image of Geoff HoffmanGeoff Hoffman

Clayton Utz Partner , Sydney T +61 2 9353 4617 https://www.claytonutz.com

Geoff Hoffman has more than 20 years' experience, advising clients on corporate and commercial matters, including mergers and acquisitions, equity fund raising, joint ventures, general corporate advice and ASX rules compliance.

Geoff has a particular focus on transactions in the telecommunications, media and technology sectors. This focus is reflected by Geoff's work as President of the Communications and Media Law Association.

Complementing this is Geoff's extensive experience in warrants, CFDs, equity swaps, equity derivatives and stock lending, and advising on the development and issue of numerous structured investment products for the retail market.

Geoff is appreciated by his clients for his breadth of knowledge and commercial acumen. He holds an MBA (with Distinction) from the London Business School.

Read MoreShow Less

Expertise

Expand allCollapse all

Corporate / M&A

Mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures

Suntory: Geoff advised Suntory on its sale of Cerebos Food & Instant Coffee (in Australia and New Zealand) and Asian Home Gourmet Singapore business to Kraft-Heinz for $290m.

Kronos Inc.: Geoff advised Kronos Incorporated on its acquisition of Digital Instinct Pty. Limited, a leading provider of human capital and workforce management solutions for casinos and casino resorts.

Woolworths: Geoff advised Woolworths on its agreements with BP for the sale of its 527 fuel convenience sites for $1.785 billion. The transaction also involved Woolworths and BP agreeing to enter into enter into a long-term strategic partnership between Woolworths food retail and BP's petrol retail businesses.

CDPQ: Geoff advised Canadian pension fund CDPQ on its acquisition of 30% of Bombadier Transportation for $1.5 billion.

Optus: Geoff advised SingTel Optus on its acquisition of IT professional and managed services company Ensyst as part of its ICT transformation.

21st Century Fox: Geoff advised 21st Century Fox on the global merger of Shine Group with Endemol and Core Media, to create a combined producer of unscripted media content including “American Idol”, “The Biggest Loser” and “Big Brother” valued at more than $2 billion.

Woolworths Limited: Geoff advised Woolworths and its US-based joint venture partner Lowe's Companies on its acquisition of Hudson Building Supplies, which operates a chain of stores in New South Wales and Queensland from New Zealand's Fletcher Building.

Woolworths Limited: Geoff advised Woolworths on its investment in and joint venture with data analytics company Quantium. The transaction also involved giving Quantium access to Woolworths de-identified customer data, including from its Everyday Rewards customer loyalty program.

Salmat Limited: Geoff advised Salmat on the A$375 million sale of Salmat’s BPO division to Fuji Xerox Asia Pacific, a subsidiary of Fujifilm Holdings in Japan.

Rubik Financial Limited: Geoff advised Rubik, the ASX-listed provider of financial technology and software, on its purchase of COIN Software from Macquarie Bank.

Optus Digital Media: Geoff advised SingTel Optus on its acquisition of online restaurant reviewer, Eatability.

ING Group: Geoff advised ING Group on its sale to UBS of ING Investment Management Australia, one of the largest active investment managers in Australia, with more than $34 billion in assets under management.

Woolworths Limited: Geoff advised Woolworths on its A$340 million acquisition of Cellarmasters Wines from Archer Capital.

Digital Radio: Geoff advised TXA Australia (a joint venture company owned by the three commercial metropolitan television networks, Seven, Nine and Ten) in relation to agreements for the provision of a national digital radio broadcast capability to the commercial radio industry.

Credit Suisse: Acted for Credit Suisse in relation to its equities trading business and the issue of OTC derivatives, stock lending and loan products in a range of currencies (for retail and institutional clients).

Singtel Optus: Geoff acted for Singtel Optus purchase of amaysim's mobile business for A$250 million.

Woolworths Group Limited: Geoff acted for Woolworths' on its acquisition of a 65% interest in PFD Food Services and a portfolio of freehold properties that include 26 distribution centres. The total deal value was A$552 million subject to customary adjustments. 

See Corporate / M&A

Mergers and Acquisitions

Suntory: Geoff advised Suntory on its sale of Cerebos Food & Instant Coffee (in Australia and New Zealand) and Asian Home Gourmet Singapore business to Kraft-Heinz for $290m.

Kronos Inc.: Geoff advised Kronos Incorporated on its acquisition of Digital Instinct Pty. Limited, a leading provider of human capital and workforce management solutions for casinos and casino resorts.

Woolworths: Geoff advised Woolworths on its agreements with BP for the sale of its 527 fuel convenience sites for $1.785 billion. The transaction also involved Woolworths and BP agreeing to enter into enter into a long-term strategic partnership between Woolworths food retail and BP's petrol retail businesses.

CDPQ: Geoff advised Canadian pension fund CDPQ on its acquisition of 30% of Bombadier Transportation for $1.5 billion.

Optus: Geoff advised SingTel Optus on its acquisition of IT professional and managed services company Ensyst as part of its ICT transformation.

21st Century Fox: Geoff advised 21st Century Fox on the global merger of Shine Group with Endemol and Core Media, to create a combined producer of unscripted media content including “American Idol”, “The Biggest Loser” and “Big Brother” valued at more than $2 billion.

Woolworths Limited: Geoff advised Woolworths and its US-based joint venture partner Lowe's Companies on its acquisition of Hudson Building Supplies, which operates a chain of stores in New South Wales and Queensland from New Zealand's Fletcher Building.

Woolworths Limited: Geoff advised Woolworths on its investment in and joint venture with data analytics company Quantium. The transaction also involved giving Quantium access to Woolworths de-identified customer data, including from its Everyday Rewards customer loyalty program.

Salmat Limited: Geoff advised Salmat on the A$375 million sale of Salmat’s BPO division to Fuji Xerox Asia Pacific, a subsidiary of Fujifilm Holdings in Japan.

Rubik Financial Limited: Geoff advised Rubik, the ASX-listed provider of financial technology and software, on its purchase of COIN Software from Macquarie Bank.

Optus Digital Media: Geoff advised SingTel Optus on its acquisition of online restaurant reviewer, Eatability.

ING Group: Geoff advised ING Group on its sale to UBS of ING Investment Management Australia, one of the largest active investment managers in Australia, with more than $34 billion in assets under management.

Woolworths Limited: Geoff advised Woolworths on its A$340 million acquisition of Cellarmasters Wines from Archer Capital.

Digital Radio: Geoff advised TXA Australia (a joint venture company owned by the three commercial metropolitan television networks, Seven, Nine and Ten) in relation to agreements for the provision of a national digital radio broadcast capability to the commercial radio industry.

Credit Suisse: Acted for Credit Suisse in relation to its equities trading business and the issue of OTC derivatives, stock lending and loan products in a range of currencies (for retail and institutional clients).

See Mergers and Acquisitions

Capital Markets and Securities

Commonwealth Bank: Geoff advised CBA on the issue of its listed instalment warrants.

Quantum Strategic Partners: Geoff advised Quantum Strategic Partners, a private investment fund managed by Soros Funds Management, on its acquisition of convertible equity bonds issued by New Guinea Energy Ltd.

CHAMP: Geoff acted for the fund manager in the raising of the CHAMP III buyout fund and the CHAMP Ventures 6 Fund.

ASX-listed Warrants: Geoff has acted for the past several years as legal adviser to Macquarie Bank, Australia's major issuer of ASX-listed warrants, including the issue of Macquarie MINIs.

ASX-listed protected lending instrument: Geoff advised in relation to the first listed-protected-loan "warrant" to be listed on the ASX.

Equity Investment Facility for Superannuation Funds: Geoff advised the issuer of the first SIS-compliant equity investment facility enabling superannuation fund trustees to enter into and close-out leveraged positions. The facility involved a novel application of the instalment receipts structure.

Stock Lending Industry (ASLA): Geoff appointed by the Australian Securities Lending Association (ASLA) to advise the stock lending industry in relation to an intervention in the Beconwood Securities v ANZ litigation concerning the collapse of Opes Prime and the implications of that decision for the securities lending industry generally.

See Capital Markets and Securities

Structured Products

Commonwealth Bank: Geoff advised CBA on the issue of its listed instalment warrants.

ASX-listed Warrants: Geoff has acted for the past several years as legal adviser to Macquarie Bank, Australia's major issuer of ASX-listed warrants, including the issue of Macquarie MINIs.

ASX-listed protected lending instrument: Geoff advised in relation to the first listed-protected-loan "warrant" to be listed on the ASX.

Equity Investment Facility for Superannuation Funds: Geoff advised the issuer of the first SIS-compliant equity investment facility enabling superannuation fund trustees to enter into and close-out leveraged positions. The facility involved a novel application of the instalment receipts structure.

Stock Lending Industry (ASLA): Geoff appointed by the Australian Securities Lending Association (ASLA) to advise the stock lending industry in relation to an intervention in the Beconwood Securities v ANZ litigation concerning the collapse of Opes Prime and the implications of that decision for the securities lending industry generally.

See Structured Products

Telecommunications, Media and Technology

Quantum Computing: Geoff advised the NSW government on its cornerstone investment in Australia’s first hardware quantum computing company, Silicon Quantum Computing. Silicon Quantum Computing is an $83 million joint venture spun out of the University of New South Wales, with investments from the NSW government, Telstra, the Commonwealth Bank and the federal government.

nbn: Geoff's recent experience includes acting for nbn co limited on the rollout of the national broadband network, including advising on its agreements with Telstra, Optus, TPG, Vocus and other carriers for the supply of wholesale broadband services.

3i: Geoff advised on its sale of IT services and outsourcing provider Civica for $720m.

Optus: Geoff advised SingTel Optus on its acquisition of IT professional and managed services company Ensyst as part of its ICT transformation.

21st Century Fox: Geoff advised 21st Century Fox on the global merger of Shine Group with Endemol and Core Media, to create a combined producer of unscripted media content including “American Idol”, “The Biggest Loser” and “Big Brother” valued at more than $2 billion.

Woolworths Limited: Geoff advised Woolworths on its investment in and joint venture with data analytics company Quantium. The transaction also involved giving Quantium access to Woolworths de-identified customer data, including from its Everyday Rewards customer loyalty program.

Salmat Limited: Geoff advised Salmat on the A$375 million sale of Salmat’s BPO division to Fuji Xerox Asia Pacific, a subsidiary of Fujifilm Holdings in Japan

Rubik Financial Limited: Geoff advised Rubik, the ASX-listed provider of financial technology and software, on its purchase of COIN Software from Macquarie Bank

Optus Digital Media: Geoff advised SingTel Optus on its acquisition of online restaurant reviewer, Eatability.

Digital Radio: Geoff advised TXA Australia (a joint venture company owned by the three commercial metropolitan television networks, Seven, Nine and Ten) in relation to agreements for the provision of a national digital radio broadcast capability to the commercial radio industry.

Singtel Optus: Advised Singtel Optus on its acquisition of amaysim Australia Limited for A$250 million.

NCS: advised Singtel subsidiary NCS on its acquisition of a majority stake in Eighty20 Solutions, an Australian cloud transportation specialist.

Singtel Optus: advised Singtel Optus on the sale of its mobile phone and tablet insurance service business to US-based tech repairs and device insurance company Likewize for $200 million.

Roche: advised Roche on its investment of PrOSPsECT, a public-private partnership to expand access to comprehensive genomic profiling for cancer patients and enable clinical trial access. PrOSPeCT is a $185 million project funded by the Australian Government, together with investments from Roche Australia, NCI (the National Computational Infrastructure at ANU) and the Children's Cancer Institute Australia (CCIA).

See Telecommunications, Media and Technology

Digital Economy

Woolworths Limited: Geoff advised Woolworths on its investment in and joint venture with data analytics company Quantium.

Singtel Optus: Geoff is the relationship partner with Singtel Optus and advises the company across digital acquisitions and corporate law matters.

nbn: Geoff's recent experience includes acting for nbn co limited on the rollout of the national broadband network, including advising on its agreements with Telstra, Optus, TPG, Vocus and other carriers for the supply of wholesale broadband services.

Salmat Limited: Geoff advised Salmat on the A$375 million sale of Salmat’s BPO division to Fuji Xerox Asia Pacific, a subsidiary of Fujifilm Holdings in Japan.

Digital Radio: Geoff advised TXA Australia (a joint venture company owned by the three commercial metropolitan television networks, Seven, Nine and Ten) in relation to agreements for the provision of a national digital radio broadcast capability to the commercial radio industry.

See Digital Economy

Knowledge

    Related knowledge information is loading