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Blair Strickland
Director
Blair Strickland advises on private mergers and acquisitions (M&A), investment funds management, commercial transactions and corporate governance, with particular experience acting for clients in the sports and entertainment and automotive sectors. Blair is a Wonnarua man from the Koorie language group and a strong supporter of Aboriginal businesses and enterprises.
Blair has extensive experience acting for both buyers and sellers in relation to domestic and cross-border M&A transactions, including assisting with Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) approvals for inbound investments into Australia, primarily from acquirers based in China and the Asia Pacific. Blair also acts for asset managers in relation to the establishment and management of investment funds, as well as providing ongoing corporate governance support to boards and executive management.
Blair has deep experience advising on all types of commercial transactions in the sports, media and entertainment sector. In addition to advising on private M&A transactions, Blair is a leading advisor to sporting clubs, sports governing bodies and wagering operators in relation to media rights and broadcasting agreements, sponsorship deals, wagering regulations and procurement agreements.
Blair also works extensively with clients operating in the automotive sector in relation to corporate transactions, structuring and governance, commercial agreements (including franchising arrangements) and regulatory matters.
Mergers and Acquisitions
- Advising Australian and Italian sporting club owner Pelligra Group on its acquisition of Perth Glory FC under licence from the Australian Professional Leagues.
- Advising Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) on the proposed privatisation of the WA TAB and the outsourcing of its wagering business.
- Advising Centurion Transport on its acquisitions of Queensland freight business Rocky's Own Transport and South Australian logistics company ABC Transport.
- Acting for the shareholders of transport equipment rentals business Rentco Transport on the sale of 80% of the shares to US-based private equity infrastructure investment firm I Squared Capital.
- Acting for major Australian automotive dealer network Autoleague Group (formerly IDOM Automotive) in relation to:
- Its acquisition of Western Australian automotive dealerships Osborne Park Kia and LDV, and Albany World of Cars (which includes new car franchises Ford, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Volkswagen and Hyundai)
- Its acquisition of Nissan, Kia, Great Wall Motors, SaangYong and Jeep dealership in Berwick, Victoria via a share purchase
- Its acquisition of the Berwick Mitsubishi dealership
- The share and asset acquisition of the Andrews and Wallis Motor Group for circa AU$80 million
- Advising CMW Geosciences Group on its multimillion-dollar sale to Kiwa Group Limited, a member of the SHV family of companies that employs more than 10,000 people and operates in more than 40 countries.
- Advising IDOM Inc. on the sale of its Australian automotive operations to a consortium of managers and dealer principals, in a management buyout valued north of AU$150 million.
- Acting on the sale of Roy Hill Station (being a pastoral lease and a parcel of freehold land) to Gina Rinehart’s Roy Hill Iron Ore Pty Ltd.
- Acting on the purchase of the business and the assets of “Midland Brick” (a major brick works business in Perth, Western Australia) from the Boral Group, and advising on the subsequent sale of the business to BGC.
- Acted for Barrick Gold on the first solvent reconstructions in Western Australia (via a scheme of arrangement) in three of Barrick Gold’s AU$700 million+ corporate reorganisations.
- Advising the shareholders of Australian specialist mining services company McKay Drilling Pty Ltd on the CDN$75 million (AU$80 million) sale of the business to Canadian Major Drilling Group International Inc. (TSX: MDI).
- Advising on FIRB approvals in relation to:
- Huineng Gold Pty Ltd’s AU$300 million acquisition of Primary Gold Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Hong Kong Stock Exchange-listed China Hanking Holdings Limited, which holds gold exploration and development assets in the Northern Territory.
- The acquisition by a China-based gold company of shares in an ASX-listed minerals company.
- Acting for Longreach Maris, an Australian asset manager focused on investing in Australia’s wild-caught seafood industry with AU$300 million of assets under management, on the establishment and operation of its diversified investment portfolio fund.
- Acting for a sports governing body in relation to commercial agreements for the aggregation and sale of race vision, as well as data to private Australian wagering operators and broadcasters (including SKY, Tabcorp and Sportsbet), media rights agreements with a number of high-profile Australian broadcasting organisations and arrangements for the sponsorship of race clubs.
- Acting as trusted business counsel for talent managers representing high profile Australian athletes on a variety of corporate and commercial related matters.
- Acting for Perth Glory FC owners Pelligra Group in relation to their ongoing management of the club following its acquisition.
- Acting for LIV Golf on broadcasting and contractual arrangements for Australian events.
- Acting for the WA Football Commission on sponsorship, broadcasting, media rights and funding arrangements.
- Counselling automotive dealership network Autoleague Group on all aspects of its business, including advising on internal restructures, employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), funding arrangements, dealings with franchisors and financiers and general corporate governance.
- Acting for major Australian dealership networks and major logistics service providers on the regulatory aspects of vehicle-integrated technologies.
- Advising major Australian automotive dealership groups on negotiating dealer arrangements with OEMs and major motor vehicle manufacturers including Toyota, Nissan, Chrysler Jeep Dodge and Kia.
- Acting for OTR Tyres on the acquisition of the Australian operations of international tyre retailer Titan Tyres.
- Advising bus transport, charter and tour company Go West on its AU$100 million acquisition by ASX-listed SeaLink Travel Group Limited.
Education
- College of Law, Diploma of Legal Practice, 2016
- Murdoch University, Bachelor of Laws, LL.B., 2015
- Murdoch University, Bachelor of Commerce, BCom, 2015
Admissions
- Supreme Court of Western Australia, 2016
- Winner, Lawyer’s Weekly 30 Under 30 Awards 2021 – Mergers & Acquisitions.