Paul Mayson

Paul is an experienced M&A lawyer, who delivers corporate transactions of various sizes for a broad range of clients with execution excellence, whilst providing pragmatic legal solutions to appropriately manage risk.

Experience

Paul has worked for leading private practice law firms in Australia and the United Kingdom, and brings "tier one" quality and experience to mid-market transactions.

Clients and adjacent service providers value Paul's ability to get the deal done by cutting through the noise, focussing on real issues, and working through those issues to achieve valuable outcomes and solutions.

On the sell-side, Paul is regarded as a "go-to" lawyer for founders and business owners in the mid-market space wishing to scale their businesses and realise an exit or liquidity event with trade / strategic buyers or financial sponsors (including private equity).

On the buy-side, Paul works with many corporate and institutional clients on their strategic transactions, as well as financial sponsors (including private equity) on their platform establishment, growth and exit transactions.

Career highlights

Paul's deal experience includes:

Mergers & Acquisitions

• advising BAI Communications, a leading provider of telecommunications, infrastructure and wireless solutions (backed by CPP Investments) on its acquisition of Titan ICT, a leading communications engineering company specialising in dedicated networks for the mining, resources, and energy sectors
• advising US-based private equity firm, Spell Capital Partners, on its platform arrangements for its Australian investment portfolio in the manufacturing sector, including various bolt-on acquisitions, management equity arrangements, internal restructures, and BAU portfolio company work
• advising Altano, a German-headquartered international group of leading equine veterinary clinics, and its private equity sponsor, Ufenau Capital Partners, on various acquisitions (including, most recently, the acquisition of Scone Equine Group, one of Australia's most highly regarded equine veterinary practices)
• advising ADVFN, a UK-based global platform which provides real-time data on stocks, crypto, forex and commodities to retail investors, on its acquisition of the capital markets division of ASX-listed Gumtree
• advising the founders of Wynstan, one of Australia's largest manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers of blinds, doors, shutters and awnings, on the sale of their business to Hunter Douglas, a Dutch headquartered multi-national (backed by global private equity firm 3G Capital)
• advising Novigi, a leading data and technology partner to the financial services industry, and its private equity sponsor, IFM Investors, on various acquisitions (including, most recently, the acquisition of Iress' consulting and managed services business in a back-to-back deal with Apex) and BAU portfolio company work
• advising the founders of Touchstream, a tech company which licenses a proprietary cloud-based platform, on the sale of their business to international software group Banyan Software
• advising ACE, a leading Australian manufacturer and supplier to the mining industry, on its equity investment by, and platform arrangements with, Five V Capital (and associated partnership arrangements) in conjunction with the acquisition of Enduraclad, a comparably sized business in that sector
• advising a Japanese-based construction engineering group on its bid to acquire a leading Australian engineering consultancy firm by way of an unlisted scheme of arrangement (via a competitive sale process)
• advising leading family investment office, Wollemi Capital, on its consortium arrangements with the NBL to acquire a controlling interest in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL)
• advising PAX Technology, a leading Hong Kong listed manufacturer of payment terminals, on its acquisition of an Australian distribution business
• advising Wynstan, one of Australia's largest manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers of blinds, doors, shutters and awnings, on the divestment of its US business
• advising the founders of UniquePak, an Australian importer and distributor of premium glass and packaging products for the wine, spirit, food and pharmaceutical industries, on the sale of their business to multinational packaging company TricorBraun
• advising the HCI Group, a leading healthcare education and training provider, on its equity investment by, and platform arrangements with, US-based private equity firm Sterling Partners (and associated partnership arrangements)
• advising leading family office, Wollemi Capital, on its acquisition of equity interests (in multiple tranches) in Hoops Capital, a multi-faceted basketball enterprise and owner of the Sydney Kings (NBL) and Sydney Flames (WNBL) basketball teams
• advising the founders of QMV Solutions, a Melbourne-based financial services consulting firm, on the combination of their business with Novigi, a leading data and technology partner to the financial services industry, in parallel with an equity investment in Novigi by leading private equity firm IFM Investors
• advising the shareholders of Smartmove, one of Australia's leading mortgage brokers, on the merger of their business with Viridian Financial Group, a leading Australian diversified financial services business
• advising Fujitsu, a leading digital services group headquartered in Japan, on its acquisition of MF & Associates, a leading Australian cyber security and management consulting company
• advising InSkin Cosmedics, a leading skincare group, and its shareholders on the sell-down of their interests to, and platform arrangements with, the Australian Business Growth Fund (and associated partnership arrangements)
• advising the shareholders of Safe Direction, a leading Australian manufacturer and supplier of road safety barrier products, on the sale of their business to Jaybro, a portfolio company of Quadrant Private Equity
• advising the founders of Everyday Independence, a leading NDIS-registered provider of allied health services, on the sale of their business to ASX-listed international human services group APM for a purchase price of up to A$150 million
• advising Straits Real Estate, a leading Singaporean-based property investment group, on the acquisition of its joint venture partner's interests in property trusts holding various commercial and industrial property located in South Australia (and ongoing investment management and shareholding arrangements)
• advising Fujitsu, a leading digital services group headquartered in Japan, on its acquisition of Enable Professional Services, the largest independent ServiceNow provider in the Asia Pacific region
• advising a leading UK-based financial services group on its bid to acquire PayGroup Limited by way of scheme of arrangement (via a competitive sale process)
• advising Redflex, an ASX-listed intelligent transport systems group, on its acquisition by NASDAQ-listed Verra Mobility via a scheme of arrangement
• advising the shareholders of Duromer, a leading Australian manufacturer and supplier of thermoplastic polymers and compounds to the plastics industry, on the sale of their business to US-based private equity firm Spell Capital Partners
• advising the shareholders of ARMS Reliability, a leading global provider of reliability solutions to some of the world's largest industrial companies, on the sale of their business to international technology group Baker Hughes
• advising the shareholders of Servian, a leading data management and technology company, on the sell-down of their interests to, and platform arrangements with, Adamantem Capital (and associated partnership arrangements), and advising on the subsequent exit to multinational technology group, Cognizant
• advising ASX-listed AVITA Medical, a leading regenerative medicine company, on its redomiciliation from Australia to the United States via a scheme of arrangement (and associated cross listing on ASX and NASDAQ)
• advising Ammega, a global leader in belting technology, and its private equity sponsor, Partners Group, on the bolt-on acquisition of a Victorian-based conveyor belting business
• advising a Spanish-based multinational cash management provider on its proposed acquisition of a fleet of ATMs owned by one of the big four banks
• advising the founders of ONCALL, a leading provider of disability, NDIS and welfare services, on the sell-down of their interests to, and platform arrangements with, Pemba Capital Partners (and associated partnership arrangements)
• advising Lumibird SA, a French company listed on EuroNext, on its acquisition of the ultrasound and laser business of ASX-listed Ellex Medical Lasers
• advising the founder of an IT start-up in the cybersecurity space on the proposed sale of that business to a Silicon Valley-based FinTech group
• advising the founders of Nexon Asia Pacific, a leading IT and managed services business, on the sell-down of their interests to, and platform arrangements with, EQT (and associated partnership arrangements
• advising SCHOTT AG, a German-headquartered international technology group, on its acquisition of Victorian-based microfluidic manufacturer MiniFAB
• Advising UK-headquartered private equity firm, Livingbridge, on various strategic investments in fast-growing Australian companies
• advising KPMG Australia on the sale (via a competitive sale process) of its superannuation administration services business to ASX-listed OneVue
• advising Swedish-based multinational home appliance manufacturer, Electrolux, on various strategic and bolt-on acquisitions in the Australian market
• advising AMP Capital on the exit, by way of trade sale, of its interest in United Forklift & Access Solutions
• advising the founders of Australian Learning Group, an education and training business, on the sale of their business to an ASX-listed investment group
• advising Careers Training Group, a leading online education and training business, and its private equity sponsor, Anacacia Capital, on various bolt-on acquisitions
• advising the founders of OCA, an online education and training business, on the sale of their business to a leading private equity and venture capital firm
• advising the management of outdoor media company oOh! Media on the exit by CHAMP Private Equity, by way of dual-track IPO and trade sale, of its interest in that business
• advising Macquarie Capital on its private equity investment into a cashless payment systems business
• advising ASX-listed RHG on various takeover response initiatives (including a possible acquisition by way of scheme of arrangement and asset-level sale of its loan book)
• advising ASX-listed Echo Entertainment on various takeover response initiatives
• advising BHP Billiton on the proposed demerger of a significant business division
• advising Liverpool Football Club on the marquee sale of the club to Fenway Sports Group, an American multinational sports holding conglomerate
• advising major UK broadcaster ITV on its proposed acquisition of Channel Five
• advising INEOS, one of the world's largest manufacturers of chemicals and oil products, on the sale of its fluorochemicals business to Mexichem
• advising PSP Investments on its private equity investment into a newly established commercial lending institution.

Capital Markets

• advising leading cybersecurity company, QuintessenceLabs, on various funding rounds and capital reorganisation events
• advising ASX-listed Redflex on its fully underwritten accelerated non-renounceable entitlement offer to raise approximately A$16.4 million
• advising Freelancer on its IPO at a market capitalisation of A$218 million
• advising Fonterra on its NZ$500 million public offer in Australia and New Zealand under the Trans-Tasman mutual recognition regime
• advising Paine & Partners LLC and the Costa Group on the issue of convertible redeemable preference shares to partly fund the acquisition of Adelaide Mushrooms
• advising ASX-listed IAG on its £157 million issue of subordinated convertible notes
• advising ASX-listed Echo Entertainment on its A$454 million accelerated non-renounceable entitlement offer
• advising various leading Australian investment banks on their underwriting and lead management of various marquee equity raisings
• advising LSE-listed Prudential plc on its proposed US$20 billion rights issue to fund the acquisition of AIG's Asian life insurance business
• advising various leading ASX-listed property and infrastructure groups on various emergency fundraisings (rights issues, placements etc) during the Global Financial Crisis.