Sep 8, 2026 – 6.05pmBrookfield’s local dealmakers are marching ahead in their quest to acquire KKR and Commonwealth Bank’s $5 billion-plus superannuation and investments house Colonial First State, taking the pitch to the buyout giant’s top brass.Shiv Gupta, Brookfield’s head of private equity in Australia, was the one to outline the mooted deal to the New York and Toronto-headquartered firm’s investment committee, and was awaiting feedback on Tuesday evening, according to multiple people briefed on the matter who requested anonymity to speak freely.Sarah Thompson has co-edited Street Talk since 2009, specialising in private equity, investment banking, M&A and equity capital markets stories. Prior to that, she spent 10 years in London as a markets and M&A reporter at Bloomberg and Dow Jones.Kanika Sood is a journalist based in Sydney who writes for the Street Talk column.Angira Bharadwaj is a co-editor of Street Talk. She covers IPOs, capital raises, mergers and acquisitions and other breaking news in Australia’s capital markets. Previously, she covered financial services, state, and federal politics. Send tips to @angirab.60 on encrypted messaging platform Signal.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber?