Benjamin Smith
Partner, Sydney
Ben is at the forefront of MinterEllison's practice in Asia. He is a trusted M&A adviser for major corporations in the Asia Pacific markets and has extensive connections with tier one law firms right across the region.

Ben has developed longstanding relationships with the most pre-eminent corporations and investors from the region including China Mengniu, Bright Foods International and Sequoia Capital from China, Nomura Research Institute, Dai-ichi Life and Softbank Robotics from Japan, and GIC & G.K. Goh from Singapore. In Australia Ben has been a trusted adviser for Qantas Airways on their M&A projects for over a decade, including their recent acquisition of a controlling interest in Trip-a-Deal. Ben's commitment to the region is evidenced by his 2022 appointment as an IBA officer of the Asia Pacific Regional Forum.

Career highlights

Over the last three years Ben has advised the following clients from the Asia Pacific on their investments in Australia:

China

  • Sequoia Capital China on their investment in Animoca Brands (2022).
  • Bright Foods International on their corporate governance arrangements in Australia (2021).
  • China Mengniu on their proposed A$600 million acquisition of Lion Dairy & Drinks (2021).

Japan

  • Dai-ichi Life on their proposed $980 million acquisition of Partners Life, New Zealand's second largest life insurer (2022).
  • Nomura Research Institute on their acquisition of AUSIEX, CBA's wholesale sharebroking business (2021).
  • Softbank Robotics on their entry into the Australian robotics market (2019).

Singapore

  • GIC on a range of investments in Australia most recently being its participation in the IPO of Judo Bank (2021).
  • G. K. Goh on the acquisition of a 47% stake in Australia's leading age care provider Opal Aged Care from two trusts managed by AMP.
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https://www.minterellison.com/People/benjamin_smith/