Ben Macdonald
PartnerBiography
Ben is a partner in Gilbert + Tobin's Corporate Advisory/M+A group in Melbourne.
He specialises in mergers and acquisitions, energy/resources, foreign investment and corporate law. He regularly advises on cross border M&A, foreign investment / FIRB, joint ventures, directors duties, corporate governance and ESG matters. His clients include listed companies, global companies, private equity groups and start-ups.
Ben has spent time working at a pre-eminent law firm in London and leading global investment banks.
Ben is a member of the Melbourne University Law School Advisory Council.
Ben has bachelor’s degrees in law (Honours) and Commerce (Honours in Economics) from the University of Melbourne. He is admitted to practice in Victoria and England and Wales.
Experience
Ben’s experience includes advising:
- Orica on its acquisition of Axis Mining Technology for $260 million (+earn out) and its $650 million equity capital raising to fund the acquisition and to provide balance sheet capacity.
- Tabcorp on its sale of eBet to Venue Digital Technology Pty Ltd.
- Cleanaway on its $170 million acquisition of Global Renewable Holdings.
- Orica on its $180 million sale of its Minova business to Aurelius Group.
- BGH consortium on its $2.3 billion acquisition of Navitas by scheme of arrangement.
- Jadestone Energy on its US$195 million acquisition of the Montara oil field from PTTEP.
- Neptune Energy on its US$3.9 billion acquisition of ENGIE’s E&P assets.
- Ansell on the US$600 million sale of its global sexual wellness business to Humanwell Group and CITIC.
- Orica on the sale of its global chemicals business to funds advised by Blackstone for A$750 million.
- Jadestone Energy on its US$195 million acquisition of the Montara oil field from PTTEP.
- Olam International on its US$1.3 billion acquisition of ADM's worldwide cocoa business.
- Castleton Commodities on its secured interest in the Northern Endeavour FPSO.
- ConnectEast on corporate governance and restructuring matters.
- Jadestone Energy on its acquisition of the Stag oil field from Santos and Quadrant Energy.
- Orica on joint venture and marketing arrangements for an ammonium nitrate plant with Yara in the Pilbara.
- Detector Technology (a portfolio company of Ampersand Capital Partners) on its acquisition of ETP Ion Detect.
- Ansell on its acquisition of Ringer Gloves.
- Ixom on its acquisition of Australian Botanical Products and LogiChem.
- LocalAgentFinder on capital raising, commercial contracting and corporate governance matters.
- MoneyPlace on capital raising and corporate governance matters and on its sale to Liberty Financial.
- Origin Energy and Sasol Petroleum on their joint farm-in to the Beetaloo Basin.
- Uriel Aviation on its acquisition of Zuji on-line travel bookings businesses in Hong Kong and Singapore.
- CDH Fund V on the acquisition of an abattoir business.
- Lothian Pension Fund on its acquisition of Australian forestry assets.
- iSelect on its IPO and ASX Listing and acquisition of EnergyWatch.
Awards and Recognition
Ben has been recognised for his work in Mergers & Acquisitions Law, Corporate Law, Financial Institutions, Commercial Law and Energy Law.
Ben was recognised in the Corporate and M&A category.