Good evening,

It’ll be hard hats for dealmakers in the next couple of weeks, particularly the IPO candidates that have been preparing to get out straight after reporting season.

Xpansiv, Redox and car distributor Ateco Group are among those gearing up for the post-reporting season IPO window. Each will have their eyes glued to equity markets in the coming week or so to see if there’s a realistic chance of a listing.

Ahead of the IPO window, Street Talk has spoken to Herbert Smith Freehills to see what they’re looking for this year. They came back with some interesting insights.

Elsewhere, the ink’s barely dried on Santos’ acquisition of Oil Search, but it’s already selling one of the latter’s crown jewels.

The company has called in the bankers to find a buyer for Oil Search’s Pikka – its Alaskan asset – that Santos has identified as non-core.

Oil Search had been trying to sell a stake in Pikka, but Santos is understood to be going the whole hog and is offering its full 51 per cent share with operating rights.

And finally, we’ve spotted new bankers in at Bapcor.

Happy reading,

Anthony Macdonald, Sarah Thompson and Kanika Sood
Street Talk Editors