Equity Capital Markets Set For Growth In 2010

MEDIA RELEASE



Equity Capital Markets set for growth in 2010



19 January 2010


A resurgent stock market and some successful company floats or Initial Public Offers

(IPO) towards the end of the year have set good conditions for growth in Equity Capital

Markets (ECM) in 2010.


Freehills corporate partner and co-head of the Equity Capital Markets team, Philippa

Stone said, `The successful public floats of retailers Myer and Kathmandu towards the

end of 2009 were good signals for equity capital markets in 2010.'


`Particularly in the first half of 2009 a lot of the activity was raising funds to sure up

balance sheets.


`We would expect there will be more activity this year, particularly IPO activity from

private equity investors seeking to realise their investments and existing listed companies

seeking to raise funds to invest for future growth.'


Top-tier Australian based international law firm Freehills has a strong history leading the

market in advising on Equity Capital Markets deals. Freehills has once again achieved a

number one ranking in both the full-year 2009 Bloomberg IPO and Hybrid Legal Advisor

League Tables for Australia & New Zealand.


Freehills corporate partner and co-head of the Equity Capital Markets team, Michael

Ziegelaar said, `Freehills is still clearly the most active legal advisor in Australasia.'


Freehills' award winning equity capital markets team has acted on many of Australia's

largest recent capital raisings, including acting for Myer on its A$3 billion IPO; for

Woodside, Santos, Elders, BBI, FKP Property Group and many others on major

secondary capital raisings; for CBA on its A$2 billion PERLS V hybrid raising, and for the

underwriters of numerous raisings including Rio Tinto's A$15.2 billion rights offer.


ENDS.



For more information contact:




Kate Piper Andrew McKenzie

Media Consultant Media & Communications Manager

+61 2 9225 5167 +61 2 9322 4833

[email protected] [email protected]



Freehills is a leading Australian-based international law firm providing exceptional commercial legal services

and advice with the resources and expertise of around 1000 lawyers, including over 200 partners, through

offices in Australia and South-East Asia. Freehills proudly partners with the majority of Australia's top 100 listed

companies, giving them the confidence to make complex and important business decisions and assisting them

in navigating the multifaceted commercial issues they must address on a day-to-day basis. The firm's focus on

providing clients with tailored, value-add solutions is built on our people's deep expertise and desire to achieve

an insightful understanding of the operational and environmental context in which clients operate. Freehills

understands that strong relationships, shared knowledge, and leading-edge technological resources create the

foundation for the development of sustainable business solutions to suit each client's unique strategic goals .





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