Paul is an experienced legal adviser who excels at executing corporate and commercial projects for a broad range of clients in a cost-effective and timely manner, whilst providing pragmatic legal solutions to appropriately manage risk.
Experience
Paul's practice encompasses a range of corporate and commercial, public and private M&A (including private equity) and equity capital markets matters. He has significant cross-border expertise, having worked for leading private practice law firms in Australia and the United Kingdom.
Paul works for clients across various industries, from large multi-nationals and blue-chip Australian corporates to start-ups, scale-ups, emerging growth companies and founders. He advises on matters of various sizes, from high-profile sale processes, complex acquisitions and transformational equity raisings to smaller transactions, investments and restructures.
Career highlights
Paul's recent deal experience includes:
Mergers & Acquisitions
- advising Novigi, a portfolio company of leading private equity firm IFM Investors, on various bolt-on acquisitions
- advising PAX Technology, a leading Hong Kong listed manufacturer of payment terminals, on its acquisition of an Australian distribution business
- advising Wynstan, a leading Australian manufacturer of blinds, doors, shutters and awnings, on the divestment of its US business
- advising the founders of UniquePak, an Australian importer and distributor of premium glass and packaging products for the wine, spirit, food and pharmaceutical industries, on the sale of their business to multinational packaging company TricorBraun
- advising the HCI Group, a leading healthcare education and training provider, on its equity investment by US-based private equity firm, Sterling Partners (and associated partnership arrangements)
- advising leading family investment office, Wollemi Capital Group, on its acquisition of equity interests (in multiple tranches) in Hoops Capital, a multi-faceted basketball enterprise and owner of the Sydney Kings (NBL) and Sydney Flames (WNBL) basketball teams
- advising the shareholders of QMV Solutions, a Melbourne-based financial services consulting firm, on the combination of their business with Novigi, a leading data and technology partner to the financial services industry, in parallel with an equity investment in Novigi by leading private equity firm IFM Investors
- advising the shareholders of Smartmove, one of Australia's leading mortgage brokers, on the merger of their business with Viridian Financial Group, a leading Australian diversified financial services business
- advising Fujitsu, a leading digital services group headquartered in Japan, on its acquisition of MF & Associates, a leading Australian cyber security and management consulting company
- advising leading skincare group (and growth company), INSKIN Cosmedics, and its shareholders on the partial sell-down of their interests to, and further equity investment by, the Australian Business Growth Fund (and associated partnership arrangements)
- advising US-based private equity firm, Spell Capital Partners, on the merger of its two portfolio businesses in Australia, the Duromer group of companies and the Asian Pacific Colorants group of companies
- advising the shareholders of Safe Direction, a leading Australian manufacturer and supplier of road safety barrier products, on the sale of their business to Jaybro, a leading supplier to the civil construction and infrastructure sector in Australia and New Zealand (and portfolio company of Quadrant Private Equity)
- advising the founders of Everyday Independence, a leading NDIS-registered provider of allied health services, on the sale of their business to ASX-listed international human services group APM for a purchase price of up to $150 million
- advising Straits Real Estate, a leading Singaporean-based property investment group, on the acquisition of its joint venture partner's interests in property trusts holding various commercial and industrial property located in South Australia and ongoing investment management and shareholding arrangements
- advising Fujitsu, a leading digital services group headquartered in Japan, on its acquisition of Enable Professional Services, the largest independent ServiceNow provider in the Asia Pacific region
- advising a leading UK-based financial services group on its bid for an ASX-listed target via a scheme of arrangement
- advising Redflex, an ASX-listed intelligent transport systems group, on its acquisition by NASDAQ-listed Verra Mobility via a scheme of arrangement
- advising the shareholders of Duromer, a leading Australian manufacturer and supplier of thermoplastic polymers and compounds to the plastics industry, on the sale of their business to US-based private equity firm Spell Capital Partners
- advising the shareholders of ARMS Reliability, a leading global provider of reliability solutions to some of the world's largest industrial companies, on the sale of their business to international technology group Baker Hughes
- advising the shareholders of leading data management and technology company, the Servian group, on the sell-down of their interests to leading private equity firm Adamantem, and advising management on their subsequent exit (alongside Adamantem) to multinational technology group Cognizant
- advising ASX-listed AVITA Medical, a leading regenerative medicine company, on its redomiciliation from Australia to the United States via a scheme of arrangement (and associated cross listing on ASX and NASDAQ)
- advising Ammega, a global leader in belting technology (and portfolio company of Swiss private equity firm Partners Group) on its acquisition of a Victorian-based conveyor belting business
- advising a Spanish-based multinational cash management provider on its proposed acquisition of a fleet of ATMs owned by one of the big four banks
- advising the founders of the ONCALL group, a leading provider of disability, NDIS and welfare services, on the sale of their business (via a competitive auction process) to leading private equity firm Pemba Capital Partners
- advising Lumibird SA, a French company listed on EuroNext, on its acquisition of the ultrasound and laser business of ASX-listed Ellex Medical Lasers
- advising the founder of an IT start-up in the cybersecurity space on the proposed sale of that business to a Silicon Valley-based FinTech group
- advising the founders of Nexon Asia Pacific, a leading IT and managed services business, on the sale of a controlling interest in that business to Singapore-based private equity firm EQT Partners
- advising SCHOTT AG, a German-based international technology group, on the acquisition of Victorian-based microfluidic manufacturer MiniFAB
- advising leading mid-market private equity firm Livingbridge on various strategic investments in various fast-growing Australian companies
- advising KPMG Australia on the sale (via a competitive auction process) of its superannuation administration services business to ASX-listed OneVue
- advising Swedish-based multinational home appliance manufacturer, Electrolux, on various strategic acquisitions / bolt-ons in the Australian market
- advising the owners of the Telegram Group, a stationery and homewares business, on the sale of their Australian and NZ businesses to Dymocks
- advising Easton Investments on the acquisition of various professional services and wealth management businesses
- advising AMP Capital on the exit, by way of trade sale, of its interest in United Forklift & Access Solutions
- advising the founders of Australian Learning Group, an education and training business, on the sale of their business to an ASX-listed investment group
- advising Careers Training Group and its private equity sponsor, Anacacia Capital, on the bolt-on acquisition of various education and training businesses
- advising the founders of the OCA Group, an online education and training business, on the sale of their business to a leading private equity and venture capital firm
- advising the management of outdoor media company oOh! Media on the exit by CHAMP Private Equity, by way of dual-track IPO and trade sale, of its interest in that business
- advising German-based The Fackelmann Group on its acquisition of a majority stake in McPherson's international housewares business
- advising Macquarie Capital on its private equity investment into a cashless payment systems business
- advising the founders of Tiger Asset Group on the establishment of their asset valuation, advisory and disposition business (and subsequent funding and partnership arrangements)
- advising the National Safety Council of Australia on the sale of its business to Wesfarmers' Industrial and Safety division
- advising amaysim on its early stage solicitation of private equity investment to fund its rapid expansion in advance of its IPO
- advising SFX Entertainment on the Australian law aspects of its acquisition of Totem OneLove Group
- advising ASX-listed RHG on various takeover response initiatives (including a possible acquisition by way of scheme of arrangement and asset-level sale of its loan book)
- advising ASX-listed Echo Entertainment on various takeover response initiatives
- advising US-based promoter Live Nation on its acquisition of Michael Coppel Presents
- advising BHP Billiton on the proposed demerger of a significant business division
- advising Liverpool Football Club and its former owners on the sale of the club to New England Sports Ventures
- advising major UK broadcaster ITV on its proposed acquisition of Channel Five
- advising INEOS, one of the world's largest manufacturers of chemicals and oil products, on the sale of its fluorochemicals business to Mexichem
- advising Public Sector Pension Investment Board, one of Canada's largest pension funds, on its private equity investment into a newly established commercial lending institution.
Capital Markets
- advising leading cybersecurity company, QuintessenceLabs, on its equity financing to raise A$30 million by way of the issue of Series B preference shares to various investor groups and associated A$10 million selective buy-back to facilitate a liquidity event for certain shareholders
- advising ASX-listed Redflex on its fully underwritten accelerated non-renounceable entitlement offer to raise approximately A$16.4 million
- advising Freelancer on its IPO at a market capitalisation of A$218 million
- advising Fonterra on its NZ$500 million public offer in Australia and New Zealand under the Trans-Tasman mutual recognition regime
- advising Paine & Partners LLC and the Costa Group on the issue of convertible redeemable preference shares to partly fund the acquisition of Adelaide Mushrooms
- advising ASX-listed IAG on its £157 million issue of subordinated convertible notes
- advising ASX-listed Echo Entertainment on its A$454 million accelerated non-renounceable entitlement offer
- advising various leading Australian investment banks on their underwriting and lead management of various marquee equity raisings
- advising LSE-listed Prudential plc on its proposed US$20 billion rights issue to fund the acquisition of AIG's Asian life insurance business
- advising various leading ASX-listed property and infrastructure groups on various emergency fundraisings (rights issues, placements etc) during the Global Financial Crisis.