Russell McVeagh has been recognised for its role in high-profile and innovative transactions ahead of the upcoming Australasian Law Awards due to take place in Sydney in May, with the firm nominated for 'NZ Deal Firm of the Year', and Corporate partner, Joe Windmeyer, a finalist for the 'NZ Dealmaker of the Year' title. The firm also advised on multiple deals nominated for the Mid-market Deal of the Year and M&A Deal of the Year awards.
Russell McVeagh's Corporate and M&A and Banking and Finance teams worked seamlessly together advising on many of the market's significant deals last year which underpin the firm's nomination, including:
Corporate and M&A transactions
- Tilt Renewables' NZ$3.24b takeover by way of a Scheme of Arrangement;
- Westpac Group's sale of its New Zealand life insurance business to Fidelity Life for NZ$400m;
- National Australia Bank's sale of its New Zealand life insurance business to Partners Life Limited for NZ$290m;
- KKR's acquisition of a majority stake in Education Perfect, (a finalist in the Mid-market Deal of the Year category);
- Square, Inc.'s New Zealand aspects of its A$39bn acquisition of Afterpay by way of a scheme of arrangement (a finalist in the M&A Deal of the Year category);
- Trustpower's NZ$441m sale of its retail business;
- Allbirds listing on the NASDAQ - the first US company to extend direct IPO participation to New Zealanders based on the US prospectus; and
- Fonterra's $555m sale of its dairy farms in China.
The firm continues to play a leading role in New Zealand's sustainable finance market in 2021 and advised on many of the market's notable and largest transactions in this area, as well as debt market deals:
Sustainable Finance transactions
- Summerset's c.$700m sustainability linked loan – the first in New Zealand;
- MetLife Care's $1.25 billion sustainable refinancing – the largest in NZ in 2021;
- Genesis Energy's establishment of its sustainable finance framework and $250m of sustainability linked loans with Westpac, BNZ and MUFG which are also aligned with the Climate Transition Finance Handbook;
- KiwiRail's world-first green loan certification in relation to a shipping loan to acquire two new state-of-the-art ferries (which was a finalist in the IFLR Asia 2022 Awards); and
Debt market deals
- UDC Finance's c.$400m term securitisation - the largest in the NZ market;
- ANZ's $600m subordinated notes issue;
- Kiwibank's $250m perpetual preference share issue, and
- SG Fleet Group's acquisition of LeasePlan - NZ, funded via NZ securitisation programme - the acquisition was part of SG Fleet's acquisition of LeasePlan Australia and NZ (also a finalist in the Mid-market Deal of the Year category).
Joe Windmeyer
Regarded as one of New Zealand's leading dealmakers, Corporate partner
Joe Windmeyer is one of our country's most influential lawyers with over 30 years' experience in M&A, joint venture and securities work, including takeovers, asset and share acquisitions and disposals and securities offers, commercial contracts and governance matters. His clients include market-leaders who seek out his extensive experience.
Joe has advised on a number of significant transactions in 2021, including:
- Tilt Renewable's NZ$3.24b takeover by way of a Scheme of Arrangement;
- Trustpower's NZ$441m sale of its retail business; and
- Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited's review of capital structure and inter-relationship with Shareholders Fund.
Our multi-disciplinary firm made up of specialist lawyers who work seamlessly together across all aspects of a transaction, are uniquely recognised as leading the market.
The firm would like to congratulate and wish all finalists well ahead of the awards ceremony which is due to be held at the Hilton in Sydney on Thursday 19 May. The event brings together industry leaders to celebrate excellence in the legal profession and recognise the outstanding achievements of firms and in-house teams across both Australia and New Zealand.
A full list of the finalists is available to view here.
For more information, please contact:
Joanna Comerford
Head of Communications
[email protected]
D +64 4 819 7520