Mergers and acquisitions

Overview

Our experienced team is highly regarded

We have extensive experience advising on the full spectrum of M&A. Our experience includes small scale family businesses, mid-market transactions, and large scale public mergers and acquisitions undertaken by way of takeover or scheme of arrangement.

We advise on all aspects of M&A transactions. We are experts in completing efficient due diligence, arranging warranty and indemnity insurance and drafting and negotiating transaction documentation on both buy and sell side mandates.

We deliver seamless transaction project management

We draw on expertise from our teams to deliver seamless transaction project management. We involve experts from:

Banking and finance
Intellectual property
Technology
Real estate
Competition
Environmental
Tax
Employment.

We work to achieve our client's corporate and strategic objectives

We provide invaluable input into transactions with overseas investment, regulatory, economic or political dimensions.

We facilitate transactions that achieve our client’s corporate and strategic objectives.

We have a wide range of clients

Our clients include:

Private companies
Private equity funds
Listed entities
Banks and financial institutions
Government agencies.

Market recognition

"The Buddle Findlay team has a very good grasp of the key commercial issues in relation to M&A deals. They are right across the detail so you can have confidence that they have picked up the relevant issues in terms of due diligence and transaction documentation." - Legal 500 Asia-Pacific

"Great detail and technical nuances, but adept at standing back and looking at the big picture, what actually matters and what actually drives value." - Legal 500 Asia-Pacific

"The team has a track record of advising on complex transactions for both domestic and international clients, regularly drawing on the resources of the firm’s wider legal specialists." - Legal 500 Asia-Pacific

Tier 1, M&A - IFLR1000

Band 2 / Tier 2, Corporate and M&A - Chambers Asia-Pacific and Legal 500 Asia-Pacific

Excellence awardee at the 2023 New Zealand Law Awards: M&A Deal of the Year - Sale of One NZ's passive mobile towers to InfraRed Capital Partners and Northleaf Capital Partners

Excellence awardee at the 2024 New Zealand Law Awards: M&A Deal of the Year - Acquisition of controlling interest in One NZ by Infratil

Excellence awardee at the 2024 New Zealand Law Awards: M&A Deal of the Year - Acquisition of Pushpay by BGH Capital and Sixth Street consortium

Experience

Sector/Expertise

Work highlights

Trade Me

We advised Trade Me on its 50% stake in Stuff Digital, bringing together New Zealand’s largest news website and online classifieds businesses. Read more here.

National Mini Storage

We advised National Mini Storage and its shareholders on the sale of National Mini Storage to Kennards Self Storage. Read more here.

BV Investment Partners

Advising BV Investment Partners on aspects of its strategic investment into Kami, a leading classroom engagement and teacher productivity content provider to the US and global K12 market.

Infratil

We advised Infratil on all legal aspects of its strategic reinvestment in One NZ's (formerly Vodafone New Zealand) passive mobile tower assets. Read more here.

Nestlé Health Science

We advised Nestlé Health Science on its acquisition of The Better Health Company, which includes the brand GO Healthy (read more here ) and subsequent sale by Nestlé (as majority shareholder) of the Egmont Honey group.

Pioneer Energy Group

We advised Pioneer Energy Group on its recent transaction involving Māori-led consortium Tōtara Energy Limited Partnership acquiring a 30% interest in Pioneer Energy Group, marking a key milestone for Pioneer Energy Group and for Māori investment in New Zealand's renewable energy sector. Read more here.

Autosports Group

We advised Autosports Group on its acquisition of the Auckland City BMW including the BMW, Mini and Rolls Royce vehicle dealerships in Auckland.

Brookfield

We advised Brookfield on the New Zealand aspects of its acquisition of a 50% stake in the Intellihub Group.

Pencarrow Private Equity

We advised the shareholder group, including major shareholder Pencarrow Private Equity, on the sale of all of the shares in Mix Global Holdings Limited, which produces and supplies personal care products including under the 'Essano' brand.

Letterboxd

We advised the Letterboxd founders and sole shareholders on the sale of a majority position in Letterboxd to listed Canadian technology holding company Tiny Ltd. Read more here.

Summerset

We advised Summerset (NZX, ASX: SUM) on all aspects of its acquisition of the Wai o Roka, Belmont development site from Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei for a mixture of cash and shares.

Infratil

We advised Infratil on its acquisition of a majority stake in diagnostic imaging provider Pacific Radiology Group. Read more here.

Pencarrow Private Equity

We advised Pencarrow Private Equity on its acquisition of The Interiors Group.

Insight Partners and Kabal

We advised Insight Partners and its portfolio company Kabal AS on the acquisition of Trackitportal.

Good Spirits Hospitality

We advised Good Spirits Hospitality (previously NZX listed) on its acquisition of Nourish Group. We also advised Good Spirits Hospitality on the debt and equity financing aspects of this transaction. Read more here.

Infratil and Brookfield

We advised Infratil and Brookfield on their acquisition of One NZ (formerly Vodafone New Zealand) for NZ$3.4b.

Vortex Leisure

We advised the shareholders of Vortex Leisure on its sale to Jacuzzi Brands. Read more here.

Kinetic

We advised Kinetic on its acquisition of Go-Bus. Read more here.

Auckland Council

We advised Auckland Council on a reorganisation with Eke Panuku Development Auckland, involving the acquisition of the Auckland waterfront assets and marina businesses (including Viaduct Harbour assets, the Westhaven Marina, Z Pier, Hobson Wharf and Panuku's interests in Queens Wharf).

DKSH

We advised DKSH on various acquisitions including specialty chemicals distributor Axieo, field marketing provider Crossmark, and the beverage business of Davies Foods.

CNZ Group

We advised New Zealand loss adjusting and claims management firm CNZ Group on the sale of all shares in CNZ Group to McLarens.

One NZ

We advised One NZ (formerly Vodafone New Zealand) on various transactions, including its acquisition of a majority shareholding in specialist cyber security and resilience business DEFEND (read more here) and its acquisition of Dense Air's New Zealand business.

Infratil

We advised Infratil on its initial takeover offer for Tilt Renewables, and subsequent sale of its majority shareholding in Tilt Renewables, which was undertaken by way of a NZ$3.24b scheme of arrangement.

Management buyout of Stuff

We acted for Stuff CEO, Sinead Boucher in connection with the management buyout of Stuff's national media business. Read more here.

Kingspan Group

We advised Kingspan Group, a building materials company based in Ireland, on its acquisition of Thermakraft. Read more here.

Bidder for Shell's upstream business in New Zealand

We advised a bidder for Shell's c.NZ$1b upstream oil and gas assets in New Zealand.

JVC KENWOOD Corporation

We acted for JVC KENWOOD Corporation in connection with its acquisition of a 40% stake in Tait International.

Newell Brands

We advised Newell Brands on its NZ$660m acquisition of Sistema.

Our team