Our Work

2008

Woolworths' takeover of the Warehouse
Bell Gully continues to provide tax advice to Woolworths on its potential acquisition of The Warehouse Limited.

Origin's development of Kupe gas field
Bell Gully advises Origin Energy Resource (Kupe) Limited, operator of the Kupe oil and gas development, on many aspects of the development including infrastructure, construction and operational contracts involving joint venture parties.

2007

Ironbridge takeover of CanWest Mediaworks
We provided Ironbridge Capital, a leading independent Australasian private equity group, tax due diligence and structuring advice on its successful takeover of CanWest MediaWorks (NZ).

CPPIB takeover offer for Auckland International Airport
Bell Gully provided tax advice to Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) on its proposed partial takeover offer for, and amalgamation with, Auckland International Airport Limited.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia
Bell Gully advised the Commonwealth Bank of Australia on the structuring, negotiation and implementation of New Zealand cross-border leasing transactions.

Auckland Regional Council
We advised Auckland Regional Council on the acquisition of substantial harbourside land from Ports of Auckland for recreational, commercial and residential use. The transaction involved the resolution of complex issues between taxpayers and non-taxpayers in the proposed ownership group.

Carter Holt Harvey forestry business sale
We advised Carter Holt Harvey, a New Zealand-based forest products company and also New Zealand's largest forest owner, on the tax and GST aspects of the sale of its forestry business to US-based forestry manager Hancock Natural Resource Group Inc. for in excess of NZ$1.5 billion.

2006

Origin Energy
We advised Origin on the tax and GST implications of its Kupe gas extraction, processing and reticulation.

2005

Independent Newspapers Limited's (INL) merger with SKY Network Television Limited
Bell Gully advised SKY Network Television Limited on the taxation aspects of the NZ$3.27 billion merger transaction. This was a large and complex transaction which involved a novel structure for a merger of two listed companies in a tax efficient way. The transaction was named New Zealand Deal of the Year at the ALB Australasian Legal Awards 2006.

Cross border lease
Bell Gully advised on the income tax and GST aspects of the NZ$200 million cross border lease by a New Zealand financial institution of infrastructure assets. This was a large transaction with complexities associated with the nature of the assets and transaction.

Carter Holt Harvey forest estate sale
Bell Gully advised on the tax and GST aspects of the NZ$441 million sale of one third of the Carter Holt Harvey forest estate to a consortium. This was a large transaction with complexities associated with the divisionalised structure of the Carter Holt Harvey business.

United Group Limited's acquisition of ALSTOM's transport business in New Zealand
Bell Gully provided United Group with advice on the New Zealand tax and GST aspects of the Australian firm's NZ$288 million acquisition of ALSTOM's business in New Zealand.

Woolworths (Australia) Limited acquisition of Foodland Associated Limited's New Zealand supermarket business
Bell Gully advised on the tax aspects of this NZ$2.43 billion transaction which involved the pre-sale demerger of Foodland Associated Limited in Australia and New Zealand and the sale and post-completion structuring of the business.