Stuart Evans

Stuart is the head of the firm's banking and finance department. He has experience in a broad range of domestic and international banking and finance transactions, and specialises in property and development financing.

Stuart's property and development financing work includes transactions relating to commercial and apartment buildings, shopping centres, hotels, residential subdivisions, aged-care facilities and retirement villages, farms, marinas, and property syndications. His expertise extends to not only the financing aspects of such transactions, but also the related commercial aspects, including leases, sale agreements, management contracts, construction contracts, and tripartite deeds with contractors.

Stuart also has particular expertise in asset financing and leasing (including aircraft, ships, heavy equipment, and trucks) and in corporate and commercial banking.

Stuart previously spent several years in the structured and asset finance team at Allen & Overy LLP in London.

• Chambers Asia-Pacific Banking & Finance 2018 - Leading Lawyer (Up and Coming)

Examples of Work

• Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust - significant restructuring of Trust's commercial arm's debt under new bilateral facilities with several banks
• Funding for $96 million purchase of The Plaza Shopping Centre in Pakuranga, Auckland
• Funding for $71 million extension and refurbishment of premises leased to the Crown in Wellington, and for purchase and refurbishment of additional "decant" premises involving complex development and leasing arrangements
• Funding for $65.5 million purchase of three office towers in Auckland's CBD
• Funding for $65 million purchase of building in Spark Place complex and $20 million purchase of Bunnings Warehouse, Silverdale by Augusta syndications
• Funding for construction of Ilico, Altera, and Saltus apartment buildings in Stonefields, Auckland
• Archer Capital - syndicated facility to acquire new industry-leading education business called Aspire 2, through the acquisition of five New Zealand-based private education businesses
• Spotless Group - syndicated refinancing of group debt out of Term Loan B market in United States valued at US$845 million and A$200 million (first lien) and US$235 million (second lien), followed by syndicated financing of group to provide funding for IPO
• Hoyts Corporation - US$410 million and A$40 million syndicated refinancing of group's debt out of Term Loan B market in United States
• Funding for $71 million purchase of Strand Plaza in Takapuna, Auckland
• Construction funding for boutique retirement village in Newmarket, Auckland and aged-care facility in Three Kings, Auckland
• Commonwealth Bank of Australia - structured leasing transactions in respect of $90 million of heavy equipment, trucks, and compactors
• Air New Zealand - Canadian export credit agency funding to purchase two aircraft