Jonathan Donald
Clayton Utz
Partner
Sydney
Overview
Known as “commercial, committed and flexible", Jonathan is one of Australia's most sought-after tax advisers for M&A and private equity. Domestic and foreign clients come to him for tax-effective structuring of mergers, acquisitions, divestments, joint ventures, private equity and property investments. His expertise spans a wide range of sectors, including private equity, property funds and publicly listed companies.
Notable Work
- Pacific Equity Partners (PEP): longstanding lead tax adviser to PEP (Australia's largest private equity firm), including structuring various funds (PEP Fund IV, PEP Fund V, PEP's Fund VI, Secure Assets Fund I, Secure Assets Fund II, and PEP Capital Solutions Fund I) totaling billions of dollars and advising on multiple investments by the Funds.
- The Blackstone Group: advised on certain key tax aspects of its $9 billion acquisition of ASX-listed Crown Resorts in 2022, a significant deal in the Australian market.
- Intermediate Capital Group (ICG): long-term lead Australian tax adviser, working on various private equity investments, fund structuring and also ICG's new infrastructure strategy / fund.
- Cranemere: acted for this US private equity firm and its partner Velocity Vehicle Group on the Australian acquisition of Daimler truck and bus dealerships in 2021.
- Lash Holdco / Gauge Capital: advised US private equity firm Gauge Capital on Lash Holdco’s acquisition of Bondi Boost, a hair care and beauty company, in a deal completed in 2021.
- The Children's Investment (TCI) Fund: acted on the sale of its investment (as largest shareholder) in ASX-listed renewable energy generator Infigen Energy in 2020.
- China Investment Corporation (CIC): structured its acquisition of the Investa property portfolio, valued at $2.5 billion, one of the largest direct property sales in Australian history.
- EMR Capital: acted for EMR on structuring EMR Capital Resources Fund II (a private equity fund focused on mining investments) and certain investment including the 2018 acquisition of the Kestrel Coal Mine from Rio Tinto ($2.9 billion).
- Aviva Plc: lead tax adviser to large UK insurance company Aviva in a landmark Federal Court case that effectively overturned the ATO's public ruling (in place for 20 years) that sought to impose Capital Gains Tax on non-residents. This case determined that the relevant Double Tax Agreements prevented the ATO from imposing CGT in the relevant circumstances, showcasing his expertise in resolving complex and material tax disputes.
Insights
Australian Budget 2024 walks a fine line, and steps over details for multinationals and foreign investors
15 May 2024 | Article
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Thinking about investing in Australia? Here's how the Federal Budget 2023-24 affects you
11 May 2023 | Article
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Fewer revenue measures in Budget 2023-24 signal a holding pattern with more compliance – for now
10 May 2023 | Article
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Budget 2022-23: multinationals, franking credits to boost tax take, and force strategy rethink
26 Oct 2022 | Article
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Morrison Government's middle of the road 2022 election year Budget offers some (but not much) relief for Australian businesses
30 Mar 2022 | Article
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Australia's Federal Budget 2020: solid and unsurprising stimulus measures, and some opportunities for business
7 Oct 2020 | Article
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Hacked? Don't expect legal professional privilege to stop others using your documents, says High Court
14 Aug 2019 | Article
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Media Release: Clayton Utz advises Oaktree Capital on innovative Marlin Brands buyout
6 Jun 2019 | Media Release
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Federal Budget 2019: incremental, not dramatic, changes for corporate Australia and multinationals
3 Apr 2019 | Article
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Australian tax reforms to stapled structures to affect foreign investors
3 Apr 2018 | Article
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Proposed changes to Australia's Investment Manager Regime and Attribution Managed Investment Trust Taxation Rules
21 Jul 2017 | Article
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1 July 2017 start for significant changes to the Foreign Resident CGT Withholding Tax regime - are you ready?
23 Jun 2017 | Article
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Federal Budget 2017: banks, property investors and multinationals in the spotlight
10 May 2017 | Article
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