News
M&A tables place Bell Gully top in New Zealand again
Bell Gully is again the leading New Zealand law firm advising on mergers and acquisitions, according to Thomson Financial figures for 2007.
Thomson Financial's annual round-up of M&A activity measures annual activity and deal value, as well as the leading advisers, ranking Australasia's top 25 law firms.
Bell Gully is the only New Zealand firm ranked among the 25 leading M&A advisers in 2007, retaining its position as the New Zealand leader for the fifth consecutive year.
Thomson Financial reports a decline in New Zealand M&A volume in 2007 of 23.4%, down on the previous year to NZ$14.3 billion (US$11.4 billion) in announced deals. The materials sector accounted for almost 40% of the market activity, including Rank Group's US$2.7 billion acquisition of Alcoa's packaging and consumer business.
In Australia, M&A volume doubled in 2007, a surge largely attributed to the announcement of the second largest largest M&A deal of all time, BHP Billiton's US$192.8 billion offer for Rio Tinto.
Thomson Financial noted Bell Gully's work advising on 66 announced deals in the Australasian market. Among the most significant transactions the firm advised on are:
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Fletcher Building's acquisition of US-based Formica Inc;
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Canada Pension Plan Investment Board's proposed takeover of Auckland International Airport Limited; and
- Ironbridge Capital's takeover of CanWest MediaWorks (NZ).
