Many challenges face top corporates today, given the dynamic regulatory environment in which big businesses now operate.  More than ever, a specialist team of legal advisers who know the territory is an essential business partner for major corporates undertaking complex transactions.  Simpson Grierson Corporate Advisory provides that team.

Simpson Grierson Corporate Advisory comprises specialist corporate and securities lawyers from the firm's Auckland and Wellington offices.  We bring a wealth of experience and expertise to our clients' businesses, in advice on specific acquisition and fundraising projects.  We maximise client access to our depth of experience in complex transactional and compliance matters, by combining the talents of top corporate partners into a seamless national team.  The value we have added to complex and highly strategic deals has been a key element in the success of transactions with which we have been involved. 

We exist as part of the very strong department of over 70 corporate and commercial lawyers here at Simpson Grierson.

We are involved in all aspects of corporate law, from major mergers and acquisitions, to takeovers, public offerings of securities, listed company compliance, and corporate litigation support.  The group works closely with leading corporates and investment banks both in New Zealand and overseas, and  routinely deals with regulatory bodies including the Commerce Commission, Securities Commission, Overseas Investment Office, the Takeovers Panel, the New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZX) and other government agencies.

The changing environment in which major corporates do business today has raised the stakes, not only in terms of statutory reporting requirements, but also in terms of the maze of other less obvious legal requirements for which planning is required.  Failure to do so can make or break a deal.  Although each deal on which Simpson Grierson Corporate Advisory participates is unique, common elements are the complexity of legal requirements, the need for an in-depth understanding of the corporate environment, and a requirement that the group be part of the strategic team putting together the deal.  Because we are consistently involved in large, complex and high profile deals, we can bring valued knowledge and insight to each transaction.

Recent large, complex and high-profile transactions with which we have been involved include: 

• DB Breweries:  Acting for DB Breweries on the sale of its retail franchise business, Liquorland, to grocery co-operative Foodstuffs.
  
  
• BG Group plc:  Acting for BG Group plc in connection with its merger approach to Origin Energy (Australia), which in turn owns a 51.36% in Contact Energy (New Zealand), valuing Origin Energy at A$12.9 billion.
  
  
• Toll Group:  Acting for Toll Group on the sale of the national rail business to the Crown.
  
  
• Bureau Veritas:  Acting on the New Zealand aspects of Bureau Veritas' acquisition of Amdel Holdings, including New Zealand Laboratory Services.
  
  
• PH van den Brink:  Acting for PH van den Brink and associated entities in relation to the sale of its poultry business to Tegel Foods.
  
  

• DB Zwirn Asia Investment BV:  Acting for the financier of Positive Educare in connection with the takeover offer for KidiCorp Group, valuing the target at over NZ$42million.
  

• Methven:  Acting on Methven's  purchase of the UK's Deva Tap Company for NZ$59 million, funded by an institutional placement, issue of new shares to shareholders and Deva management, and debt.
  
  
• Auckland City Council:  Advising on Auckland City Council's purchase of the 13 hectares of waterfront land and wharves at Wynyard Point (more commonly known as the "Tank Farm") for approximately NZ$80 million.
  
  
• Toll Holdings:  Advising Toll Holdings on its takeover offer for the remaining shareholding in Toll NZ (the former Tranz Rail), with value NZ$100million.
  
  
• MFS/Tourism Holdings:  Advising MFS Living & Leisure Group on its takeover offer for Tourism Holdings, valuing the target company at NZ$277 million.
  
  
• Dorchester:   Advising Dorchester on its  acquisition of a 25% stake in St Laurence, the placement of a 13% interest in Dorchester to St Laurence Mortgage Holdings and associated grant of various put and call options.
  
  
• Goldman Sachs JBWere:  Advising Goldman Sachs JBWere on its NZ$18 million secondary placement of shares in Cavotech MSL Holdings.
  
  
• Toll:  Advising Toll Holdings on New Zealand securities law and separation aspects of the ACCC-required spin-off of assets into Asciano, involving the issuance of an ASX-listed stapled share/ unit, including obtaining exemption relief from the NZ Securities Commission.
  
  
• King Country Energy:  Advising on the potential partial takeover offer for King Country Energy and dealing with implications of Todd takeover offer.
  
  
• Oceana Gold:  Advising on New Zealand legal aspects of a placement by Oceana Gold of A$70 million of convertible notes.

• Gullivers Travel Group:  Advising Gullivers Travel Group on its target company response to Australian travel and property management company S8's takeover offer, valuing Gullivers at NZ$235 million.
  
  
• GPG Finance:  Advising on GPG Finance Plc's exchange offer and general offer of NZ$350 million of capital notes.

• Gullivers Travel/Pacific International:  Acting for Gullivers Travel Group on the acquisition of the travel businesses of Pacific International Holdings.
  
  
• Capital Properties: Advising Capital Properties New Zealand on the takeover by AMP Property Portfolio Investments.
  
  
• Private Health Care:Advising Private Health Care (NZ) in respect of the disposal of its 25 per cent stake in Metlifecare and resultant public bid.
  
  
• Gullivers Travel Group: Advising New Zealand's largest outbound travel business, Gullivers Travel Group, on its initial public offering of shares and proposed listing on both the New Zealand and Australian Stock Exchanges, valuing the business at NZD160 million.
  
  
• Methven: Advising Auckland-based tap, showerware and valving designer and manufacturer, Methven, on its NZD36.2 million initial public offering and proposed listing on the NZSX market.
  
  
• Origin Energy: Advising Origin Energy in its purchase of Edison Mission's 51 per cent shareholding, and offer for the balance of shares, in Contact Energy.
  
  
• New Plymouth District Council: Advising New Plymouth District Council on the sale of its shareholding (with Taranaki Electricity Trust's shareholding) in Powerco.
  
  
• Pumpkin Patch: Advising Pumpkin Patch in its 2004 public float, successfully raising over NZD100 million.
  
  
• Tenon: Advising Tenon (previously Fletcher Challenge Forests) on the partial takeover offer by Rubicon Forests.
  
  
• Rural Portfolio Investments: Advising Rural Portfolio Investments on its partial takeover offer for Wrightson, involving the issue of up to NZD100 million in redeemable preference shares to fund the partial takeover offer.
  

The group has had extensive involvement in providing solutions for both local and overseas clients and their advisers in numerous high-profile merger and acquisition transactions.  Many of New Zealand's largest takeovers, mergers and acquisitions have involved Simpson Grierson. 

The group also offers a first rate capital markets practice, advising on the full range of equity and debt transactions including IPOs, capital notes issues, bond issues and rights issues.  The group has taken the lead on many of New Zealand's largest public offerings of securities in recent times.

We can be distinguished in the market by the combination of an easy and friendly-to-work-with style, valuing strong relationships and good communication; vast experience in transacting in the Australasian market; positive relationships with regulators; excellent project management skills; and a passion for the work, for excellence and for a client's needs.

Being part of one of New Zealand's top four law firms, the group is able to draw on many specialist areas within Simpson Grierson when needed.  We can also call on considerable international expertise as the only New Zealand member of Lex Mundi, the world's leading association of independent law firms.

Our Corporate Work

Our track record details our further role in recent corporate matters.

Publications

Simpson Grierson Corporate Advisory's newsletters and bulletins consider recent developments in Australasia.