Marko is a corporate lawyer specialising in mergers and acquisitions, equity capital markets, venture capital and Australian foreign investment.
He has particular expertise in advising on large-scale complex private treaty M&A transactions and public/regulated M&A transactions (including takeover bids and schemes of arrangement).
With over 20 years’ experience, he has advised on some of the most high profile corporate transactions undertaken in Australia, including in the infrastructure, energy and resources, fintech and financial services, real estate and industrial sectors. He has acted for numerous offshore clients and has extensive experience in advising on Australian foreign investment law and cross-border transactions.
His experience extends beyond traditional M&A to transactions in distressed and special situations.
Advised the Australian human resources and payroll software as a service (SaaS) company on: its $181m Series E extension equity capital raising round, valuing the company beyond the milestone billion-dollar “unicorn” valuation mark at $1.25 billion (Australian Investment Council 2022 Venture Capital Investment Winner); its acquisition of cloud-based workforce management and payroll platform, KeyPay; its $140m Series E equity capital raising round; and its $45m Series D equity capital raising round.
Advised the Australian independent provider of payments solutions on its acquisition of a controlling interest in Basiq, a leading data and open banking API platform.
Advised the Australian molecular diagnostics company on its $26 million capital raising from a range of investors including Northpond Ventures, Platinum Asset Management and Tenmile.
Advised the US cybersecurity SaaS company on the Australian law aspects of the sale of its CrashPlan group, a provider of cloud-based data backup and recovery software, to an affiliate of Mill Point Capital.
Advised on the Australian law aspects of its US$200 million acquisition of Liag Argentina, one of the largest agricultural producers in Latin America, from Kahlbetzer Australia.
Advised on a number of M&A transactions in the waste, water and energy sectors, including the sale of its interest in Integrated Waste Services (IWS), a sustainable waste management business with facilities in South Australia, to First Sentier Investors.
Advised the buy-now-pay-later services provider in connection with its IPO and ASX listing, raising gross proceeds of $80 million and closing first day trading with a market capitalisation of $358 million.
Advised on its acquisition the Radio Rentals (South Australia) consumer leasing business, including a $135 million lease portfolio and associated assets. Also advised its associated entity, Essential Appliance Rentals, on its acquisition of the Make It Mine consumer leasing business. Together, the various consumer leasing businesses have been relaunched under the brand ‘Snaffle’.
Advised on the sale of its national commercial property portfolio via a competitive sale process. The portfolio comprised a number of industrial properties across Australia and a Sydney CBD office tower.
Advised in connection with the voluntary administration of its investee company, Flow Systems Pty Limited, its buy-out of minority interests in Flow Systems pursuant to a deed of company arrangement with Court approval under s444GA of the Corporations Act and its ultimate sale of the Flow Systems group of companies and related assets to Morrison & Co.
Advised KordaMentha, as the liquidators of ASX-listed Black Oak Minerals, on the sale of its Marda Gold Project (WA) to Ramelius Resources Limited, via the transfer of 100% of the shares in Black Oak to Ramelius under a deed of company arrangement with Court approval under s444GA of the Corporations Act and ASIC relief from Chapter 6 of the Corporations Act.
Advised PPB Advisory, as the receivers and managers of Black Oak, on the sale of its Manuka and Mt Boppy (NSW) gold projects and its Sandstone and Battler & British Hill (WA) gold projects.
Advised on its acquisition of interests in the Millmerran Power Partners Partnership (the owner of the Millmerran Power Station) from GE.
Advised on its acquisition of a 19% interest in ASX-listed Toro Energy Limited by private placement and its unitisation investment in Toro Energy’s Wiluna Uranium Project.
Advised on its successful approx. $400 million bid to acquire Enwave Australia from Brookfield (Finalist for Energy & Resources Deal of the Year, Australasian Law Awards 2020).
Advised on the approx. $500 million sale of its 41% interest in ElectraNet (the owner of the South Australian electricity transmission network) to State Grid Corporation of China following a competitive sale process.
Advised on its $145 million acquisition of ASX-listed Coalspur Mines Limited by scheme of arrangement and the acquisition of Coalspurs’ debt which was owed to various institutional investors.
From 1 October, we expect to see significant changes in the way that companies offer equity to their Australian personnel. For many businesses, new rules in the Corporations Act significantly...
The long-awaited changes to the Corporations Act’s disclosure rules and related requirements for employee share schemes have become law.
On 16 October 2017, the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Broadcasting Reform) Bill 2017 (Cth) was passed by Australia’s House of Representatives and granted Royal assent. Following the Royal...