Jesse Fairley

Jesse is a specialist in corporate, acquisition/leveraged, property and infrastructure finance, asset-backed and receivables finance, debt capital markets, structured products and debt restructuring solutions.
 
With extensive experience advising sponsors, major corporates and financial institutions on a range of complex and innovative transactions, Jesse is sought out by clients for his technical excellence and collaborative approach.

Jesse's experience includes advising:

• The banking syndicate on the acquisition financing to the InfraRed Capital Partners/Northleaf Capital consortium on the $1.7 billion acquisition of Vodafone NZ's passive mobile tower infrastructure assets.

• The banking syndicate on the financing of a commercial real-estate partnership between Precinct Properties NZ and Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC, including the initial portfolio acquisition.

• The arranging bank on the financing to FountainVest Partners to acquire Ziwi.

• Genesis Energy on the establishment of its sustainable finance framework and $250 million of sustainability linked loans with Westpac, BNZ and MUFG which are also aligned with the Climate Transition Finance Handbook.

• ANZ Bank on its sale of UDC Finance to Shinsei Bank and the related structuring, syndication and implementation of UDC's $2 billion stapled financing offer, which funded into completion of the share sale.

• Emergent Cold on its financing to acquire Polarcold from Scales Corporation.

• Inspired Education on the NZ aspects of its TLB financing to acquire ACG Schools from Pacific Equity Partners.

• Jaycar Electronics Group on its financing to acquire Burnsco.

• The banking syndicate on the development financing of an international franchise hotel in Queenstown.

• Terra Firma on the £3.5 billion bank and bond refinancing of its Annington Homes portfolio, one of the largest private rental sector housing platforms in the UK.

• The arrangers on the £3 billion refinancing of the AA Group, a capital structure consisting of senior secured facilities, investment grade bonds and structurally subordinated high-yield bonds.

• Genesis Energy on the issuance of its of $285 million 30-year unsecured, subordinated, NZX listed green capital bonds.

• Kiwi Property on the establishment of its sustainable finance framework and inaugural $150 million listed green bond issue.

• The security trustee on the wholesale capital restructuring of the Punch Taverns group, which included 16 classes of creditors across two WBS funding arrangements and a debt-for-equity swap.

• An ad hoc group of credit funds in relation to the restructuring scenarios of a distressed CMBS.

• The statutory supervisor on the distressed trading position of a non-bank deposit taker.

• A buy now, pay later lender on the establishment of its NZ warehouse securitisation.

• Deutsche Bank on the wholesale restructuring of its €15 billion asset-backed commercial paper conduit programme.

• Virgin Money on a number of multi-currency Rule 144A / Reg S RMBS, including the first transaction to comply with both the EU and US risk retention rules.

• ZIM Shipping on the establishment of its multi-jurisdictional freight receivables financing programme.

• The New Zealand Bankers' Association and the participating banks on the $6.25 billion business finance guarantee scheme provided to support NZ businesses impacted by COVID-19.

• Telecom New Zealand, now Spark New Zealand, on the liability management aspects of its demerger into Spark and Chorus.

LLB (Hons), University of Waikato

Jesse began his career at Russell McVeagh in 2008. He returned to the firm in early 2018 after spending five years in London at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

Jesse is recognised by Legal 500 2023, with client feedback noting he is "enthusiastic, thorough and an exceedingly able lawyer. Jesse is measured and calm, and has all the attributes necessary of an excellent banking and finance lawyer."

Jesse is also recognised in the Best Lawyers® 2024 New Zealand Guide for Banking and Finance.