The biggest talking point among dealmakers on Monday wasn’t a deal, but a lack of one.
All the big investment banks have been getting close to APA Group in the past three years, as the group promised a chunky acquisition in the United States while trying to broaden its business with M&A back in Australia.
Fast forward to Monday, and the US expansion was off, CEO Rob Wheals gone (soon after strategy boss and former banker Julian Peck signed with JPMorgan) and the Australian M&A hasn’t necessarily gone to plan with misses at AusNet and Tilt Renewables.
So APA Group’s board, headed by former AGL boss Michael Fraser, is in the market for a new CEO. A new CEO will bring a new strategy, and will be after a new bunch of ideas from the big investment banks.
Macquarie Capital, JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs have been in APA’s corner in recent years.
Billion-dollar bids are powering M&A activity in Australia’s renewable energy sector, with suitors willing to cough up for development pipelines as well as operating assets.
Private equity owned Scott’s Refrigerated Logistics has an extra $70 million to put towards its mooted turnaround, after securing a new asset-backed facility.