Recent Transactions

Advising Australian Unity Property Limited, as the responsible entity of the Australian Unity Diversified Property Fund, on Australian Unity Diversified Property Fund’s merger with Cromwell Direct Property Fund

World Co., LTD. ("World"), a regional staffing company in Japan, acquired Brain Group (Staff Brain Co., Ltd. and Technobrain Co., Ltd.), regional staffing companies in Japan

Advised Lion Pty Limited, one of Australasia’s leading beverage companies and a wholly owned subsidiary of Japanese conglomerate Kirin Holdings Co., Ltd., on the divestment of its UK operations to Odyssey Inns Ltd.

Advised Lion, one of Australasia’s leading beverage companies and a wholly owned subsidiary of Japanese conglomerate Kirin Holdings, on the acquisition of Bell’s Brewery, a leading US independent craft brewery

Advised Australian Unity Funds Management on its successful defence of Australian Unity Healthcare Property Trust, in response to four unsolicited offers from a consortium comprised of NorthWest Healthcare Properties REIT and Singaporean sovereign wealth fund, GIC

Advised Avant Mutual, an Australian member-owned organization providing medical indemnity insurance products to healthcare practitioners, on the exit of its strategic stake in NobleOak Life via IPO

Advised ASX-listed real estate investment trust Dexus and its unlisted diversified property fund, Dexus Wholesale Property Fund, on Dexus Wholesale Property Fund’s merger with AMP Capital Diversified Property Fund

Advised Youfoodz Holdings Limited, a leading provider of fresh, ready-made meals and other convenience food products, on its initial public offering on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)

Advising Arcland Sakamoto, a leading owner and operator of large home centers, on the acquisition of LIXIL VIVA, a leading owner and operator of large home centers and a listed subsidiary of LIXIL Group, a leading Japanese manufacturer of building and housing materials

Advised Viscofan (BME:VIS), the #1 producer of artificial casings for the meat industry worldwide (>30% market share), on the acquisition of Nitta Casings and Nitta Casings Canada (“NCI” and “NCCI”) one of the leading brands in the production of collagen casings in North America, from Nitta Gelatin (TSE:4977)  

Advised TT International, a leading independent asset management firm focused on managing high alpha, high conviction active management strategies for institutional investors, on its sale to Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.

Advised Lion, an Australian subsidiary of Kirin and one of Australasia’s leading food and beverage companies, on the sale of its Specialty Cheese division to Saputo, one of the top ten dairy processors in the world  

Advised Westpac, the third largest company in Australia by market capitalization, on its exit of BT Advice and the sale of select assets to Viridian Advisory

Advised Finaccess Capital, an investment company with a strong presence in the casual dining and quick service restaurant sector, on its 75% partial takeover of Restaurant Brands New Zealand, a corporate franchisee specialising in managing multi-site branded food retail chains (with brands consisting of KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Carl’s Jr.)

Advised TAL, Australia’s largest and leading insurance business that is 100% owned by Dai-ichi Life of Japan, on the acquisition of Suncorp Group Limited’s Australian Life Insurance business

Advised Danone, a leading global food & beverage company, on renewing its strategic partnership with Yakult, a global leader in probiotic beverages, as well as the sale of part of its stake in Yakult

Advised Super Retail Group on the acquisition of Macpac, the New Zealand-based outdoor adventure retailer

Advised Lion, a leading Australasian food and beverage company wholly owned by Japanese conglomerate Kirin, on the sale of its Australian wine business Fine Wine Partners to Accolade Wines, a portfolio company of CHAMP Private Equity

Advised Kerry Group plc, a global leader in food ingredients and flavor technologies, on the sale of its Australian subsidiary Kerry Pinnacle, an integrated manufacturer and distributor of bakery ingredients and prepared bakery products, to Pacific Equity Partners

Advised Lion, a leading Australasian food and beverage company wholly owned by Japanese conglomerate Kirin, on the sale of its Everyday Cheese business to Warrnambool Cheese & Butter, a listed Australian dairy company controlled by the Canadian dairy player Saputo

Advised Nippon Television Holdings, a media and content company engaged in production and broadcasting primarily in Japan, on the acquisition of Tipness Limited, the fourth largest fitness club company in Japan,  from Suntory Holdings and Marubeni Corporation

Advised Solomon Lew in reviewing his strategic options in relation to David Jones and Country Road. Mr Lew ultimately sold his 11.8% stake in the tightly held Country Road to Woolworths Holdings. Woolworths Holdings also acquired David Jones, Australia’s premier department store, in which Mr Lew held a 9.9% stake

Advised Japan Tobacco Inc in connection with the acquisition of a minority stake in Megapolis Distribution B.V., Russia’s leading tobacco distributor

Advised Transpower New Zealand, the state owned owner-operator of New Zealand’s electricity distribution network on the sale of its wholly owned subsidiary d-cyphaTrade Limited to the Australian Securities Exchange. d-cyphaTrade specializes in the design and marketing of Australian electricity derivatives traded on the ASX24 derivatives platform

Advised Danone, a world leading food company, on its business and capital alliance with Yakult Honsha, the largest probiotic dairy product manufacturer in Japan

Advised Advantage Partners, a leading private equity fund in Japan, on the acquisition of 100% stake in Sanyo DI Solution, the digital still camera OEM business in SANYO Electric, a group company of Panasonic

Advised Woolworths Limited, Australia’s largest supermarket operator, on the sale of its Consumer Electronics retail chain, Dick Smith Electronics, to Anchorage Capital Partners

Advised Lion on the acquisition of Little World Beverages, Australia’s largest listed brewer and one of the country’s leading players in the Craft beer segment

Advised Super Retail Group on the acquisition of Rebel Group Limited, Australia’s largest retailer of sporting goods, for A$610 million and the associated A$334 million capital raising used to fund the acquisition

Advised CHAMP Ventures on the sale of its portfolio company Retail Apparel Group, an Australian based men’s specialty apparel retailer, to Navis Capital, one of the largest regional private equity business in south-east Asia

Advised TOWER Australia Group Limited, the largest mono-line life insurance company in Australia, in relation to the offer from The Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company, Limited to acquire all of the shares in TOWER that it does not already own by way of a scheme of arrangement

Advised Wacker Chemie AG on the sale of Wacker Chemical Corporation’s 50% equity stake in Planar Solutions LLC, a dedicated CMP slurry manufacturer, to its JV partner, FUJIFILM Corporation

Advised Aevum Limited, an ASX listed owner, operator and developer of retirement villages and aged care facilities on its response to a hostile takeover offer from Stockland Ltd, a global property development and investment management group

Advised Tristone Capital Global Inc., an independent advisory firm focused on the global energy sector, on its sale to Macquarie Group

Advised Lion Nathan, a leading brewery in Australia, on the sale of its remaining 54% stake to Kirin Holdings, a leading beverage company in Japan

Advised Gallaher Group plc, the world’s fifth largest tobacco company, on a recommended cash offer from Japan Tobacco Inc