Stephen Neale
Clayton Utz
Stephen is a corporate law specialist with leading expertise in mergers and acquisitions and securities law. With a strong client focus, he advises boards and senior management of publicly listed and private companies on their activities in Australia and in foreign jurisdictions.
Stephen advises bidders and target companies on mergers and acquisitions of publicly listed companies and private entities, as well as issuer companies on equity capital raisings, including IPOs, rights issues, share placements, convertible notes and other securities. His strength in M&A and securities is complemented by general corporate advisory expertise including corporate governance, regulatory compliance issues, strategic legal advice and risk management.
Tattarang: advised one of Australia's largest private investment groups, owned by Andrew and Nicola Forrest, on its purchase of iconic Australian company R.M. Williams from L Catterton, the largest consumer-focused private equity firm in the world, as well as various investments by Tattarang Group including into Azupay, NodeOne, Swoop Holdings, Emyria and ProForm Foods.
Central Asia Metals: advised this AIM-listed base metals producer on its proposed acquisition of all the shares in ASX listed exploration and development company New World Resources Limited via a scheme of arrangement and, following the emergence of a competing bidder, a scheme with a parallel off-market takeover bid, and ultimately a standalone off-market takeover bid, for total cash consideration of approximately $240 million.
Bhagwan Marine: advised this leading marine solutions provider Bhagwan Marine Limited (ASX: BWN) on its initial public offering and listing on the Australian Securities Exchange, which, with the IPO raising $80 million and Bhagwan’s opening market capitalisation of around $173 million, was the biggest float in WA since 2021.
Wyloo Consolidated: advised this member of the Wyloo Group on its successful A$760 million on-market takeover offer for all of the shares in Mincor Resources NL (ASX: MCR) that were not already owned by the Wyloo Group.
Empired: advised this ASX-listed international IT services provider on its successful A$233 million scheme of arrangement with Capgemini Australia, a wholly owned subsidiary of Paris-headquartered Capgemini S.E.
Tox Free Solutions: advised this ASX-listed waste management company on its acquisitions of Daniels Health and Daniels Manufacturing, a provider of medical waste solutions, collection and treatment in the Australian healthcare sector, for A$186 million, and Worth Corporation the owner of waste management company, for A$70 million, and on its successful $671 million scheme of arrangement with ASX-listed Cleanaway Waste Management.
Spookfish: advised this ASX-listed geospatial imagery company on its successful $137 million scheme of arrangement with Eagle View Technologies, and subsequently advised Eagle View Technologies on its successful sale of Australian aerial imagery company Spookfish Australia to ASX-listed Aerometrex.
Gindalbie Metals: advised this ASX-listed resources company on the demerger of its wholly owned subsidiary, Coda Minerals, and Gindalbie's acquisition by its Chinese joint venture partner and major shareholder, Angang Group Hong Kong (Holdings), which were implemented by way of two inter-conditional schemes of arrangement.
Patersons Securities: advised Patersons, a premier independent Australian securities business, on its successful scheme of arrangement with an Australian subsidiary of TSX-listed Canaccord Genuity Group Inc.
Conrad Asia Energy: advised this Singapore-based Asian Oil and Gas company on its initial public offering and listing on the Australian Securities Exchange.
Amcom Telecommunications: advised this ASX-listed company on its successful A$1.3 billion merger by way of scheme of arrangement with ASX listed Vocus Communications.
Osmose Utilities Services: advised this company, owned by New York-based private equity firm Kohlberg & Company, on its successful acquisition of Logsys Power Services, a provider of overhead and underground electrical installation and maintenance services.