MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS – AUSTRALASIA

Kiwi publisher says consortium keen to buy Financial Review

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 15-Nov-18

New Zealand businessman Todd Scott has expressed interest in buying "The Australian Financial Review" if Fairfax Media’s proposed merger with Nine Entertainment Company proceeds. Scott owns "The National Business Review", a weekly business newspaper that boasts about 5,000 subscribers. He says a deal to acquire the AFR would be backed by a consortium of wealthy New Zealanders. Scott adds that the consortium would look at acquiring Fairfax’s NZ division, Stuff, if the AFR were not for sale.

CORPORATES
FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, STUFF LIMITED, TPG CAPITAL LP, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, NZME LIMITED – ASX NZM, NEW ZEALAND. COMMERCE COMMISSION, COURT OF APPEAL (NEW ZEALAND), NEIGHBOURLY, MEDIAWORKS (NZ) LIMITED

STW merges with WPP Australia and New Zealand, creating $1b firm

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 15-Dec-15

Shares in STW Communications Group closed 1.4 per cent higher at $A0.735 in response to a merger with the Australian and New Zealand division of WPP Group. The merged entity will retain its Australian sharemarket listing and will comprise around 75 businesses in the marketing and advertising sector. STW CEO Mike Connaghan will head the new entity, which will boast annual revenue of $A847m. WPP will hold a 61 per cent stake in the company.

CORPORATES
STW COMMUNICATIONS GROUP LIMITED – ASX SGN, WPP GROUP PLC, MEDIACOM AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, GEORGE PATTERSON Y&R PTY LTD, MEC (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD, SINGLETON, OGILVY AND MATHER HOLDINGS PTY LTD, CAVENDISH SQUARE, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION

Duke to cut stake in company under Kathmandu offer

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Carrie LaFrenz
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 21 & 26 : 2-Jul-15

Shares in adventurewear retailer Kathmandu Holdings closed $A0.04 lower on 1 July 2015, at $A1.53. Briscoe Group MD Rod Duke says his company’s cash and scrip takeover bid is "very fair", and adds that the two businesses are "very complementary". Duke has also indicated that New Zealand-based Briscoe will seek to list on the Australian sharemarket if its $A324m bid succeeds. He will also reduce his stake in Briscoe from 78 per cent to 55.1 per cent.

CORPORATES
KATHMANDU HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX KMD, BRISCOE GROUP LIMITED, REBEL SPORT LIMITED, QUADRANT PRIVATE EQUITY PTY LTD

Kathmandu shareholders wary

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 1-Jul-15

Shares in adventurewear retailer Kathmandu Holdings closed $A0.32 higher at $A1.57 on 30 June 2015, in response to a takeover bid from New Zealand-listed Briscoe Group. Briscoe, which is headed by Rod Duke, increased its stake in Kathmandu to 19.9 per cent on 29 June, and its bid values the target at about $A324m. Some Kathmandu shareholders have described the bid as "opportunistic". Briscoe’s retail business comprises homewares, sporting goods and gift stores.

CORPORATES
KATHMANDU HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX KMD, BRISCOE GROUP LIMITED, BRISCOES, REBEL SPORT LIMITED, LIVING AND GIVING LIMITED, MILFORD ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED, CYAN INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, PUMPKIN PATCH LIMITED, MACPAC WILDERNESS EQUIPMENT, GOLDMAN SACHS AND PARTNERS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, QUADRANT PRIVATE EQUITY PTY LTD, GOLDMAN SACHS ASSET MANAGEMENT