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Banking & Finance

Navigating complex markets

Our Banking and Finance team are long-time trusted advisors to major banks, lenders, financial institutions, and other participants in the banking and finance sector, with considerable specialist knowledge and experience. We also act for global and regional private equity sponsors and a number of New Zealand's largest corporates who seek us out for our industry knowledge and expertise.

We are well known for our leadership in crafting complex, market-leading transactions for prominent financial institutions and corporations, and for our close relationships with the Financial Markets Authority, Reserve Bank of New Zealand, Treasury, and other industry bodies.

As the sector continues to develop and evolve, we also play an important role helping our clients navigate the challenges posed by increased regulation, technological disruption, and greater public scrutiny.

Expertise

Our team advises on all aspects of New Zealand law that apply to borrowers and lenders in the bank and mezzanine loan markets, the delivery of complex projects, the entry into and operation of derivative contracts, and the regulation and delivery of financial services.Our specific areas of expertise include:

Experience

Our experience includes advising:

  • ANZ on the sale of its asset finance business, UDC, to Japan's Shinsei Bank. We also advised UDC on the establishment of its landmark $2bn AAA rated auto and equipment finance-backed syndicated securitisation programme.
  • Summerset on a loan facility refinance for approximately $1.2 billion, incorporating a $700 million Sustainability Linked Loan component.
  • ANZ and NAB as joint Sustainability Coordinators for Kathmandu's A$300m debt facility refinancing, which included the establishment of a syndicated A$100 million sustainability linked loan facility.
  • The Provincial Development Unit of MBIE on 28 transactions financed out of the $3 billion Provincial Growth Fund.
  • A syndicate of lenders on the financial settlement in relation to the Transmission Gully public private partnership.
  • Advising on lending/borrowing transactions involving Argosy, Precinct, Goodman, Kiwi, Stride, Scentre Group and NZPFI in the listed property space.
  • Advising KiwiRail on its cross-border, long term financing of ROPAX ferries.

Rankings and awards

The Banking and Finance team is recognised as 'Band 1' in the Chambers and Partners Asia-Pacific 2024 guide, ranked in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024 guide, 'Tier 1' in IFLR and as 'Outstanding' in the 2020 Asialaw guide. 

Banking and Finance partners Guy Lethbridge, John Powell, Deemple Budhia, Tom Hunt and David Weavers are ranked in Chambers and Partners' 2024 Asia Pacific guide. Guy Lethbridge, John Powell and David Weavers are ranked in IFLR100, and Guy Lethbridge, John Powell, Deemple Budhia and David Weavers are also ranked in The Legal 500 2024Asia Pacific guide.