Fitzroy Project – A$1.2 billion
Firm: Thomsons Lawyers
Lead Lawyers: Andrew Kelly, Michael Marshall
Client: The Mitchell Group
• This coal terminal project involves a combination of existing and new rail networks, an overland conveyor system, modern covered barges and purpose built transhippers to provide an innovative solution and vital coal export capacity to mine operators in Central Queensland
• Thomsons Lawyers partner Kelly has worked with the Mitchell Group for many years and was instrumental in introducing the Thomsons team to the project facilitators
• Special counsel Kathie Sadler, who has recently returned from over three years working on the Oakajee Port and Rail Project in Western Australia, is the key project lawyer working with the Mitchell Group
Tintenbar to Ewingsdale highway upgrade – A$530 million
Firm: Minter Ellison
Lead Lawyers: Nicole Green, Garth Jolly, Penny Murray, Virginia Briggs
Client: Roads and Maritime Services (formerly the Roads and Traffic Authority or RTA)
• Roads and Maritime Services has awarded the contract for the design and construction of the Pacific Highway Upgrade between Tintenbar and Ewingsdale, north of Ballina NSW, to Baulderstone Pty Ltd
• Minter Ellison also advised on various rail agreements with Transport for NSW
• Minter Ellison has had a long association with Roads and Maritime Services. The firm advised on its current pro-forma design and construct project deed for projects in excess of A$100 million, and on the Sapphire to Woolgoolga upgrade of the Pacific Highway
Trade ME IPO – A$420 million
Firm: Freehills
Lead Lawyer: Rebecca Maslen-Stannage
Client: Fairfax Media Limited and Trade Me Group Limited
Firm: Russell McVeagh
Lead Lawyer: Pip Greenwood
Client: Fairfax Media Limited and Trade Me Group Limited
• Trade Me – listing on the NZSX and the ASX - is New Zealand's main provider of online auctions, motor classifieds and property classifieds, and is the country's second largest participant in online employment classifieds. Trade Me also has online businesses in accommodation, dating, and group buying
• Trade Me Group will offer to issue 134.6 million shares to new investors at a fixed Offer Price of NZ$2.70 per share. Following the completion of the Offer, Fairfax Media will have a shareholding of approximately 66 percent in Trade Me
• Freehills has acted on a number of recent capital raisings, including Goodman Fielder on its A$259 million capital raising; Collins Food IPO; Bandanna Energy’s on its A$133 million capital raising; and Aston Resources on the largest IPO completed in 2010
• Russell McVeagh has acted on recent transactions including the demerger of Telecom,the sale of Tegel by Australian based Pacific Equity Partners and on the capital restructure of Fonterra, New Zealand's largest company
Beach Energy takeover of Adelaide Energy – A$94 million
Firm: Johnson Winter & Slattery
Client: Adelaide Energy
Firm: Piper Alderman
Lead Lawyer: Robert Postema
Client: Beach Energy
• This hostile bid was announced three days before Beach Energy took control. Beach Energy already owned 19.5 percent of Adelaide Energy’s shares, and has offered $0.20 per share, which will stand until 22 December 2011
• Johnson Winter & Slattery has also advised Envestra on a A$80m acquisition facility to acquire the Country Energy distribution network
• Piper Alderman has acted for Beach Energy in various transactions for over twenty years. The firm also acted for Beach in their takeover of Impress Energy earlier this year
Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited capital raising – A$22 million (approx)
Firm: DLA Piper
Lead Lawyer: Mark Burger
Client: Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited
• Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited is a developer of high efficiency and low emission electricity generation products. The company is conducting a one for four non-renounceable rights issue to raise up to A$21,756,245
• Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited is also concurrently raising capital by issuing new ordinary shares to an investor based in the UK to raise approximately A$0.9 million and placing new ordinary shares to sophisticated investors to raise approximately A$5 million, as well as offering existing shareholders (outside Australia or New Zealand) new ordinary shares to raise up to A$3.3 million
• DLA Piper partner Burger has advised Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited on its various Australian and European capital raisings since its IPO
Sofitel So Singapore – Undisclosed
Firm: Accor
Lead Lawyers: In-house counsel
Client: Accor (self represented)
Firm: Ryan Lawyers
Lead Lawyer: Tony Ryan, Michael Simpson
Client: Royal Group Holdings
• This deal Involved the refurbishment of an historic building and highlights Sofitel’s recent brand entry into the rapidly growing and popular luxury lifestyle market segment
• Accor used their in-house counsel for legal representation on this matter
• Recently, Ryan lawyers has provided advice to Royal Group Holdings in relation to a range of potential transactions across the Asia Pacific region