Today
Omnicom to buy Interpublic in $20.6b deal
The merger of the two companies will create the world’s largest advertising company, taking that title from London-based WPP.
- Fareed Sahloul and Mark Bergen
This Month
Guardian owner pushes through sale of The Observer despite strike
A “slow news” start-up has bought the 233-year-old Sunday paper for $49 million, amid a slew of deals that are shifting Britain’s media landscape.
- Hans van Leeuwen
November
Macquarie offers $1.4b in cash in fresh bid for Renewi
The asset manager said it has reached a preliminary agreement with the London-listed waste management company on a possible cash offer.
- Aaron Kirchfeld and Vinicy Chan
Webjet misled customers on fares for years, says ACCC
The online travel agency allegedly charged one customer $21,764 more after the booking had been made. Webjet says it is cooperating with the regulator.
- Ayesha de Kretser
Pacific Equity Partners in talks to acquire SG Fleet in $1b-plus deal
The provider of fleet management, vehicle leasing and salary packaging services has over 277,000 vehicles and listed on the ASX in March 2014.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Monday’s big deal shows domestic M&A is definitely not dead
For all the bluster we hear from bankers and lawyers about the ACCC, companies are still willing to take on the competition regulator.
- Anthony Macdonald
M&A deals to spike ahead of merger reforms, says Corrs
The new regime is likely to capture more deals and involve longer reviews, the law firm has warned.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Merger shake-up gets Coalition’s blessing
The opposition will support the federal government’s biggest overhaul of the laws in 50 years, after lobbying from the ACCC’s Gina Cass-Gottlieb.
- John Kehoe
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
How toll road ‘beeps’ became Australian infrastructure’s hottest issue
Politics and business are colliding in Australian infrastructure. Do we really believe in miracle “win-win” scenarios?
- Anthony Macdonald
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Seller’s remorse casts shadow over infrastructure needs
Privatising roads and ports gave state governments plenty of cash to fund new work. But NSW’s struggle with $64 toll roads shows there is a long tail of consequences.
- Anthony Macdonald
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Fuel on the fire: Wall Street star Brian Friedman on the Trump trade
The Jefferies president arrived in Sydney as his company’s shares were closing 11.2 per cent higher. He can thank Donald Trump for the boost.
- Anthony Macdonald
Macquarie, Wylie lead charge into Japan as deal activity surges
In a country once closed to foreign investors, companies are looking for new sources of capital and selling assets. But it isn’t easy getting through the door.
- Updated
- Jessica Sier
- Exclusive
- Mergers & acquisitions outlook
ACCC boss implores Coalition, Greens to back merger laws
Gina Cass-Gottlieb calls it the “most critical law change they are going to have to make a decision on in the life of this parliament”.
- Ronald Mizen
October
- Exclusive
- Mergers & acquisitions
ACCC to target liquor, pathology, cancer clinics in merger crackdown
The bulk of private equity transactions in Australia will also receive greater scrutiny due to ACCC worries serial acquisitions and roll-ups are flying under the radar.
- Ronald Mizen
- Opinion
- Lithium
Have Australian fund managers got their lithium call wrong?
Rio Tinto’s $10 billion Arcadium Lithium takeover has the bulls excited again. But hedge funds believe the move signals a major shake-up and more pain ahead.
- Jonathan Shapiro
Time to catch up with QR code payments
Readers’ letters on a better way to pay; productivity in the mining industry; benefits of new merger laws; Japan’s gas demands; and a true Whyalla wipeout.
Private markets scrutiny at odds with ‘faster, targeted’ mergers
Changes to merger laws aimed at giving the ACCC power to scrutinise share purchases that don’t result in outright ownership have raised concerns among competition lawyers.
- Ronald Mizen
- Opinion
- Competition
Government has listened to concerns on merger law reform
The targeted and balanced merger bill will see most mergers approved faster, with more time to consider the contentious ones.
- Jim Chalmers
Supermarkets singled out as Labor overhauls merger laws
Treasurer Jim Chalmers is launching the biggest competition shake-up in almost half a century.
- Ronald Mizen
Platinum lets in Phil King’s Regal in anticipation of higher bid
The three-decade old global equities firm founded by veteran stock picker Kerr Neilson has agreed to give its would-be suitor access to non-public information.
- Joshua Peach
