Biography

    Simon is a partner in Gilbert + Tobin’s Corporate Advisory group.

    Simon was appointed as a partner at Gilbert + Tobin in 2022. Prior to that he was a partner at another major law firm since 2014.

    His practice encompasses regulated M&A and ECM, private M&A (including distressed M&A), debt capital markets, corporate advisory and governance (including advising boards on solvency issues, safe harbour and other corporate governance matters), ASX Listing Rule advisory work, contentious shareholder meetings (including defending and requisitioning), joint ventures and shareholder arrangements and advising creditors in distressed situations.  His clients are primarily in the natural resources sector, but also in the property, construction, fin-tech and technology sectors.

    He is also a director of not-for-profit disability organisation Intelife Group Limited.

    Simon has a BA/LLB from UWA (2001), a Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance and Investment from the Securities Institute of Australia (2004) and is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).

    Simon Rear's experience includes:

    • Metals Acquisition Limited on its $300 million initial public offering in Australia and dual listing on the ASX
    • Kali Metals Limited on its complicated acquisition of tenements and mineral rights from Kalamazoo Resources and Karora Resources and its $15 million initial public offer and ASX Listing 
    • Vmoto Limited in relation to its $16 million non-renounceable rights issue
    • OZ Minerals in relation to its $9.6 billion acquisition by BHP by way of scheme of arrangement
    • Mineral Resources Limited in relation to its successful $503m unsolicited scrip takeover bid for Norwest Energy NL and 20% stake acquisition in Warrego Energy Ltd (subsequently acquired by Hancock Prospecting)
    • Catalyst Metals Limited on its $66m recommended scrip takeover bid for Vango Mining Limited, $22m capital raising and $40m merger with Superior Gold Inc by means of Canadian plan of arrangement
    • Matrix Composites & Engineering Limited in relation to its $20 million ANREO and institutional placement
    • IMDEX Limited on its $224m equity raising (consisting of a fully underwritten $221m ANREO and institutional placement, and a $3m conditional placement) to fund the acquisition of Devico AS.
    • Firefinch Limited on its proposed $130 million recapitalisation
    • Altrad Australia on its acquisition of Ausgroup in Australia

     

    Simon was recognised in the areas of Corporate / Governance Practice, Corporate Law, Equity Capital Markets Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Natural Resources Law and Private Equity Law. 

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