Meet our People

Michael specialises in equity capital markets and mergers & acquisitions. Michael advises on a range of corporate and commercial matters, including the ASX Listing Rules, Corporations Act, commercial contracts, joint ventures, employee share ownership plans and securities law matters.

Clients enjoy working with Michael because of the commercial results driven approach that he brings to technical legal and regulatory matters and his ability to manage large projects on time and within budget.

Michael advises both domestic and international clients in number of industries, including IT consulting and software products, financial services, funds management, retail energy, health, property, manufacturing and retail.

Michael has a broad range of experience advising and negotiating corporate and commercial transactions, including regulated and unregulated mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, corporate restructures, cross jurisdictional transactions, directors’ duties, hybrid securities offerings, initial public offers, secondary offers, shareholders’ agreements, underwriting agreements and unregulated share offers.

Some examples of Michael’s recent experience include:

Mergers & acquisitions

• Advising OVO Energy on the sale of its interest in OVO Australia to AGL Energy Ltd.
• Advising PRM Services LLC on its $40m on-market cash takeover bid for Sierra Rutile Holdings Ltd (ASX: SRX) and application to the Takeovers Panel.
• Advising Australian Meat Industry Superannuation Pty Ltd on its $33.5m on-market cash takeover bid for Dynamic Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: DDB).
• Advising Respiri Limited (ASX: RSH) on its off-market scrip takeover bid for Adherium Limited (ASX: ADR).
• Advising Respiri Limited (ASX: RSH) on its acquisition of Orb Health, Inc., a US remote-patient monitoring and care provider.
• Advising Tally Group on its merger with leading retail energy solutions provider Agility CIS.
• Advising Kathmandu on its $350m acquisition of Rip Curl.
• Advising vendor shareholders on the sale of ICS Industries to EnerSys Inc (NYSE code: ENS) (in excess of $50m).
• Advising the vendor shareholders of a confidential client on structuring and implementation of a sale offer from Accel-KKR ($120m).
• Advising on Rinnai Corporation’s bid and acquisition of two complimentary businesses ($80m).
• Advising a large advertising company on acquisition of two complimentary businesses (in excess of $70m).
• Advising The Citadel Group on its acquisition of PJA Solutions ($40 – $60m).
• Advising Gandel Metals on its $15m takeover bid for Alliance Resources.
• Advising Australian Renewable Fuels on its $30m takeover of Biodiesel Producers.
• Advising Sasak Resources on its merger with ASX listed company MRG Metals.

Equity capital markets & capital raising

• Advising Findi Limited (ASX: FND) on its successful $45 million equity capital raising.
• Advising Kaluza on the $150m equity investment from AGL Energy Ltd and associated multi-year licensing agreement with AGL Energy Ltd.
• Advising Vortiv on its $10m underwritten renounceable pro-rata entitlements offer.
• Advising Respiri on its placement and Share Purchase Plan ($5.1m) and its oversubscribed $12m placement to institutional investors.
• Advising Kalina Power Limited (ASX: KPO), which provides renewable energy solutions, on a $10m capital raise.
• Advising Kyckr on a number of capital raises including its placement and Share Purchase Plan ($7.8m).
• Advising Kathmandu on matters including its $140m AREO in connection with its acquisition of Rip Curl; and its fully underwritten NZ$40m SPP and placement.
• Advising The Citadel Group on its IPO and underwriting arrangements ($50m).
• Advising Firstwave Technology on its backdoor listing on ASX (through existing listed entity) and capital raise.
• Advising Paradigm Metals on its backdoor listing of IODM on ASX.
• Advising Beacon Lighting’s exiting shareholder on the sale of its shares pursuant to an IPO ($60m).
• Advising TEK Ocean Group on its IPO and listing on the ASX.
• Advising Medibio on numerous capital raisings involving both convertible notes and shares.
• Advising Animoca Brands on numerous capital raisings including an underwritten accelerated non-renounceable rights issue, placement and share purchase plan.
• Advising debenture issuers on prospectus requirements under the Corporations Act.
• Advising numerous start-up companies and small businesses on initial and seed round capital raisings.

Restructures

• Advising on a redomiciliation of Synergy Metals to Bermuda by way of a scheme of arrangement and short form prospectus in connection with listed options.
• Advising Dromana Estate on a corporate restructure through an in specie distribution of shares and compliance listing on ASX.
• Advising RCS Technologies on aspects of their start-up business including initial structuring in Australia and other jurisdictions (including USA), negotiating and drafting the technology licences, capital raising activities and arranging and overseeing US-based reseller and customer agreements.

Funds Management

• Advising numerous clients on set-up and establishment of various wholesale managed investment schemes.
• Advising on regulatory and compliance issues for established funds.