We would like to wish success to our clients whose work on several notable transactions has been shortlisted in the upcoming 2023 INFINZ Awards.
The annual INFINZ Awards highlight and recognise innovation and excellence within New Zealand's financial sector and are the foremost financial industry awards across the country. Russell McVeagh is proud to have worked alongside our clients on a number of significant deals that are recognised as finalists.
Russell McVeagh Board Chair Allison Arthur-Young said, "We are honoured and grateful to our amazing clients for the opportunity to have assisted on some of these market-leading transactions. A heartfelt congratulations to all who have been shortlisted and we wish you the best of luck at the awards."
Debt Deal of the Year Finalist:
Led by Banking and Finance partner Jesse Fairley, our firm, together with White & Case, advised the lead arrangers and lenders on Aotearoa Towers' $905m debt facilities to fund the acquisition of Vodafone’s (now One New Zealand) passive mobile tower assets.
Led by Banking and Finance partner David Weavers, our firm advised a syndicate of mezzanine debt providers supporting Ngāti Toa Rangatira's $368m purchase and lease back of 40 public schools across the Porirua and Wellington region from the Crown.
Mid-Market Debt Deal of the Year Finalist:
Our team, led by Banking and Finance partner David Weavers, advised ANZ on the construction funding provided to The Foundation Village Partnership (a joint venture between The Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind and Generus Living Group) to develop New Zealand's first six-star retirement village.
NZ Debt Market Issue of the Year Finalist:
Led by Banking and Finance partner Tom Hunt, our firm acted as Spark's advisors on its issue of its six-year, NZ$100m unsecured, unsubordinated, sustainability-linked fixed rate bonds. The bonds are the first sustainability-linked bonds to be issued in the New Zealand market.
NZ Equity Market Transaction of the Year Finalist:
Corporate partner David Raudkivi advised the underwriters and joint lead managers, UBS New Zealand Limited, Citigroup Global Markets Limited and Forsyth Barr Limited, on the NZ$1.2bn equity capital raising by Air New Zealand Limited. This was one of the largest secondary capital markets transactions in the world last year.
Our team, led by partner David Raudkivi, advised underwriter Craigs Investment Partners in Mercury NZ's notable $93m underwritten dividend reinvestment plan.
Corporate partner Dan Jones advised the underwriters and joint lead managers Craigs Investment Partners Limited and Forsyth Barr Limited on Vital Healthcare Property Trust's equity raise through a 1 for 8.54 underwritten pro rata accelerated entitlement offer to raise NZ$200m to fund new hospital acquisitions and developments in New Zealand.
The Awards will be presented at Shed 10 in Auckland City tonight (Thursday 25 May). All the best to our clients and all the finalists.