Antony Catalano

<html><body>
Legal proceedings aimed at preventing a merger between Fairfax Media and Nine Entertainment have fallen short in the Federal Court.
Former Domain chief executive Antony Catalano had <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/92467-antony-catalano-eyes-domain-return" target="_blank">launched the challenge</a> after Fairfax shareholders voted for the merger last week. 
Catalano argued Fairfax shareholders had not been given the opportunity to consider his proposal which included acquiring 20 per cent of the company’s shares.
Justice Jacqueline Gleeson approved the Nine-Fairfax scheme of arrangement after the ACCC gave it the green light earlier in the month. 
“I believed and continue to believe that at current share prices Fairfax shareholders were entitled to a better deal,” Catalano told The Australian.
“I have put my arguments to the court but I have not been successful. I respect the court’s decision and am unlikely to appeal, but I will reserve my rights until my legal team has had a chance to review Her Honour’s written decision.”
In his 11-page affidavit to the court yesterday, Catalano further outlined his alternative proposal to "deliver better value for Fairfax shareholders”.
Mr Catalano had voiced his opposition to the Nine merger by sending a letter to Fairfax chairman Nick Falloon on the eve of the Fairfax shareholder merger vote.
In the vote, 81.49 per cent of Fairfax shareholders backed the deal.
Catalano’s lawyer sought an adjournment to get a second independent report prepared, which was <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/92474-antony-catalano-fails-in-his-air-headed-domain-return" target="_blank">rejected by Justice Gleeson</a>.
The group will own nearly 60 per cent stake in online property listing group Domain.
Fairfax shares will cease trading on the ASX at the close of trade tomorrow.
 
 
</body></html>

j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Catalano's Federal Court foray fails to stop Fairfax-Nine merger

<html><body>
Antony Catalano has succeeded in his bid to buy the regional newspaper assets which formerly belonged to Fairfax from its new proprietor, Nine Entertainment.
Australian Community Media's portfolio of 160 regional titles includes The Newcastle Herald, the Illawarra Mercury and The Border Mail. The deal also includes 130 community-based websites with property advertising.
The deal struck is with Catalano and Thorney Investment Group, the ASX listed investment company headed by Alex Waislitz.
It marks a return to the media industry for the former Domain chief executive Antony Catalano.
Nine's redundant regional news business includes regional and community titles such as Horse Deals, Cotton &amp; Grain Outlook, Lotfeeding, Collie Mail, Wee Waa News, the Goondiwindi Advocate, Queensland Country Life, Macleay Valley Happynings (published every Wednesday) and the Dubbo Mailbox Shopper.
There's also The Byron Shire Echo where Catalano has property interests.
Nine retains 59 per cent of Domain.
Hugh Marks, the CEO of Nine, said the sale is in line with their strategy.
<div class="page" title="Page 1">
<div class="section">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
“The sale of ACM is aligned with our strategy to exit non-core businesses and to focus on Nine’s portfolio of high-growth, digital assets," Marks said.
"We will retain a commercial relationship with ACM and look forward to continuing to work with the business in areas where there are mutual benefits to both Nine and ACM.”
Nine has announced cash proceeds from the sale are expected to be around $115 million, of which $10 million will be paid in 12 months.
Nine will also receive up to $10 million of advertising over the three years from completion.
The deal is expected to be completed by June 30.
Nine signalled it would sell the regional titles following its merger with Fairfax Media, which Catalano forlornly attempted to block at the last minute by proposing to buy a 19.9 percent share of the publisher.
Marks also says it’s continuing with talks to sell another two arms of its business, Stuff and Events.
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</body></html>

Antony Catalano gets mini-media comeback through buyout of Nine's regional newspapers

<html><body>
Nine Entertainment has reported its chief executive Hugh Marks has been in contact with former Domain chief executive Antony Catalano and Thorney Investment Group chairman, Alex Waislitz over the future of the regional Domain property listings platform.
Bidders are currently in the due diligence on Nine's redundant regional news business, Australian Community Media, with the second round of offers due April 24.
The ACM business includes regional and community titles such as Horse Deals, Cotton &amp; Grain Outlook, Lotfeeding, Collie Mail, Wee Waa News, the Goondiwindi Advocate, Queensland Country Life, Macleay Valley Happynings (published every Wednesday) and the Dubbo Mailbox Shopper. There's also The Byron Shire Echo where Catalano has property interests.
The future of the challenged online real estate group Domain outside of Australia's two biggest cities is potentially in play as part of Nine Entertainment Co's desired sell-off of 170 regional and community newspapers.
Nine's Hugh Marks lunched with Catalano (above) and Waslitz at the Sydney CBD restaurant The Bentley last month, Nine Entertainment reported, sans advising what chef Brent Savage and sommelier Nick Hildebrandt served up.
However the Nine report did note Catalano is "considered loyal" to Domain, the realestate.com.au News Ltd competitor, notwithstanding the extraordinary attack on Catalano's character in the Australian Financial Review after his dramatic rumour-laden exit from Domain in January 2018.
Nine now owns 59 per cent of Domain.
Last November Catalano attempted to block the Fairfax-Nine merger in an eleventh hour folly that might have gained greater traction had he not left his bid until the Sunday evening before the Monday shareholders meeting.
At the time the SMH advised Catalano held about one per cent of Fairfax and Domain shares.
Jason Pellegrino, who replaced Catalano as its chief executive, has presided over a dramatic share slump.
The Domain shares were at $3.22 when he took over, and are now trading at $2.55 million giving rise to speculation, in The Australian, that the highly regarded Greg Elis could assume the top job following his return to Australia.
Domain director Greg Ellis was a guest on the table of investment giant KKR at the Sydney Institute’s 30th black tie dinner, the paper reported this week.
Ellis recently returned to Australia having finished his gig in Germany running digital real estate and car ads business Scout24, which was backed by private equity giant Hellman &amp; Friedman.
Between 2008 and 2013 Ellis was the boss of Australia’s biggest online real estate classifieds REA Group which now has a $9.8 billion capitalisation.
Domain has a current $1.49 billion market capitalisation. It hit the market with a $2.2 billion valuation under Catalano's leadership in late 2017.
 
<a href="https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/ex-domain-boss-antony-catalano-secures-new-role-20180530-p4zic0" data-track-relatedarticle="inarticlelink"></a>
<div class="_1lwW_">
<source media="(min-width: 1024px)" srcset="https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_1.061%2C$multiply_1%2C$ratio_1.776846%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_110/t_crop_custom/w_800/q_86%2Cf_auto/5bc9351f27d263b8108fc45e9459d81bc1bff1c7, https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_1.061%2C$multiply_1.51%2C$ratio_1.776846%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_110/t_crop_custom/w_1600/q_62%2Cf_auto/5bc9351f27d263b8108fc45e9459d81bc1bff1c7 2x"></source><source media="(min-width: 768px)" srcset="https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_1.061%2C$multiply_1%2C$ratio_1.776846%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_110/t_crop_custom/w_728/q_86%2Cf_auto/5bc9351f27d263b8108fc45e9459d81bc1bff1c7, https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_1.061%2C$multiply_1.37%2C$ratio_1.776846%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_110/t_crop_custom/w_1456/q_62%2Cf_auto/5bc9351f27d263b8108fc45e9459d81bc1bff1c7 2x"></source>
</div>
</body></html>

jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Antony Catalano seeking small-time backdoor Domain return

<html><body>
The new owner of Nine’s regional newspapers, Antony Catalano, has denied suggestions he’s embarking on building up a real estate outfit to eventually take on his former employer, Domain.
The denial came after sources speculated to the media website Mumbrella that the acquisition was part of a wider play for Catalano.
It was suggested he could roll-up his assets to launch a real estate portal to take on Domain, which is majority owned by Nine.
The former CEO of Domain also owns a stake in Domain’s biggest client, media agency Tomorrow.
“Why would I have my own real estate play when I’ve got a clearly defined partnership which includes promotion with the Nine Network for the next three years?,” he said.
“It’s ill-informed speculation without understanding. We’ve clearly done a deal [with Nine]. We clearly want to work together,” he said, noting it would work against him to go up against Nine and Domain.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/5/1/Domain-News.jpg" alt="">
“The speculation doesn’t have any basis. It’s actually completely contrary to what’s in front of you.”
Catalano did, however, concede he once had visions of such a roll-up.
“I actually thought at one time that Fairfax should actually buy advertising agencies in the real estate space [to] close the loop,” he told Mumbrella.
Domain has reported a 6 percent dip in revenues in a market update released yesterday.
It comes on the back of a 13% decline in residential sale listings during the March quarter, with Domain CEO Jason Pellegrino adding agent upselling and enhanced consumer products were offsetting the decline in listing volumes.
The result reflect Domain’s performance across the first three months of calendar year 2019.
Despite the listings falls, the company reported double-digit growth in residential digital yield.
Deepening the Domain brand and content integration with Nine including a new Your Domain TV show and other TV integrations are set to occur.
<div class="page" title="Page 7">
<div class="section">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
"Our relationship with Nine provides unparalleled opportunity to expand Domain’s reach and engagement. We have several initiatives underway," Pellegrino said.
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
"We are expanding our business model beyond the typical six-month transaction window to service the entirety of the typical 10-year property ownership cycle," he said.
</body></html>

Antony Catalano

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

Antony Catalano

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News