Paul is a recognised mergers and acquisitions specialist with 25 years’ experience. Paul has acted on many market leading cross-border deals - public and private M&A, capital markets (equity and convertibles) and distressed M&A. Paul is active in Australia, SE Asia, Africa and South America. His clients benefit from Paul’s in-depth sector knowledge, his responsiveness and pragmatic approach.
Paul's work highlights include
Corporate / M&A
- Symbio: advised ASX-listed Symbio on its acquisition by Aussie Broadband by scheme of arrangement (2023)
- EMR Capital: advised resource specialist PE sponsor on sale of Lubambe mine in Zambia (2023)
- Northparkes: advising CMOC on the sale of Northparkes copper mine to Evolution in 2023, having advised China Molybdenum on its acquisition from Rio Tinto in 2013 and US$550m gold & silver stream in 2020
- Silvercorp/OreCorp: advising TSX-listed Silvercorp as underbidder to Perseus for ASX-listed OreCorp initially by scheme of arrangement and then by takeover, and proposed listing of SilverCorp on ASX (2023)
- BioPak: advised BioPak on its dual-track IPO and trade sale, which culminated in the sale of a substantial interest to Five V PE sponsor (2022)
- Entain/WA TAB: advised Entain on its bid for Western Australian government abandoned sale of the TAB (2022)
- Entain/Tabcorp: advised Entain on its unsolicited proposal for Tabcorp (2021)
- amaysim/Optus: advised amaysim on the sale of mobile business to Optus by competitive process (2020) and associated takeover by WAM Capital, and the acquisition of amaysim's energy business by competitive auction (2016)
- Glencore: advised Glencore on various tiered investments in ASX-listed juniors (minority equity, debt and offtake prepayments), including Cyprium, Aurelia, Navarre, Austral, Hot Chili and Blackthorn; underbidder on Golden Grove, and acquisition of Viterra
- Rincon: advised Chinese mining and battery consortium as underbidder on Rincon lithium project in Argentina, ultimately sold by Sentient Equity Partners to Rio Tinto (2022)
- Lone Star: advised US PE sponsor on its successful scheme of arrangement for ASX-listed SinoGas with natural gas projects in China (2018)
- EMR Capital: sale of Martabe mine in Indonesia by competitive process, to successful bidder PAMA (2018)
- GasValpo: advised on sale by competitive process of Chilean pipeline to successful consortium bidder Japan's Marubeni and Chile's Toesca (2018)
- Yancoal: advised Yanzhou in successful Takeovers Panel proceedings on Yancoal's acquisition of Coal & Allied and related capital raising (2017)
- Denham: advised on acquisition of Olive Downs coking coal project in Bowen Basin by Denham-backed Pembroke from Peabody and CITIC (2016)
- Novomatic: advised Novomatic on acquisition of a controlling stake in ASX-listed Ainsworth Game Technology, with multiple Takeover Panel proceedings (2016)
- PanAust: advised GRAM on its successful hostile takeover of ASX-listed PanAust (2015)
- ArcelorMittal: joint bid with Peabody for Macarthur Coal (hostile takeover)
Distressed M&A
- Glencore: on Austral restructure (2024)
- Clough: advised Deloitte as administrators on sale to WeBuild (2022)
- Probuild: advised JSE-listed WBHO on unsolicited offer for Probuild and subsequent sales by Deloitte as administrators of the construction business (2020-21)
- AMA Group: advised AMA on its rights offer and convertible bond in response to COVID-19 (2021)
- Qantas: advised Qantas on its placement and share purchase plan in response to COVID-19 (2020)
- Flight Centre: advised Flight Centre equity capital raise in response to COVID-19 (2020)
- RCR Tomlinson: advised RCR on its emergency entitlement offer and subsequent administration (2018)
- Paladin Energy: advised Paladin on its solvent restructuring, voluntary administration, debt to equity restructuring (including joint venture with China National Nuclear Corporation, debt and equity capital raisings, negotiations with majority creditor and offtaker EDF) (2016-2018)
Capital Markets
- Soul Patts: $450m new convertible, redemption of its existing $225m convertible and $225m equity placement (2024)
- New Hope: $300m convertible with capped call (2024)
- NexGen: advising Soul Patts as investor in convertible bond issued by TSX/ASX listed NexGen (2023)
- EMR Capital: advised EMR Capital as investor in convertible notes issued by Highfield Resources (2023)
- Flight Centre: advised Flight Centre on placement and SPP to fund Scott Dunn acquisition (2023); convertible bonds listed on SGX (2020 and 2021); and equity capital raise in rapid response to the impact of COVID 19 on travel (2020)
- Weebit-Nano: advised Weebit on various capital raisings, most recently a $60m placement and SPP (2023)
- New Hope: advised New Hope on issue of convertible bond listed on SGX (2021) capital and liability management (share and convertible note buyback program) (2022 and 2023)
- 29Metals: advised 29M on IPO on ASX of EMR Capital’s copper portfolio (2021); advised EMR Capital as sub-underwriter for 2023 entitlement offer
- Afterpay: advised Afterpay on convertible bond listed on SGX (2021)
- Qantas: advised Qantas on placement and SPP in response to COVID-19 (2020)
