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Myer and Solomon Lew's Premier Investments were hammered in trading on Monday after the retailers provided weak performance updates as shareholders prepare to vote on the $900m-plus merger of Myer and Premier's apparel business next week.

Meanwhile, Bain Capital has kicked off the first bidding war of the year, lobbing a sweetened bid for takeover target Insignia Financial, teasing a scrip component to give it an edge over rival bidder CC Capital.

And MA Financial has teased the first big float of 2025, planning to raise about $300m for a listed private credit trust as the asset management and advisory firm pushes further into debt and credit markets.