Sydney, Friday 6 January 2006:LAWFUEL – The Law News Network – Blake Dawson Waldron (BDW) has bounded back up the ladder in the latest round of Thomson Financial’s Legal Advisors League Tables – Australian and New Zealand M&A.
In transactions involving exclusively Australian and New Zealand targets (based on value) BDW ranked a solid 4th in both announced and completed deals, significantly increasing its market share in both areas (as compared with last year). Released this week, the results reinforce BDW’s reputation as one of Australia’s leading firms in M&A transactions.
BDW M&A joint practice head Bill Koeck said, “BDW is at the leading edge of takeover strategy, including involvement in many of the major Takeovers Panel cases, use of derivatives, ACCC strategies, use of non cash consideration, closing phase strategies, demergers and takeover responses”.
Joint practice head Marie McDonald said, “Our clients come to us for strategic advice and these League Table rankings clearly demonstrate our reputation for attracting quality clients and quality work. Our M&A team is also acknowledged for its national coverage, which includes a real strength in Perth as well as Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Last year the firm undertook work on some of Australia’s most significant M&A deals, including BHP Billiton’s $9.2 billion acquisition of WMC, Australia’s biggest ever cash transaction. We also acted on San Miguel’s $1.8 billion takeover of National Foods, Ramsay Health Care’s $1.4 billion acquisition of Affinity, the $670 million takeover bid for Portman Mining by Cleveland Cliffs, Industry Funds Management’s $788 million takeover of Pacific Hydro and Centennial Coal’s $420 million takeover of Austral Coal.
Value of Completed Deals:
BDW’s completed deal value ($15.264M) represents an increase of over $4billion on last year’s total completed deal value.
1. Australia & New Zealand (Target), Announced – Legal Ranking
Legal Advisers League Table, Based on Value
Excluding Equity Carveouts, Withdrawn Deals & Open Market Repurchases
Legal Advisor Full to Each Advisor Ranking Value inc.Net Debtof Target ($ Mil) Rank Mkt.Share # of Deals
Allens Arthur Robinson 26432.4 1 40 88
Freehills 25818.4 2 39.1 171
Mallesons Stephen Jaques 16548.1 3 25 120
Blake Dawson Waldron 14331.4 4 21.7 70
Clayton Utz 12510.9 5 18.9 112
Slaughter & May 7696.8 6* 11.6* 1
Blake Cassels & Graydon 7696.8 6* 11.6* 1
Sullivan & Cromwell 7696.8 6* 11.6* 1
Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz 7696.8 6* 11.6* 1
Bell Gully 6976.1 10 10.6 50
Chapman Tripp Sheffield Young 6036 11 9.1 38
Minter Ellison 5135.1 12 7.8 59
Source: Thomson Financial (Fourth Quarter 2005) 1.973.622.5200
*tie
2. Australia & New Zealand (Target), Completed – Legal Ranking
Legal Advisers League Table, Based on Value
Excluding Equity Carveouts, Withdrawn Deals & Open Market Repurchases
Full Year 2001
Legal Advisor Full to Each Advisor Ranking Value inc.Net Debtof Target ($ Mil) Rank Mkt.Share # of Deals
Freehills 28592.6 1 44.0 171
Allens Arthur Robinson 27030.3 2 41.6 91
Mallesons Stephen Jaques 21037.6 3 32.3 111
Blake Dawson Waldron 15564.2 4 23.9 63
Clayton Utz 8542.1 5 13.1 106
Gilbert + Tobin 8341.4 6 12.8 23
Sullivan & Cromwell 8119.1 7 12.5 2
Slaughter & May 7696.8 8* 11.8 1
Blake Cassels & Graydon 7696.8 8* 11.8 1
Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz 7696.8 8* 11.8 1
Bell Gully 7550.6 11 11.6 50
Minter Ellison 6895 12 10.6 66
Source: Thomson Financial (Fourth Quarter 2005) 1.973.622.5200
*tie
