Hall & Wilcox help Moelis Australia sail away with Armada

A Hall & Wilcox team (led by Corporate and commercial section head, John Hutchinson, and including Chris Brown (Partner), Caroline Raw (Senior Associate), and Max Chung and Rebecca Schot-Guppy (Lawyers)) has provided legal support to Moelis Australia in its acquisition of real estate funds manager, Armada Funds Management. The transaction completed on 1 June for consideration valued at A$29.5 million (comprising A$9.8m cash and shares in Moelis Australia).

This is the first acquisition by Moelis Australia since its recent ASX listing and IPO. Moelis Australia operates a financial services business across the corporate advisory, equities and asset management segments and will add approximately A$800 million in assets under management across ten unlisted Armada funds, resulting in total AUM in excess of $2 billion across a diverse range of asset classes. Armada’s two founders and principals will take up senior leadership roles in the combined Moelis Armada Real Estate Asset Management business.

Commenting on Hall & Wilcox's involvement, John Hutchinson said: "Obviously we are delighted to work with the Moelis Australia team. The quality of assets and expertise acquired, in the form of Armada, will add to Moelis Australia's undoubted existing bench-strength in real estate asset management. Our involvement showcases our capability as corporate real estate and funds lawyers and our ability to work collaboratively, quickly and effectively with sophisticated, motivated clients.