Hogan Lovells advises Aware Super on their A$3.5bn consortium bid with MIRA for ASX Listed Vocus Group Limited

Press releases | 31 March 2021

31 March 2021 – International law firm, Hogan Lovells, has advised Aware Super (Aware) on its consortium bid in conjunction with Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA) for ASX listed Vocus Group Limited (ASX:VOC) (Vocus).

Vocus is an Australia-based specialist fibre and network solutions provider which owns and operates a purpose-built 30,000km fibre network. Vocus announced on 9 March 2021 that it had entered a Scheme Implementation Deed under which an entity owned by the Aware and MIRA consortium has agreed to aquire 100% of the share capital of Vocus for A$5.50 a share representing an acquisition price of A$3.5bn (and an enterprise value of $4.5bn). Subject to court and shareholder approval, the acquisition is due to complete in the second half of 2021.

Aware Super (formerly First State Super) is one of Australia’s three largest superannuation funds with A$140bn assets under management.

The Hogan Lovells corporate team was led by M&A (Australia) partners Charles Bogle and David Holland, with support from senior associate, Madison Smith and associates, George Hanna and Zac Forrai. Sydney based finance partner Bryan Paisley advised Aware in relation to the consortium’s debt financing on the bid. Other Hogan Lovells offices involved included Brussel based partner Salome Cisnal De Ugarte and associate Ivan Pico of who focused on the antitrust analysis.

Gilbert + Tobin acted for MIRA and the consortium and Allens acted for Vocus.