Legal innovation with a strong commercial focus distinguishes Freehills in the fields of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and corporate advisory, equity capital markets, private equity, funds management, foreign investment and privatisation.

We also advise clients in relation to the increasingly important area of corporate governance and board and executive solutions.

Our involvement in landmark transactions is due to an unrivalled network of experienced practitioners, advanced knowledge management systems and relationships with key advisers, regulators and opinion leaders across many industries.

Clients benefit from internationally recognised industry experts who understand the market and regulatory conditions for a range of specialised areas, including financial services, superannuation, insurance, media, communications and technology, intellectual property, healthcare, property and energy and resources.

Because we understand that commercial outcomes require integrated legal solutions, we deliver relevant services such as expert tax, competition law and employee relations advice as part of a total response to our clients' needs.

With more than 250 M&A and corporate practitioners operating in teams throughout Australia and South-East Asia, our capacity to undertake large-scale transactions is second to none.

Freehills’ corporate practice is consistently rated as one of Australia's leading practices measured against international benchmarks. Our recent industry awards, league tables and legal guide performance are detailed in the Accolades link.

Our Corporate group has been involved in the following recent landmark corporate matters and transactions:

Corporate M&A

• Bupa Australia’s A$2.41 billion merger with MBF, to create Australia’s leading private health insurance group. The merger was by way of a scheme of arrangement. It was the biggest deal in the private health insurance industry at the time and one in which many hundreds of thousands of Australians are stakeholders.
• Eldorado Gold Corporation’s A$2.4 billion scrip takeover of Sino Gold Mining Ltd.
• Commonwealth Bank of Australia’s A$2.1 billion acquisition of BankWest and St Andrews from HBOS plc.
• Santos’ US$2.508 billion partnership with PETRONAS to develop the Gladstone LNG project. The transaction raised the pricing levels for eastern Australian gas resources to unprecedented levels.
• OZ Minerals’ A$1.75 billion sale of key assets to China Minmetals.
• Viterra Inc’s, Canada’s largest grain handler, A$1.6 billion acquisition of ABB Grain Ltd, the world’s second-largest barley exporter and fourth-largest wheat shipper.
• Macquarie Communications Infrastructure Group’s A$1.6 billion acquisition by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board by scheme of arrangement.
• Challenger Financial Services Group Ltd’s A$1.25 billion acquisition of AXA Australia's immediate annuity business.
• Cadbury plc’s A$1.185 billion divestment of its Australian beverage business to Asahi Breweries.
• Pure Energy Resources’ acquisition by BG Group by a cash takeover offer valued at A$1.02 billion (and the competing takeover offer by Arrow Energy).
• Gloucester Coal’s M&A activity, including its proposed A$1.0 billion merger with Whitehaven Coal and Noble Group’s subsequent takeover offer.
• Kirin Food Holdings Australia (as parent company of National Foods) in relation to National Foods’ A$910 million acquisition of Dairy Farmers.
• National Australia Bank’s A$825 million acquisition of Aviva Australia Holdings, an Australian subsidiary of the UK-based Aviva plc, which includes the life insurance and wealth management business.

Capital Markets

• Santos’ A$3 billion non-renounceable entitlement offer with an innovative ‘blind date’ approach to the syndicate appointment (CFO Awards 2009 – Secondary Market Equity Raising Deal of the Year);
• Commonwealth Bank of Australia’s A$2 billion equity placement to fund the acquisition of Bankwest (ALB Law Awards Equity Market Deal of the Year 2009)
• Commonwealth Bank of Australia’s A$1.5 billion issue of perpetual exchangeable resaleable listed securities (PERLS V);
• Orica’s A$898 million non-renounceable entitlement offer;
• Myer A$3 billion IPO
• Kathmandu IPO (underwriters)
• Rio Tinto’s US$15 billion rights issue;
• Amcor Limited’s A$1.611 billion capital raising to fund the acquisition of Rio Tinto’s Alcan packaging unit;
• GPT Group’s A$1.35 billion rights issue and placement (exchangeable notes and stapled securities);
• CSR Limited’s A$375 million fully underwritten entitlement offer;

Awards

The market leading position of our Corporate practice is evident in recent awards and league table performance. Recent awards include:

• CFO Awards 2010 - Secondary Market Equity Raising of the Year: CSR’s $375 million SAREO
• CFO Awards 2010 - M&A of the Year:  Canadian Pension Board’s $5 billion acquisition of Macquarie Communications Infrastructure Group
• CFO Awards 2010 - Hybrid Issue of the Year: ANZ CPS II
• Lawyers Weekly ‘Icon Awards’ 2010 – Deal Maker of the Year: Tony Damian
• ALB Australasian Law Awards 2010 – Australian Deal of the Year: Rio Tinto rights issue
• ALB Australasian Law Awards 2010 – Equity Market Deal of the Year: Rio Tinto rights issue
• ALB Australasian Law Awards 2010 – Energy & Resources Deal of the Year: Minmetals' $1.2 billion acquisition of part of OZ Minerals
• ALB Australasian Law Awards 2010 – New Zealand Deal of the Year: Fisher & Paykel recapitalisation
• Financial Times–Mergermarket M&A Asia Awards 2009: Australian M&A Legal Advisor of the Year 
• The Asset Asian Country Awards 2009 – Best Deal: Warburg Pincus’ cornerstone participation in a capital raising by Transpacific
• Mining Journal’s Outstanding Achievement Awards 2009 – Deal of the Year: Eldorado Gold and Sino Gold
• Canadian Dealmakers Awards 2009 – Mining Industry Award: Eldorado Gold and Sino Gold
• Canadian Dealmakers Awards 2009 – Private Equity Award: Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Macquarie Communications Infrastructure Group scheme
• Canadian Dealmakers Awards 2009 – Global Expansion Deal of the Year Award: Viterra Inc. and ABB Grain
• Insto Distinction Awards 2009 – Innovative Deal of the Year: Santos’ A$3 billion capital raising 
• Insto Distinction Awards 2009 – Equity Deal of the Year: Santos’ A$3 billion capital raising 
• Insto Distinction Awards 2009 – Hybrid Deal of the Year:  Commonwealth Bank of Australia PERLS V 
• FinanceAsia Achievement Awards 2009 – Best Financial Law Firm 
• FinanceAsia Achievement Awards 2009 – Most Innovative Deal (Joint Winners): Goodman Group recapitalisation 
• FinanceAsia Achievement Awards 2009 – Most Innovative Deal (Joint Winners): Babcock & Brown Infrastructure recapitalisation 
• FinanceAsia Achievement Awards 2009 – Best M&A Deal: Noble Group’s acquisition of Gloucester Coal 
• FinanceAsia Achievement Awards 2009 – Best M&A Deal/Best Cross Border M&A Deal: Asia Awards: Minmetals' $1.2 billion acquisition of part of OZ Minerals. Freehills advised OZ Minerals 
• FinanceAsia Achievement Awards 2009 – Best Secondary Offering: Rio Tinto, A$15.2 billion entitlement offer 
• FinanceAsia Achievement Awards 2009 – Best Equity–Linked Deal: Westpac, A$908 million stapled preferred securities 
• CFO Awards 2009 – M&A Deal of the Year: Commonwealth Bank’s acquisition of BankWest 
• CFO Awards 2009 – Secondary Market Equity Raising Deal of the Year: Santos $3 billion capital raising 
• CFO Awards 2009 – Turnaround of the Year: Centro Properties Group stabilisation 
• ALB Australasian Law Awards 2009, 2007 – Australian Dealmaker of the Year: Philippa Stone 
• ALB Australasian Law Awards 2009 – Equity Market Deal of the Year: Commonwealth Bank’s $2 billion placement
• ALB Australasian Law Awards 2009 – Project Finance Deal of the Year: Energy Infrastructure Investments Group Asset Sale
• Financial Times–Mergermarket M&A Asia Awards 2008 – Australian M&A Legal Advisor of the Year
• INSTO Distinction Awards 2008 – Innovative Deal of the Year: Bupa Australia’s merger with MBF
• INSTO Distinction Awards 2008 – Law Firm of the Year. Freehills won this award ‘by virtue of its pre–eminence in mergers and acquisitions in the Australasian region.’ INSTO Magazine.
• CFO Magazine Awards 2008 – M&A Deal of the Year: CEMEX acquisition of Rinker Group
• CFO Magazine Awards 2008 –Private Equity Exit Deal of the Year: Amdel Holdings (Freehills acted for the acquirer Bureau Veritas)
• FinanceAsia Achievement Awards  Awards 2008 – Best Secondary Offering: Commonwealth Bank of Australia A$2 billion equity placement
• FinanceAsia Achievement Awards Awards 2008–  Most Innovative Deal: Gunns Limited A$334 million equity placement
• FinanceAsia Achievement Awards  Awards 2008 – Malaysia Deal of the Year: Santos’ partnership with PETRONAS to develop the Gladstone LNG project
• Australasian Legal Business Awards 2008 –Deal of the Year: Wesfarmers – Coles Acquisition
• Australasian Legal Business Awards 2008 – M&A Deal of the Year: Wesfarmers – Coles Acquisition
• Australasian Legal Business Awards 2008 – Energy & Resources Deal of the Year :Alinta Acquisition
• INSTO Magazine 2007– M&A Deal of the Year:  Suncorp/Promina
• CFO Magazine 2007 – M&A Deal of the Year: Suncorp/Promina
• FinanceAsia Awards 2007 – Best M&A Deal: Wesfarmers/Coles, A$20.3 billion acquisition,
• Australian Law Awards 2007 – M&A Law Firm of the Year, in addition to awards in another five categories, including Law Firm of the Year
• ALB Australasian Law Awards 2006 – Capital Markets team awarded Australian Deal Team of the Year
• CFO Magazine 2006 – Corporate Legal Services Firm of the Year Award

League tables

Thomson-Reuters M&A League Tables

• No.1 ranking in number of announced and completed deals 2004–08
• No.1 ranking in value of completed deals 2004–08
• Advised on more M&A deals since 1997 than any other Australian law firm

Thomson-Reuters M&A League Tables rate Freehills as the clear winner in terms of number and volume of deals 2008.

Bloomberg M&A League Tables

•  No.1 ranking in number and value of announced deals 2004–08
• No. 1 ranking in number of announced deals 2009

Freehills continues to be the market’s choice in M&A and has maintained its position as Australasia’s leading M&A legal advisor, ranking No.1 in all categories in the Thomson-Reuters and Bloomberg M&A League Tables for Australia/New Zealand for the 2008 calendar year.

Our performance in the Thomson-Reuters M&A League Tables 2008:

• No.1 in number of announced deals (142)
• No.1 in value of announced deals (US$56.8 billion)
• No.1 in number of completed deals (132), and
• No.1 in value of completed deals (US$51.7 billion).

Freehills also achieved a No.1 ranking for the fifth year in a row in the full-year Bloomberg M&A League Tables 2008, advising on more announced deals (126) for a higher aggregate value (US$49.875 billion) than any other law firm in Australia and New Zealand. (Bloomberg does not track completed deals). Bloomberg M&A League Tables 2008 confirm Freehills has 40 per cent of Australian market share by deal volume.

Bloomberg IPO & Hybrid League Tables

Freehills have helped clients raise more capital via initial public offering (IPO) than any other Australian law firm from 2004–09 (according to the Bloomberg IPO & Hybrid League Tables for Australia and New Zealand).

Legal guides

Freehills’ corporate practice is consistently rated as one of Australia's leading practices measured against international benchmarks.

Best Lawyers International

Best Lawyers International 2008–2010 rank Freehills No. 1 in Australia, with more lawyers listed than any other law firm.

Chambers Global Guide

Freehills has once again received top ranking in the following categories from Chambers Global 2010:

• Corporate/M&A
• Energy & Resources
• Equity Capital Markets, and
• Telecommunications, Media & Technology

PLC Which Lawyer?

We have also received top ranking from benchmarking publication PLC Which Lawyer? 2010 in the following categories:

• Corporate / M&A
• Equity Capital Markets
• Energy & Resources
• Private Equity & Venture Capital
• Technology & Media
• Investment Funds
• Outsourcing