Leading commercial and automotive law firm CIE Legal is advising Optimus Group on the acquisition of LINX CCG’s Autocare business. In the landmark deal, Optimus will acquire 75,505 shares in Autocare – one of Australia’s largest integrated logistics providers – for $44 million. The sale is expected to complete in the first half of 2024. Read more about the deal in the AFR here.
The deal comes hot on the heels of Optimus Group’s acquisition of Autopact Group, one of Australia’s largest privately-owned automotive dealership groups, at the end of 2023. Optimus instructed CIE Legal on both acquisitions.
The CIE Legal team is led by Andrew Thompson, with Thompson also leading on the IT aspects, Bianca Jacobs assisting with the corporate finance aspects, Zach Moon in project-management (especially of the due diligence), Ines Balint advising on HR matters and Monica Yuan on environmental and property issues.
Commenting on the transaction, Darren Bowler, Chief Business Development Officer of Optimus Group, emphasised CIE Legal’s ability to advise on complex and large-scale M&A matters, as well as the value of the firm’s IT expertise:
“Following closely on the heels of acquiring Autopact Group last year, we again instructed CIE Legal on the acquisition of Autocare. As with the previous acquisition, the CIE Legal team, led by Andrew Thompson, drove the deal forward and were critical to achieving the result. They were in their element advising on this deal, which was complex and broad in scope and they worked collaboratively with our financial advisors, Grant Thornton and the target advisers, JWS. The transaction involved complex IT issues and Andrew’s experience in this area was invaluable. Added to this, CIE Legal delivered the right skills and resources just when we needed them, to ensure we delivered this strategic deal.”
Partner Andrew Thompson said:
“It was fantastic to work with Darren and the Optimus team again on their latest acquisition. I was pleased to bring my previous experience in IT consulting to bear in addressing the technology issues, and the whole CIE Legal team pulled together to make this acquisition a reality. Once again, we worked pragmatically and collaboratively with the other advisers Grant Thornton and JWS, and with Optimus people across the globe.”
