Good evening,

It’s the most wonderful time of the year ... for retailers.

As Australian shoppers start loading up on presents, we thought we would check in on the saga at 184-year-old retailer David Jones.

According to our channel checks, buyout Anchorage Capital is at the front of the queue and lining up for what would be its highest-profile assignment.

Anchorage has law firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth on board and is trying to out-muscle a rival suitor, in what’s turned into a two-shopper tussle. David Jones owner Woolworths has Goldman Sachs conducting the auction, and had its CEO in Australia last week to check in on the progress.

Sources said a deal could be agreed by Christmas, although there was some way to go yet.

Elsewhere, we check in on CWP Renewables’ auction in light of a bid for Origin Energy, and have deal news out of Pacific Equity Partners.

We’ve also spotted bankers at Pacific Smiles.

Happy reading,

Anthony Macdonald, Sarah Thompson and Kanika Sood
Street Talk editors