{
  "id": 7692363,
  "title": "Factbox-Private equity, foreign investors fuel Aussie M&A activity in 2026",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/factbox-private-equity-foreign-investors-fuel-aussie-m-a-activity-in",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-16T02:54:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Investing.com",
    "slug": "investing-com",
    "url": "https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/factboxprivate-equity-foreign-investors-fuel-aussie-ma-activity-in-2026-4902852"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In 2026, Australian companies have been attracting takeover interest from private equity firms and foreign investors. However, not many of these approaches have progressed beyond the preliminary stages.\n\nAtlas Arteria, a toll road operator, received an offer from IFM Global Infrastructure Fund for all the shares it did not own, valuing the company at A$6.89 billion. The fund's unit, Diamond Infraco 1, also proposed a potential increase in the offer price if it secured a 45% stake or more.\n\nBlueScope Steel was approached with a A$13.15 billion offer from a group including billionaire Kerry Stokes and U.S.-based Steel Dynamics. The steel producer, however, declined the offer, stating it was not sufficient for the board to recommend a scheme of arrangement.\n\nCleanaway Waste Management attracted a A$9.4 billion offer from EQT Infrastructure, which granted the company exclusive due diligence. FleetPartners received revised takeover bids from SG Fleet, ORIX, and a consortium led by Sumitomo Corp, valuing the firm at up to A$982.1 million.\n\nIngenia Communities rejected a A$1.94 billion offer from Warburg Pincus, stating it undervalued the company and included a condition for terminating a planned deal to acquire another company. Lynas Rare Earths, the world's largest producer of rare earths outside China, had ongoing takeover talks earlier in the year but they did not proceed.\n\nPerpetual turned down EQT AB's A$2.55 billion offer, preferring not to proceed with the deal but granted limited due diligence access. Windflower Pte, understood to be indirectly controlled by EQT AB, entered a non-disclosure agreement with Perpetual to explore an improved proposal.\n\nReliance Worldwide agreed to a roughly $2.9 billion buyout from Brookfield, providing relief for the company facing U.S. tariffs and economic uncertainty. Steadfast accepted an A$7.7 billion acquisition bid by a KKR-backed consortium, transferring control of its underwriting agency business and broking operations to specific entities.\n\nThere were also discussions regarding Suncorp being a potential takeover target for Japanese insurer Tokio Marine. However, discussions remained uncertain at the time.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}