Christian Owen specialises in made-to-measure solutions for complex corporate transactions.
From domestic or cross-border mergers and acquisitions, fund raising, governance and head office advisory issues to providing corporate and commercial law guidance, Christian finds the right solution for his mix of public and private company and private investment scheme clients.
Born and based in Western Australia, Christian has both an innate and studied understanding of the natural resources and mining services industries. In addition to his expertise in all facets of corporate law, he has further skill in the agricultural, venture capital and private equity sectors.
Results orientated and cognisant of the drivers behind each deal, Christian has made a career both in a London magic circle firm and in Australia, collaborating with companies to face their legal challenges head on.
Christian is a guest lecturer at the University of Western Australia (Masters Course M&A).
Key deals
Private M&A transactions
Acting on various private company business acquisitions and divestments including advising:
- ASX-listed civil and mining services company NRW Holdings Limited on its acquisitions of Hughes Drilling business;
- Golding Group of companies and RCR Tomlinson’s mining technologies and heat treatment businesses;
- Craig Mostyn group on its acquisition of an interest in agribusiness group V&V Walsh; and
- Fleetwood Corporation’s divestment of its recreational vehicle and vehicle canopy businesses.
Public M&A transactions
Advising public companies on change of control transactions (including takeovers and scheme of arrangements) including advising:
- NRW Holdings Limited on its successful takeover offer for Primero Group Limited;
- diversified seafood business Mareterram Limited on its response to an offer by JSE listed seafood group Sea Harvest; and
- Perseus Mining Ltd on its acquisition of Exore Resources Ltd by way of scheme of arrangement.
Private equity transactions
Advising on a range of transactions involving private equity investors including acting for:
- Greenstone Resources, a resource private equity investor on a range of Australian investments;
- Terrex Seismic on its transaction with Allegro Funds; and
- NRW Holdings on its joint bid with Allegro Funds for Hughes Drillings assets.
Corporate reorganisations and joint ventures
Advising Kore Potash plc on its re-domicile to the United Kingdom and concurrent AIM listing and diversified agribusiness Craig Mostyn on its initial acquisition and ongoing joint venture arrangements with the vendors of the V&V Walsh group.
ECM
Acting for issuers, underwriters, sub-underwriters and strategic and institutional investors on various equity capital markets transactions including placements, entitlements offers and initial public offerings and dual listings.
Takeovers Panel
Appearing for parties in the Takeovers Panel including matters involving Finders Resources Limited, Tap Oil Limited, Yancoal Australia Limited, Minemakers Limited, NGM Resources Limited and Midwest Corporation Limited.