DLA Piper acts as Australian investment house adds diverse assets

DLA Piper advised Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company (WHSP) on its latest additions to its portfolio.

The diversified investment house, Australia’s second-oldest listed company, acquired equity interests in unit trusts managed by private investment company Argyle Capital Partners.

Although financial details of the deal were not disclosed, Argyle has $900m in assets under management, according to DLA Piper. The acquisition adds a significant portfolio of agricultural and water assets to the company, said lead partner Emma Kendall. The firm advised WHSP and its Pitt Capital Partners team, she said.

“The Pitt Capital and Argyle partnership holds great potential for WHSP to access this traditionally tightly-held asset class,” Kendall said.

Kendall jointly headed the DLA Piper with corporate partner David Ryan, as well as finance and projects partners Onno Bakker and Rhys Davies.

Also included in the team were senior associates Matthew Parkinson, Elliott Cheung, and Kenny Mui. Solicitors Amina Karcic and Lily Bleach and foreign legal associates Katalin Legradi, Jonathan Higgs and Ditte Lundberg also supported in the transaction.