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Don Holborow
LLB(Hons) • Wellington
DD
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Don is a specialist corporate, securities and M&A lawyer.
Don’s wide-ranging corporate expertise includes takeovers, securities issuance, corporate restructuring and compliance. He acts for all types of participants in the capital markets, including listed companies, major institutional investors and fund managers.
Don is sought out to advise boards on the issues that arise when major corporate transactions are proposed, and has extensive experience advising on all aspects of corporate governance.
Don also has a significant M&A practice, and often acts for overseas investors acquiring New Zealand assets, or on the New Zealand aspects of large international transactions. He is highly skilled and experienced in navigating New Zealand’s overseas investment regime, and has a deep insight into the regulatory issues which are relevant to investing in New Zealand.
Don was an executive committee member of the Listed Companies Association for 10 years; and a member of the NZ Markets Disciplinary Tribunal for 9 years. He was also a member of the NZX Legal and Regulatory Advisory Board.
Asia Pacific Legal 500 2025
Corporate/M&A
Leading Lawyer (Hall of Fame)
IFLR 1000 2020
Capital Markets
Leading Lawyer
The International Who's Who Legal M&A 2019
Mining
Global Leader
Work Highlights
Rua Gold
Acquisition of Reefton Resources.
Sumitomo Chemical Company
Sale of shares in New Zealand Aluminium Smelters.
Amcor Flexibles North America
Acquisition of Moda Systems.
Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation
New Zealand aspects of its A$4.13 billion purchase of the Global Asset Management Business of Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
New Zealand Oil & Gas
NZ$25 million renounceable rights offer and underwrite by O.G. Oil & Gas.
Wellington City Council
$76 million underwrite of Wellington International Airport, jointly with Infratil.
CyberCX NZ launch
Acquisition of Gen2 Consulting, Insomnia Security, Cyber Research, Consegna Cloud and further bolt-on acquisitions.
Byggfakta Group
NZ aspects of acquisition of BCI Media Group Pty Ltd.
Protective Industrial Products
NZ aspects of acquisition of Paramount Safety Products.
New Zealand Oil & Gas
Proposed acquisition of minority interests by O.G Oil and Gas for $37 million, by court-approved scheme of arrangement.
Guoco Group
Acquisition of Manuka Health from Pacific Equity Partners.
New Zealand Oil & Gas
Partial takeover offers from Zeta Energy ($42 million) and O.G. Oil & Gas ($85 million).
Mohawk Industries, Inc
New Zealand aspects of its acquisition of the Godfrey Hirst group.
New Zealand Oil & Gas
Sale of a 15% interest in the Kupe gas, LPG and condensate fields to Genesis Energy for $168 million and $100 million return of capital to shareholders by court-approved scheme of arrangement.
Mercantile Investment Company
Full takeover of NZSX listed company, Wellington Merchants (previously Kirkcaldie & Stains).
Brew Strong
Sale of the Panhead Custom Ales business to the Lion Group.
Inland Revenue
Legal support for its business transformation programme (as Simpson Grierson team leader), including the procurement process for primary programme support.
Guinness Peat Group
$158 million return of capital to shareholders by shareholder-approved scheme of arrangement, and capital note issues and rollovers, ranging from $215 million to $350 million (total of $815 million raised).
Agria Corporation (a NYSE listed Chinese agriculture business)
$120 million investment in PGG Wrightson as part of a $250 million capital raising, and associated strategic co-operation agreement.
Haier Group Corporation
$80 million investment in cornerstone shareholding in Fisher & Paykel Appliances and associated co-operation agreement.
