Zac is a partner in Bell Gully's market-leading financial services team. He advises on domestic and international banking and capital markets transactions including structured, acquisition, infrastructure, project, corporate and leveraged financings and on the regulation of financial products, services and markets in New Zealand.
Zac is a specialist banking and finance lawyer, experienced in advising on a broad range of banking, debt capital markets and derivatives transactions and financial services regulation.
Zac returned to Bell Gully in early 2021, following stints at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP in New York and Allens Linklaters in Sydney (with a secondment to Linklaters London). During his time at Allens, he advised on a number of high-profile infrastructure acquisitions including advising Global Infrastructure Partners on its acquisition of a minority stake from Shell in the Queensland Curtis LNG Common Facilities for AU$3.3bn and First State Super (now Aware Super) on the financing for its AU$2.86bn acquisition of a concession to operate the Victorian Land Registry Service.
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024 recommends Zac for banking and finance in New Zealand. In a previous edition, clients have said "Zac Kedgley-Foot has provided high quality support as we’ve worked through structuring issues on our debt facilities, providing commercial & sound advice to achieve successful outcomes and ensuring things are turned around as efficiently as possible."
The IFLR1000 2023 ranks Zac as a 'Rising star partner' for banking and finance work.
In 2023 and 2024, the New Zealand Law Awards shortlisted Zac in their "Young Private Practice Lawyer of the Year" category.
In 2016, Zac graduated from the New York University School of Law with a Master of Laws. He was a Dean's Graduate Award Scholar as well as an International Finance and Development Fellow.
Work highlights
First Gas / Igneo Infrastructure Partners
Advising First Gas and Igneo Infrastructure Partners on the financing of the NZ$260 million acquisition by First Gas of Eastland Network Limited, the electricity lines company for Tairāwhiti and Wairoa.
Igneo Infrastructure Partners
Advised Igneo Infrastructure Partners on the hedging aspects (including deal contingent hedging) of its NZ$1.9 billion acquisition of Waste Management NZ and on the hedging aspects of its refinancing of the corporate facilities for Tuatahi First Fibre.
Crown Infrastructure Partners
Advised Crown Infrastructure Partners on the second landmark transaction under the IFF Act providing funding to the Wellington City Council for the construction of a sludge minimisation facility at Moa Point.
Wellington Electricity
Advised Wellington Electricity (owned by CKI) on the refinancing of its corporate facilities and its USPP issuance.
King Country Energy
Advised King Country Energy on the refinancing of its corporate facilities.
Horizon Energy Distribution
Advised Horizon Energy Distribution on the refinancing of its corporate facilities.
FountainVest
Advised FountainVest on the New Zealand aspects of the acquisition financing provided in respect of its acquisition of Ziwi, the New Zealand-based ultra-premium pet food manufacturer and global exporter.
Investore
Advised Investor on its issuance of NZ$125 million 5-year senior, secured fixed rate bonds.
IBRD Kauri bond programme
Acted as New Zealand counsel to the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development (part of the World Bank), on various NZ$ Kauri bond issuances into the New Zealand market, including a NZ$950 million issuance of a ‘Sustainable Development Bond’. The proceeds will be used supports sustainable development projects and programs in World Bank member countries.
Asian Development Bank (ADB) Kauri bond programme
Acted for ADB on their Kauri programme and numerous issuances under it, including on New Zealand’s first ‘gender bond’ under its NZ$5 billion Domestic MTN Programme. The proceeds for this 10 year, NZ$375 million Kauri issuance will be used to finance a pool of eligible projects that promote gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Metlifecare sustainability-linked swap
Advised Metlifecare on its ‘sustainability-linked’ interest rate swaps with Bank of New Zealand and ANZ. The swap with Bank of New Zealand was the first sustainability-linked derivative entered into in the New Zealand market.
Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners
Advised Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners in connection with the €730 million holdco financing underwritten by Goldman Sachs in connection with its €2.3 billion acquisition of a minority stake in Altice International's Portuguese fibre to the home network.
First State Investments
Advised First State Investments in connection with the €455 million holdco financing underwritten by Santander in connection with its acquisition of a minority stake in MVV Energie AG from EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG and RheinEnergie AG.
Goldman Sachs
Advised Goldman Sachs as underwriter and arranger of an AU$250 million institutional term loan facility provided to the Port of Darwin.
Lenders for Kwinana Waste to Energy Facility
Advised Lenders in connection with the AU$400 million project financing of the Kwinana Waste to Energy Facility (awarded Project Finance International Clean Energy Deal of the Year in 2018 and the first utility scale waste-to-energy facility in Australia).
