Toby Holborow

Toby is an experienced corporate lawyer, primarily engaged in mergers and acquisitions, private equity, joint ventures and corporate governance.

He has extensive experience advising both corporates and leading private equity funds in New Zealand and internationally, on their acquisitions, divestments and co-investments.

Toby works across multiple sectors, with particular expertise in energy, healthcare, technology and retail. He advises clients from initial structuring of the deal, through the due diligence process, to drafting and negotiation of transaction documents, equity arrangements and warranty and indemnity insurance solutions, and through the completion and post-completion process.

Before returning to New Zealand in 2025, Toby worked in London for five years with global elite law firm, Freshfields. During this time, he gained invaluable international experience in complex cross-border transactions, built a large international network, and was seconded to ConvaTec and Compass Group (both FTSE100 companies). Prior to joining Freshfields, Toby worked in Australia at The a2 Milk Company (an S&P/ASX50 company).

Work Highlights

M&A and Private Equity

Advising Neptune Energy and its shareholders Carlyle, CVC and CIC and management on the US$4.9 billion sale of the Neptune Energy group (excluding its business in Germany and Norway) to Eni, and the inter-conditional sale of Neptune Energy’s Norway business to Vår Energi.*

Advising General Atlantic on various transaction including its cornerstone investment (through BeyondNetZero) in Sustainable Development Capital LLP and its acquisition of the free float in the Greek issuer, Epsilon Net S.A.*

Advising Charlotte Tilbury and its shareholders on the sale of Charlotte Tilbury to Puig.*

Advising Universal Music Group on its acquisition of Mavin Global Holdings Limited, a Nigerian based music label.*

Advising APG Asset Management and Global Infrastructure Partners (now BlackRock) on consortium arrangements for their acquisition of a stake in Peel Ports Group.*

Advising Getir on its acquisition of Gorillas for cash and equity worth US$1.2 billion.*

Advising a multinational company on its on its potential exit from the Russian market (and option to re-enter the market upon certain triggers).*

Advising Allied Universal (majority owned by Warburg Pincus and CDPQ) on its £3.8 billion takeover / take private of G4S plc.

Advising London Stock Exchange Group on its US$27 billion all share acquisition of Refinitiv.*

Equity Capital Markets

Advising Haleon plc on US$3.1 billion secondary global offering by Pfizer.*

Advising SSP Group plc on its £475 million fully underwritten rights issue to strengthen its financial position and resilience during the Covid-19 pandemic.*

*denotes overseas experience prior to joining Simpson Grierson