09
Oct
Active investors: Changing the game
Against the rise of passive investing, active shareholders are concentrating their portfolios and managing more actively - no wonder they are now more proactively engaging with boards. Although not everyone amounts to the “activist” level as Australis still only has a handful of such activist shareholders, value-driven investors are more active in pushing companies for change to unlock value, if not necessarily going public and aggressive with their campaigns. Some are increasingly behaving like investment bankers—approaching companies with proposals on capital strategy, operational optimization, and potential M&A activities. They are also using novel tactics to influence the strategies of companies as large institutional players and funds (including super funds) enter space, resulting in better-funded and more sophisticated campaigns. Campaigns continue to evolve, with activists refining their strategies to both capitalise on financial opportunities, value creation and governance concerns.
- How have activist investors evolved to run campaigns in the boardroom and the media?
- What sectors are likely to be under the spotlight over the next 12 months, and how will this impact on the M&A landscape?
- What is the role of shareholder engagement firms – acting for both target or the activist investor - and how will this change?
- What can be learned from recent campaigns, both successes and failures?
- What tactics are being employed to drive deals in the current uncertain economic environment?
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SpeakersJimmy Rich Partner Greenstone Partners
Jamie Cameron Managing Director Sodali & Co
Jessica Curtis Executive Director M&A UBS
Gabriel Radzyminski Founder and CIO Sandon Capital
Gary Weiss Executive Director Ariadne
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Jimmy Rich is a Partner at Greenstone Partners, a leading independent corporate advisory firm focused on mid-market mergers, acquisitions and divestments.
Jimmy joined Greenstone Partners in 2006 and has a broad range of experience in M&A, debt and equity transactions for public, private and private equity clients. Most recently, Jimmy has advised Blackmores on the sale of PAW to RedDog (a FountainVest portfolio company); Anacacia Capital on the sale of Force Fire to ASX-listed SCEE; Airport Retail Enterprises on the sale to LSE-listed SSP Group; Pinnacle Rehab on the sale to Crescent Capital Partners; and Aidacare on an investment by Quadrant Private Equity.
Jimmy also sits on the Advisory Committee of Greenbanks Tasmanian Whisky Co.
Jamie Cameron has over a decade of experience in advising clients and managing campaigns across a diverse range of corporate activities. His expertise spans mergers and acquisitions (M&A), proxy fights, annual general meetings, and capital raisings. Jamie is a trusted advisor to ASX300 companies, having played a pivotal role in helping them achieve their strategic objectives, including navigating some of the largest and most complex M&A transactions in recent years. Jamie began his career at Sodali & Co, where he developed a strong foundation in corporate advisory. Before rejoining the firm in 2024, he served as the General Manager of Georgeson Australia.
Jessica is an Executive Director in the Mergers and Acquisition team at UBS where she specialises in public market and cross-border transactions. She has advised clients on prominent and complex M&A situations across the Australian and US markets.
Jessica has also held roles at J.P. Morgan New York and Macquarie Capital Australia.
Gabriel is Founder and CIO of Sandon Capital Pty Limited, a firm specialising in activist investing. Gabriel serves as a non-executive director of Future Generation Australia Ltd.
Dr Weiss has extensive global experience across a range of industries, both at executive and board levels.
Dr Weiss is Executive Director of Ariadne Australia Ltd, a diversified investment company with investments in a variety of sectors. He is the Chairman of Coast Entertainment Holdings Limited, Cromwell Property Group and Deputy Chair of Myer Holdings Limited. He is a Non-Executive Director of Hearts & Minds Investments Limited, Thorney Opportunities Limited, Invest Gold Coast, the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute and The Centre for Independent Studies.
Dr Weiss was Chairman of Estia Health Limited from 2016 to 2023, Ridley Corporation Limited from June 2010 until August 2020, Clearview Wealth Limited from July 2013 until May 2016 and of Coats plc from 2003 until April 2012 and executive director of Guinness Peat Group plc from 1990 to April 2011. He has also held directorships of numerous companies, including The Straits Trading Co Ltd in Singapore, Premier Investments Limited, Tag Pacific Limited, Westfield Group, Tower Australia Ltd, Australian Wealth Management Limited, Tyndall Australia Ltd (Deputy Chairman), Joe White Maltings Ltd (Chairman), CIC Ltd, Whitlam Turnbull & Co Ltd and Industrial Equity Ltd. Dr Weiss was also a director of Brisbane Broncos Ltd (formerly Pacific Sports Entertainment Ltd), an ASX-listed company which owns the Brisbane Broncos.
Dr Weiss is also a Commissioner of the Australian Rugby League Commission
In 2019, Dr Weiss was awarded the Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for significant service to business, and to the community.
Dr Weiss holds an LLB (Hons) and LLM from Victoria University of Wellington and a Doctor of the Science of Law (JSD) from Cornell University. He was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand, a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria and as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales.