We have acted on many dual track IPO and trade sale processes, and have the expertise necessary to ensure that they are conducted in a manner which is both efficient and minimises legal risk to the vendors.

We understand that for private equity firms, a successful exit will be characterised by:

• full value and, in the case of an IPO, a stable aftermarket
• favourable public perceptions with enhanced corporate and individual reputations
• flawless execution
• an efficient process.

Private Equity Deal of the Year 2006: CHAMP’s sale of Austar
CFO Magazine Awards

IPO of the Year 2004: Pacific Brands’ IPO
CFO Magazine

Exit of the Year 2004: Pacific Brands’ IPO
Asian Venture Capital Awards

Lead Ranking in Equity Capital Markets for 2004, 2005 and 2006
Chambers Global Guide, IFLR 1000, PLC Which Lawyer? and Asia Pacific Legal 500

M&A Law Firm of the Year 2006
Australian Law Awards

Highest number and value of announced and completed M&A deals 2004, 2005 and 2006
Thomson Financial M&A League Tables Australia and New Zealand

Practical Law Company’s 2007 Which Lawyer Yearbook ranked Al Donald as one of the two leading private equity lawyers in Australia.

Nick Wormald is one of only two lawyers in Australia named in the International Financial Law Review’s 2006 global listing of 25 leading private equity lawyers.

Experience – trade sale exits

• advised Austar United Communications on the sale by CHAMP and senior management to Liberty Global and a 'blind date' block sale through the Australian Securities Exchange (Mark Crean, Partner)
• advised AMP Capital and Catalyst on the sale of Olex to Nexans (Nick Wormald, Partner and Andrew Clyne, Partner)
• advised Archer Capital, Macquarie Direct Investment, GEP Capital and Clairvest Group on the sale of Signature Security Group to Allco Equity Partners Limited (Rick Narev, Partner)
• advised Catalyst and Advent on the sale of Taverner Group to the Woolworths-led Bruandwo consortium (Nick Wormald, Partner and Andrew Clyne, Partner). 

Experience – float exits

• advised leading computer-based medical monitoring and diagnostic equipment producer, Compumedics Limited on its $70 million initial public offering (Kon Mellos, Partner)
• advised Just Group Limited on its $428 million initial public offering and exit for Catalyst (Richard Loveridge, Partner and Peter Dunne, Partner)
• advised Pacific Brands Limited on its $1.26 billion initial public offering and exit for CVC and Catalyst (Philippa Stone, Partner and Nick Wormald, Partner)
• advised Repco Limited on its $404 million initial public offering and exit for Archer Capital, Macquarie Direct Investment and Gresham Partners (Richard Loveridge, Partner)
• advised SIRTeX Medical Limited on its $19 million initial public offering (Kon Mellos, Partner).

Key contacts

Al Donald – Sydney
Mark Crean – Sydney
Nick Wormald – Melbourne
Kon Mellos – Melbourne