distressed asset situations "whole of transaction" and "life of investment" skills;

• creativity in deal design and structuring to meet commercial objectives;

• an understanding of the latest domestic and international developments in private equity; 

• knowledge of the value drivers of private equity investments and the requirement for funds to achieve timely and clean exits and we can offer solutions to minimise or eliminate post-divestment risks; and

• sound working relationship with the Australian Investment Council – the leading industry body in Australia.

Experience

Blackstone:

• Advised on its acquisition of Hamilton Island, one of Australia's most iconic luxury holiday destinations.

• Advised on its A$8.9 billion acquisition of Crown Resorts Limited by way of scheme of arrangement, its largest investment in the Asia Pacific at the time, and one of its largest globally.

• Advised on its A$3.8 billion dual track disposal of the "Milestone" industrial logistics portfolio, comprising 45 industrial assets across five states. This transaction is Australia's largest-ever direct property transaction.

• Advised on its A$2.1 billion acquisition of a 50% interest in Dexus Australian Logistics Trust, which holds 77 premium-grade logistics assets concentrated in Sydney and Melbourne.

• Advised on its A$500+ million acquisition of Student One, a portfolio of purpose-built student accommodation in Brisbane, and the related operating business.

Pacific Equity Partners (PEP): Advised on a number of its investments, including:

• Corporate carve-out of Freight Management Holdings from Singapore Post and subsequent acquisition of AFS Logistics.

• Acquisition of Cranky Health, the owner of The Man Shake and The Lady Shake weight-loss range.

• Acquisition of Healthe Care Group's surgical acute care business, including 12 hospitals and 7 day surgery centres across Australia and New Zealand.

• A$503 million acquisition of The Citadel Group, an Australian software and services firm, and subsequent acquisition of Australian medical software provider Genie Solutions for approximately A$260 million through The Citadel Group.

• Take-private offer for diversified entertainment business Village Roadshow.

• Take-private offer to acquire Australian software firm ReadyTech.

Apollo: Advised on its bid to acquire Westpac Banking Corp's $30 billion-plus portfolio of RAMS loans.

Virgin Australia Holdings Limited: Advised on the sale of Virgin Australia to Bain Private Equity for A$3.5 billion.

Brookfield: Advised on the dual track disposal (simultaneous IPO and trade sale auction) of its financial services and asset management business, La Trobe Financial, valued at approximately $3 billion.

JP Morgan: Advised on their acquisition of an additional 33.7% interest in North Queensland Airports, comprising Cairns Airport, Mackay Airport and the Mackay Airport Hotel, at an enterprise value of approximately A$3 billion.

National Storage REIT: Advised on the $4 billion acquisition by a consortium comprising Brookfield and GIC, Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund. The transaction marks the largest all-cash deal in the global self-storage sector, and the largest real estate all-cash REIT privatisation in Australia.

Uniti Group Limited: Advised Uniti Group Limited on its contested take private by the private capital consortium led by HRL Morrison & Co. and Brookfield Infrastructure Partners for A$3.4 billion.