Briefs: FIRB approves REA’s Mortgage Choice takeover, LawFinance restructure passed 27 May 2021 5:24AM Banking Day staff Briefs, M&A, Finance regulation The Foreign Investment Review Board has notified REA Group and Mortgage Choice that the Commonwealth has no objections to their merger. REA is taking over Mortgage Choice in a deal worth A$244 million. FIRB sign-off was required because News Corp owns around 60 per cent of REA. Shareholders of litigation and disbursement funder LawFinance passed a series of resolutions at a general meeting this week that will allow the company to proceed with a recapitalisation of the business. The company can proceed with a debt-to equity swap, an equity issue and a new debt facility. The company geared up heavily in 2016 and 2018 to make acquisitions that have not performed.