Publication
Listing in Australia
A comprehensive guide to Australian initial public offerings and listings on the Australian Securities Exchange.
Australian public M&A deal trends report
2021 Edition: Switch to living with the pandemic sparks M&A frenzy
Australia | Publication | March 2022
Leaving its mark as one of the richest years in M&A history, Australia’s total deal value soared well above expectations abandoning the uncertainties of 2020. Defensive strategies faded as many growth-hungry companies, pent up from a sluggish 2020, deliberately shifted from capital preservation towards capital deployment. With cheap capital behind them, many boards executed aggressive transaction strategies taking full advantage of the buyer’s market.
In our 2021 Edition of the ‘Australian public M&A deal trends report’, we examine a year filled with an uptick of record-smashing mega deals, a mammoth increase in total deal value and one where foreign investment was down yet again. With the first half of the year being slow off the mark due to ongoing border closures, supply chain issues and labour shortages, the government’s pivot towards economic recovery, high vaccination rates and low unemployment figures were several reasons behind the swift restoration in deal maker confidence.
Our report considers how the Australian public M&A market has fared during what has been a remarkable 12 months and attempts to forecast what could be another vibrant year ahead.
This report covers: |
|
|
|
A snapshot of the top trends in 2021 with transaction values over $50 million
Top 10 deals by value for 2021
Explore more in corporate and M&A
Publication
Directors' duties in Australia
A guide to your duties as a director of an ASX listed company.
Publication
Australian public M&A deal trends report 2020
In our 2020 report, we look at the surprising resilience of M&A in a tumultuous year as global markets faced the COVID-19 pandemic, Brexit, the US election and other significant events.
Publication
Takeovers in Australia 2019
The 2019 edition of the Takeovers in Australia guide explores the opportunities and issues affecting regulated M&A in Australia.
Press release
Stanmore acquires an 80% interest in BHP Mitsui Coal for consideration of up to US$1.35bn
Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has advised Stanmore Resources Limited on its acquisition of all of the shares in Dampier Coal (Queensland) Pty Ltd.
Press release
5G Networks on merges with Webcentral
Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has advised 5G Networks Limited (5GN) on the merger of its business with Webcentral Limited (formerly Webcentral Group Limited) by a scheme of arrangement under Part 5.1 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) between 5GN and its members.
Recent publications
Publication
Video gaming and cybersecurity: Navigating the cyber risks
In the past decade the video gaming industry has grown immensely. This, in combination with a number of unique factors, makes the video gaming industry a very interesting target for cyber criminals.
Publication
Motor finance redress: The way ahead
On August 1, 2025, the UK Supreme Court delivered its long-awaited judgment in Hopcraft v Close Brothers Limited and on 3 August the FCA announced it would consult on a redress scheme.
Publication
Clarifying charterers’ redelivery obligations under BARECON 2001: Songa Product and Chemical Tankers III AS v Kairos Shipping II LLC
Songa Product and Chemical Tankers III AS v Kairos Shipping II LLC [2025] EWCA Civ 1227 (07 October 2025) has clarified the extent of the obligation on the Charterer to redeliver a vessel following the termination of a Barecon 2001 charter and of the Owner’s right to require it to be redelivered to a port “convenient to them”.
Subscribe and stay up to date with the latest legal news, information and events . . .