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Banking & Finance
Changing regulations, new entrants and new technologies are reshaping the financial sector in New Zealand.
Our specialist lawyers work with businesses across the sector, providing informed advice that helps them successfully complete financing transactions.
Our clients include major banks, non-bank lenders and deposit takers, sponsors, local and international fintech companies, listed companies, central and local government bodies, and corporates.
We advise on all types of lending transactions, including business, trade, acquisition, project, property, and asset financing, as well as debt and hybrid securities and structured finance (banking, finance, tax, and capital markets all in one).
Our team also includes specialist financial restructuring and insolvency lawyers, who advise on complex debt restructurings, corporate collapses, receiverships, liquidations, and cross-border insolvencies.
Our banking and finance lawyers work closely with our corporate, litigation and tax specialists to advise on significant transactions and regulatory and compliance issues.
Work Highlights
Acquisition of Vocus
We acted for Macquarie Infrastructure Asset Management / Aware Super on the funding for the A$2 billion acquisition of telecommunications giant Vocus. We also advised on the funding and security arrangements for the subsequent acquisition of New Zealand telco provider 2degrees and its merger with Orcon.
Infrastructure Funding and Financing Programme
We advised Treasury and the Department of Internal Affairs on a significant project to develop an innovative new model for funding and financing major infrastructure projects.
We subsequently advised Treasury on the first transaction to be authorised under the Infrastructure Funding & Finance Act 2020, which will help deliver critical transport infrastructure projects for Tauranga City Council.
New Zealand Carbon Farming
We advised NZCF on raising debt funding from Rabobank and Bank of New Zealand (BNZ), through two new ring-fenced structures, for NZCF’s acquisition of more land to establish forests for carbon sequestration.
Lodestone Energy solar farms
We advised Lodestone Energy on the holdco project financing for New Zealand’s largest solar project, which includes the creation of a series of utility-scale solar farms across five locations in Northland, the Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty.
The a2 Milk Company
We advise on its New Zealand corporate financing arrangements.
Dunedin City Treasury Limited
We advise Dunedin City Treasury Limited in connection with its $1.2 billion debt capital raising programme, including its bond programme, underwriting facilities and participation in LGFA.
Acquisition of Waste Management
We advised the syndicate lenders on the acquisition financing of Igneo Infrastructure Partner’s $1.9 billion acquisition of Waste Management.
ASB
We have advised on a number of deals including development financing of Auckland’s new Hyatt branded hotel, and ASB’s first sustainability-linked loan which provided funding to Hawke's Bay Airport.
BNZ
We have acted on deals including the funding of EROAD Limited, the funding of Electric Kiwi (Debt Deal of the Year at the 2021 INFINZ Awards), and the funding for Pushpay's acquisition of Resi Media.
Westpac
We advised on the demerger of the institutional banking business of Westpac Banking Corporation’s New Zealand branch, involving the transfer of $6.2 billion customer loans and $5.8 billion customer deposits to Westpac New Zealand.
