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.
Bhagwan Marine: advised leading marine solutions provider Bhagwan Marine Limited 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.
Empired: advised ASX-listed international IT services provider Empired on its successful A$233 million scheme of arrangement with Capgemini Australia, a wholly owned subsidiary of Paris-headquartered Capgemini S.E.
Wyloo Consolidated: advised Wyloo Group on its successful A$760 million on-market takeover offer for all of the shares in ASX-listed Mincor Resources NL that were not already owned by the Wyloo Group and Wyloo's investment and subsequent joint venture with ASX-listed Hastings Technology Metals Ltd for the Yangibana Rare Earths Project.
Tox Free Solutions: advised ASX-listed waste management company Tox Free 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.
Central Asia Metals: advised AIM-listed base metals producer CAML 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.
Conrad Asia Energy: advised Singapore-based Asian oil and gas company Conrad Asia on its initial public offering and listing on the Australian Securities Exchange, as well as subsequent equity raisings post-listing on ASX.
Ardea Resources: advised ASX-listed Ardea on its strategic placement to Sumitomo Metal Mining Co via a binding Subscription Agreement.
Exxaro Resources: advised JSE-listed South African coal producer on the Australian aspects of its A$1.25 billion acquisition of manganese assets including its conditional acquisition of a 19.99% interest in ASX-listed Jupiter Mines Ltd.
Amcom Telecommunications: advised ASX-listed Amcom on its successful A$1.3 billion merger by way of scheme of arrangement with ASX-listed Vocus Communications.
Spookfish: advised ASX-listed geospatial imagery company Spookfish 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 ASX-listed resources company Gindalbie 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.
Osmose Utilities Services: advised Osmose Utilities, 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.