About Ari
Ari Bendet is a partner in the firm’s Corporate and M&A practice. He specialises in private equity, private and public M&A, shareholder activism and corporate governance.
Ari has significant experience advising on complex and large-scale corporate transactions. He acts for local and international private equity firms, as well as a diverse range of public and private clients in Australia and overseas, across sectors including technology, retail, hospitality, healthcare, infrastructure and financial services.
Ari graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Laws with first class honours. He joined the firm in 2021.
Prior to joining Arnold Bloch Leibler, Ari was a senior associate in the M&A and Private Equity team at a leading Australian law firm. Ari also spent time on secondment in BGH Capital's legal team.
Ari is recognised by Best Lawyers® International in the areas of Private Equity, Corporate Law and M&A Law. Ari is also a member of the Australian Investment Council and serves on its Legal and Tax Committee.
“Ari goes above and beyond for his clients – he is extremely responsive, very available, and always makes us feel like we are the only client he is working for.”
Experience
Ari has acted on a range of corporate and commercial matters, including:
Private equity transactions
- BGH Capital: in relation to multiple private equity acquisitions, and its portfolio companies
- River Capital: on its private equity investment in quick service restaurant business Yo My Goodness (YOMG)
- Five V Capital: on its majority private equity investment in Australian mining technology company FTP Solutions
- Vista Equity Partners: on the strategic private equity investment in StarRez Inc by Five Arrows, a PE firm backed by Rothschild & Co
- Anacacia Capital: on its:
- majority private equity investment in Procal Dairies, a prominent family-owned dairy manufacturing and distribution business
- majority private equity investment in MGI Golf, a leading golf equipment company specialising in electric golf buggies
- Alceon: on its:
- investment in Boss Engineering, representing Alceon’s largest private equity investment to date
- strategic investment in Australian data centre developer and operator INSITE DC, as part of the launch of Alceon’s new DC Catalyst Fund
- BGH Capital: in relation to:
- its $468 million acquisition of Village Roadshow Limited by way of scheme of arrangement (whilst on secondment)
- its acquisition of Abano Healthcare Limited by way of scheme of arrangement (whilst on secondment).
Private M&A transactions
- BGH Capital: in relation to multiple private equity acquisitions, and its portfolio companies
- River Capital: on its private equity investment in quick service restaurant business Yo My Goodness (YOMG)
- Five V Capital: on its majority private equity investment in Australian mining technology company FTP Solutions
- Vista Equity Partners: on the strategic private equity investment in StarRez Inc by Five Arrows, a PE firm backed by Rothschild & Co
- Anacacia Capital: on its:
- majority private equity investment in Procal Dairies, a prominent family-owned dairy manufacturing and distribution business
- majority private equity investment in MGI Golf, a leading golf equipment company specialising in electric golf buggies
- Premier Investments Limited: on the proposed $1 billion merger between Myer and Premier’s Apparel brands business comprising Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Portmans, Jacqui E and Dotti
- Alceon: on its:
- investment in Boss Engineering, representing Alceon’s largest private equity investment to date
- strategic investment in Australian data centre developer and operator INSITE DC, as part of the launch of Alceon’s new DC Catalyst Fund
- Honey Insurance: on its $108 million Series A funding round – the third-largest on record for an Australian tech company
- Assemble: on the merger between Assemble Communities and Super Housing Partnerships backed by AustralianSuper and HESTA to create a $15 billion affordable housing platform
- Retailors Ltd: on its acquisition of Retail Prodigy Group Pty Ltd, the partner and operator of Nike and Samsung stores across Australia and New Zealand, and the online retail operator for Mattel in Australia
- InstantScripts: on its $135 million sale to Australian Pharmaceutical Industries (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wesfarmers Limited)
- Super Housing Partnerships: on the establishment of its build-to-rent housing platform and its $240 million investment from industry superannuation fund, HESTA
- Insurance Brands Australia: in relation to its sale to Steadfast Group for $301 million
- StarRez: in relation to a significant strategic growth investment from global technology investment firm, Vista Equity Partners
Public M&A transactions
- Premier Investments Limited: on the:
- $1 billion merger between Myer and Premier’s Apparel brands business comprising Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Portmans, Jacqui E and Dotti
- proposed demerger of Smiggle into a separate listed entity
- betr: on its:
- $360 million proposal to acquire ASX-listed rival PointsBet by way of scheme of arrangement
- successful $130 million capital raising, comprised of a fully underwritten placement and ANREO
- View Media Group: on its off-market takeover of realestateview.com.au
- ELMO Software: on its proposed $486 million buyout by K1 Investment Management by way of scheme of arrangement
- BGH Capital: in relation to:
- its $468 million acquisition of Village Roadshow Limited by way of scheme of arrangement (whilst on secondment)
- its acquisition of Abano Healthcare Limited by way of scheme of arrangement (whilst on secondment).
'One to Watch' for Private Equity Law, Corporate Law and M&A Law
