Deals

The corporate dealmaking community was hoping for a better year after a difficult 2023. An early M&A flurry suggests that optimism may not be misplaced.

The merger law debate has reached a critical stage as government considers recommendations from the Competition Taskforce, and with merger lawyers and the ACCC in stark opposition.

The deal represents one of the largest all cash cross-border transactions in ASX history.

An $80 billion Woodside-Santos merger made little sense from the beginning — including from an energy transition perspective, with the companies pursuing very different net zero strategies.

The ACCC's review of the childcare sector could have implications for deals in the sector that have been hanging in the balance.

Last year was the first in more than a decade where total IPO amounts raised fell below $1 billion. And the number of IPOs notched up hasn't been this low in about 20 years.

Debate about the performance of private companies is healthy and a sign of maturity. But it relies on access to data.

Advisors were keeping an eye on Australia's largest freight rail operator, which is carrying a large amount of debt, long before its major shareholder GIP was acquired this week.

Private markets operatives predict smaller high growth ASX firms and unlisted startups will increasingly lean on debt to fuel growth as equity markets remain frozen.