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Mergers and Acquisitions
Thomson Geer has one of the largest and most respected mergers and acquisitions teams in Australia.

Our lawyers understand the complexities of modern business and how to successfully navigate regulatory and transactional regimes.

With a focus on strategic goals, our approach is pragmatic and action oriented. We provide advice on company takeovers, takeover defences, capital raisings, acquisitions, divestments, mergers and reconstructions. Our team works across multiple jurisdictions with a client base that includes listed corporations, large private companies, private equity funds and venture capitalists.

We are often instructed to take the lead to drive outcomes, but also regularly provide a supporting role to supplement our client's own teams and appointed advisers.

Acquisitions and disposals

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Our lawyers have extensive experience in all aspects of public and private transactions for purchasers and sellers. We are widely recognised for quality advice and strategies that deliver successful and commercially beneficial outcomes for clients. We are experts at navigating the regulatory requirements for transactions and know how to overcome any issues that may arise. With transactions often involving many areas of law, we are able to draw on expertise from other practice areas such as Tax, Employment, Property and Dispute Resolution.

Regulator authorisation

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Corporate transactions are highly regulated and require specialist advice to ensure they pass scrutiny by authorities. Transactions may attract interest from regulators such as the Australian Securities Exchange, Foreign Investment Review Board, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission or Australian Securities and Investments Commission. Takeover disputes may also end up before the Takeovers Panel. Our lawyers are highly experienced working with regulators and their requirements for deals to be successfully completed.

Due diligence

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Assessing the health of a target company is a key part of the acquisition process. Our lawyers know what to look for when conducting due diligence on an organisation. They closely examine the target's current and future potential through the prism of our client's strategic objectives in making the acquisition. We work in tandem with our client's executive team and other advisers to ensure our due diligence findings are concise, relevant and tailored.

Private equity

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We are a leading adviser to a number of domestic and international private equity funds. Our role in doing so covers advice on the establishment of private equity funds and the generation of best practice governing documents as well as working with private equity funds on the negotiation of investment transactions and the ultimate exit event (eg, IPOs, trade sales and management buyouts). 

Venture capital

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We have extensive experience in relation to venture capital funds and transactions.  Our people have strong relationships with government, industry associations and venture capital firms and we leverage these relationships to provide best of brand advice on venture capital fund establishment and investment transactions, both here in Australia and around the world.

What others say

"The Thomson Geer team played a key role for us in the acquisition of Blackmores Ltd. Their advice and guidance ensured the transaction proceeded efficiently and smoothly. We are grateful for the expertise and diligence they brought across a range of legal issues that were essential to the successful closure of the deal. The acquisition of Blackmores was a key element in Kirin's long term strategy and future and Thomson Geer was a valuable partner to make that happen."
Takeshi Minakata, Director of the Board, Senior Executive Officer and President of Health Science Division, Kirin Holdings Company, Limited.
"Band 5, Corporate/M&A"
Chambers Asia Pacific, 2022
"There was a high level of diligence, processes ran on schedule with no delays, and there was great communication with all parties on both sides of the transaction."
Client, Chambers Asia Pacific, 2022
"Tier 5, Corporate/M&A"
Legal 500, 2024, 2023, 2022
"Tier 4, M&A"
IFLR 1000, 2020
"Their advice and their negotiation skills were very impressive, and their experience came to the fore when we needed it."
Client, Chambers Asia Pacific, 2020
EXPERIENCE

Victor Smorgon Group

Acting for Victor Smorgon Group subsidiary VBS Exchange on its off market bid for ASX-listed base and battery metals producer Altamin Ltd.

Altus Strategies and Alphastream Capital

Advising UK and Canadian listed Altus Strategies plc and United Arab Emirates specialist mining and streaming company AlphaStream Capital on their joint acquisition of a gold royalty portfolio from Newcrest Mining Limited valued at US$37.5 million.

CQ Energy

Assisting energy consulting firm CQ Energy on its acquisition by software and services company Energy One in a deal valued at A$36 million. Thomson Geer acted for CQ Energy on all aspects of the acquisition, including a restructure of the firm, tax matters, share agreements, property leases, ASX listing rules and compliance matters.

Energy360

Assisting Australian biogas systems provider Energy360 on its acquisition by energy giant AGL. Thomson Geer advised Energy360 on all aspects of the deal, including due diligence, drafting and negotiation of the transaction documents and implementing the acquisition.

PACT Group

Helping ASX-listed packaging and recycling company PACT Group in its acquisition of Synergy Packaging from international packaging company Berry Global Group. Thomson Geer assisted with all aspects of the transaction, including engagement with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission which did not oppose the acquisition.

Resolute Mining

Assisting Resolute Mining with a US$90 million sale process for its Bibiani gold mine in Ghana which involved multiple bidders from a range of jurisdictions as well as co-ordinating the sale process with other advisors both in Australia and in Ghana.

MACA Ltd M&A

Advising mining and infrastructure services company MACA Ltd on a $367 million takeover bid by Thiess.

Oklo Resources M&A

Advising ASX-listed gold explorer, Oklo Resources Limited, in relation to its acquisition by Canada-based gold miner, B2Gold Corp, in a cash and scrip deal valuing the company at A$90 million.

Havilah Resources M&A

Advising ASX-listed Australian minerals explorer, Havilah Resources Limited on the proposed A$205 million acquisition of its Kalkaroo Project by OZ Minerals.

Barley Australia M&A

Advising the peak body for the Australian barley and malting industry, Barley Australia, on its merger with Grains Australia. Thomson Geer advised Barley Australia on the terms of the merger and on intellectual property matters.

L&A Social M&A

Advising the owner of social media and branding agency L&A Social in relation to the sale of all of the shares in the L&A Social to Tag Worldwide (Australia) Pty Ltd (a subsidiary of Wertheimer UK Limited). The deal enables L&A Social to combine its social media expertise and Tag's strong end to end offering to provide a more holistic service and deliver continued growth for clients and businesses.

Dragontail Systems M&A

Advising food technology company Dragontail Systems on its acquisition by restaurant company Yum! Brands via a scheme of arrangement for A$93.5 million.

1300Smiles

Acting for ASX-listed Australian dental surgery chain 1300Smiles on its A$165 million sale to trans-Tasman dental operator Abano Healthcare Group.

Qoria

Advising ASX-listed cyber safety and security company Qoria on its acquisition of cyber safety firm Qustodio for US$52 million.

Kirin Holdings Company

Advising Japanese food and beverage giant Kirin Holdings Company, Limited on its A$1.8 billion acquisition of Australian healthcare company Blackmores.

Genesis Resources

Advising gold miner Genesis Minerals on its acquisition of the Gwalia gold mine in Western Australia from fellow miner St Barbara for A$628 million and on a A$470 million capital raising by Genesis to fund the acquisition.

Freight Management Holdings

Advising the shareholders of Freight Management Holdings (the owners of leading 4PL service provider efm Logistics) in the several transactions involving Singapore Post. Through these four transactions, in each of the years 2020 through 2023, Singapore Post has acquired 100% of Freight Management Holdings for a total of around A$500 million. Our team advised the FMH shareholders through every step of each transaction.

DHL Supply Chain

Acting for DHL Supply Chain, part of Germany-based the Deutsche Post Group, in its acquisition of Australian logistics group, The Glen Cameron Group. The strategic combination strengthened DHL’s position in the evolving Australian road freight market and created one of the largest logistics companies in the country with combined revenue of over A$1 billion.

Child care centres

Acting for a child care centre incubator client on the sale of a portfolio of childcare centres which formed the cornerstone operating sites to Nido Education Limited's contemporaneous $99.2 million capital raise and listing on the Australian Securities Exchange.

Estia Health

Acting for Australian aged care provider Estia Health on a deal to acquire a portfolio of aged care homes and development sites worth more than A$100 million from Premier Health Care.
Key people

Built around principle of quality and value.

David Schiavello

Partner
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Melbourne
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Eugene Fung

Partner
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Brisbane
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Hedley Roost

Partner
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Perth
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Jason Marcus

Partner
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Sydney
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Jeremy Wilkin

Partner
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Perth
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Lucinda Smith

Partner
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Sydney
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Loretta Reynolds

Partner
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Adelaide
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Marc Wyld

Partner
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Sydney
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Matthew Reynolds

Partner
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Brisbane
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Michael Ng

Partner
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Perth
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Paul Harley

Partner
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Perth
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Philip Dowling

Partner
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Brisbane
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Sanushka Seomangal

Partner
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Sydney
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Tim Flahvin

Partner
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Sydney
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Venkatesh Ananthakrishnan

Partner
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Sydney
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Marc Wilshaw

Partner
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Perth
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Michael Bowen

Partner
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Perth
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Scott Gibson

Partner
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Perth
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Emma Cook

Partner
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Brisbane
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Annabel West

Partner
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Adelaide
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Dan Kramer

Partner
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Sydney
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Chris O’Shea

Partner
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Brisbane
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Adam Brooks

Partner
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Melbourne
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Sarah O'Brien-Smith

Partner
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Perth
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David Church

Partner
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Perth
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Jonathon Wood

Partner
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Sydney
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Matt Couper

Partner
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Brisbane
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Alyn Tai

Partner
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Melbourne
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Stephen Penrose

Partner
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Perth
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Cameron Bill

Special Counsel
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Perth
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Christopher Chin

Special Counsel
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Melbourne
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Delene Blumberg

Special Counsel
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Sydney
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Helen Jin

Special Counsel
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Sydney
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Lucinda Girdlestone

Special Counsel
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Sydney
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Lisa Marcus

Special Counsel
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Melbourne
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Melanie Mitchell

Special Counsel
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Brisbane
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Samantha Culshaw

Special Counsel
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Sydney
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Jemma Smith

Special Counsel
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Adelaide
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Shaun Restorick-Barton

Special Counsel
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Brisbane
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Peter Nankivell

Consultant
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Melbourne
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Steve Bonett

Consultant
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Adelaide
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Recent INSIGHts

What's new?

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High Court decisions provide guidance on permanent stays in historical child sex abuse cases

Two recent High Court judgments represent a significant development in the approach to historical child sexual abuse litigation in Australia.
News
21/11/24
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High Court affirms vicarious liability is limited to an employment relationship

A High Court decision in a sexual abuse case against the Catholic Church has affirmed institutions are only vicariously liable for the acts or omissions of its employees
News
14/11/24
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Thomson Geer advises Adelaide Football Club on building of new $100 million headquarters

Thomson Geer congratulates Adelaide Football Club (AFC) on commencing construction on its new $100 million bespoke training, administration and community headquarters at Adelaide's Thebarton Oval.
News
11/11/24
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Thomson Geer advises Canada's Doré Copper Mining Corp. on merger with Australia's Cygnus Metals Limited

Thomson Geer is advising Canada-listed copper and gold miner Doré Copper Mining Corp. on an all-scrip merger with Australia-listed critical minerals explorer Cygnus Metals Limited to create a new Canada-focused copper and lithium company.
News
24/10/24
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Thomson Geer advises Qoria on A$30 million capital raising and acquisition of OctopusBI

Thomson Geer has advised Australian digital safety and student wellbeing solutions provider Qoria Ltd on its acquisition of data analytics innovator OctopusBI and a A$30 million capital raising.
News
3/10/24
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Thomson Geer welcomes new Workplace law Partner and his team

Thomson Geer is pleased to welcome new Workplace law Partner Adrian Wong and his team to Thomson Geer, expanding the firm's capability and adding depth to our national Employment law offering.
News
2/10/24
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Costs burden removed for (most) applicants in workplace sexual harassment and other discrimination claims

The Federal Parliament has amended the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth) to insert a modified ‘equal access’ cost protection provision for federal unlawful discrimination court proceedings.
Employment
26/9/24
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Inadvertence: A failure to obtain a building work contractor's licence in South Australia

In Allied Grain Systems P/L v Inheritance Capital Asset Management P/L [2023], Thomson Geer successfully acted for Allied Grain Systems, clarifying what is required to establish inadvertence for the purposes of obtaining an exception to licensing requirements under the Building Work Contractors Act 1995 (SA)
Construction
23/9/24
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About us

Thomson Geer is one of Australia's largest independent corporate law firms. We are trusted by companies, governments and institutions to act for their commercial and legal interests.

Thomson Geer acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.