Don Holborow

Don is a partner in the firm's corporate group. He 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.

• Asia Pacific Legal 500 Corporate/M&A 2022 - Leading Lawyer (Hall of Fame)
• IFLR 1000 Capital Markets 2020 - Leading Lawyer
• The International Who's Who Legal M&A 2019 | Mining - Global Leader
• Asialaw Leading Lawyers Corporate/Mergers & Acquisitions 2018 - Leading Lawyer
• Chambers Asia-Pacific Corporate/Commercial 2016 - Recommended Lawyer

Examples of Work

• New Zealand Oil & Gas - NZ$25 million rights offer
• Byggfakta Group - NZ aspects of acquisition of BCI Media Group Pty Ltd
• Protective Industrial Products - NZ aspects of acquisition of Paramount Safety Products
• CyberCX NZ launch - acquisition of Gen2 Consulting and Insomnia Security and further bolt-on acquisitions
• Wellington City Council - $76 million underwrite of Wellington International Airport, jointly with Infratil
• New Zealand Oil & Gas - proposed acquisition of minority interests by O.G Oil and Gas for $37 million, by court-approved scheme of arrangement
• 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
  
• Guoco Group - acquisition of Manuka Health from Pacific Equity Partners
• New Zealand Oil & Gas - partial takeover offers from Zeta Energy ($42 million) and OGOG ($85 million)
• Mohawk Industries - New Zealand aspects of its acquisition of the Godfrey Hirst group
• New Zealand Oil & Gas - sale of its 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 - providing legal support in relation to its business transformation programme, 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

Other Credentials

• Government Review of the Overseas Investment Act - Technical Reference Group member
  
• Listed Companies Association - Executive Committee member for 10 years
• NZ Markets Disciplinary Tribunal - Member for 9 years
• NZX Legal and Regulatory Advisory Board - Member