Mergers & Acquisitions

Merger and acquisition activity always marks a significant point of change for an organisation, irrespective of the sector or transaction size. Demands and pressures are heightened, and the deal must be managed as effectively and efficiently as possible.

We have significant experience across all form of M&A transactions: public takeovers, private sales, contested bids, merger, and other business restructures. WE have also advised on the corporatisation and privatisation of business divisions of central and local government.

Our deal teams include industry specialists relevant to the transaction and to the post-closing integration phase. A key focus is to help manage execution and residual risks. We work to do this and to ensure a transaction is documented and settled as effectively and quickly as possible.

Our specialists bring to a transaction broad international experience and a depth of expertise. Many of our team have worked in leading international law firms.

Simpson Grierson is consistently ranked as a leading New Zealand firm for M&A in the Mergermarket and Refinitiv league tables.

Examples of our work

• Macquarie Asset Management - advising on its joint venture with Real Assets and Aware Super and subsequent acquisition of telecommunications group, Vocus Group, for NZ$3.5 billion
• Voyage Digital (NZ) Ltd​ - merger of Orcon (formally Vocus NZ) and the NZ-based telecommunications group, 2degrees Group Ltd, for NZ$1.7 billion
• Heritage Lifecare - advising Heritage Lifecare, owned by Adamantem Capital, on the sale and leaseback of its property interests in 38 aged care facilities to Centuria Capital Group for $291 million
• nib nz holdings group - acquisition of Kiwi Insurance Limited for $45 million
• SG Fleet - AU$273 million acquisition of LeasePlan
• Mercury Capital Pty Ltd - acquisition of NZ magazine portfolio from Bauer Media Group
• Shareholders of Mighty Ape - sale of online retail platform Mighty Ape to Kogan.com
• Westland Milk - acquisition by Inner Mongolia Yili Group of Westland Milk Co-operative
• CHAMP Ventures - disposal of its shareholding in TR Group to NZ PE fund, Direct Capital
• Nippon Paint - New Zealand aspects of the announced proposal to acquire DuluxGroup for A$3.81 billion by way of Australian scheme of arrangement
• Manuka Health - acquisition by Guoco Group of Manuka Health from Pacific Equity Partners
• Fonterra China - acquisition by China Youran Dairy Group of various China-based dairy assets from Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd (NZ$555 million)
• bp Oil - internal restructure of bp's New Zealand freehold property portfolio and disposal of 49% interest in ultimate holding entity
• The a2 Milk Company - landmark NZ$268.5 million investment in Mataura Valley Milk
• Shinsei Bank - NZ$762 million acquisition of iconic New Zealand finance company, UDC
• Finaccess Capital - partial takeover of Restaurant Brands
• Adamantem Capital - acquisition of leading smallgoods manufacturer Hellers
• Arena Investors LP (as funder and equity participant) - roll-up by Optic Security Group of six Australasian companies to create an integrated security products and services provider with revenues exceeding $100 million
• DLF Seeds - $421 million purchase of PGG Wrightson’s seed and grain business
• Suntory Beverage & Food - sale to The Kraft Heinz Company of the Cerebos Food & Instant Coffee business in Australia and New Zealand, and its Asian Home Gourmet Singapore business
• VF Corporation - $288 million acquisition of merino clothing chain Icebreaker 
• OMV - US$578 million acquisition of Shell’s upstream oil and gas business in New Zealand