The investment helped facilitate the pickup of five new portfolio companies
Gilbert + Tobin and Allens have provided guidance in relation to alternative asset manager Blackstone’s $300m structured investment into energy transition infrastructure services platform Symphony Infrastructure Partners.
The infusion of capital has helped to facilitate the acquisition of five new portfolio companies. In addition to Blackstone’s $300m, the Series A financing also includes a $188m senior debt facility from the CBA.
“Forward-thinking leadership, private capital, and traditional bank capital all have pivotal roles to play in supporting Australia's energy transition. This transaction between Symphony, Blackstone, and CBA embodies those powerful synergies”, Allens co-lead partner Tim Stewart (banking and finance) said.
G+T co-lead partner Rachael Bassil added that Symphony was “set to play a crucial role in Australia's energy transition and this partnership will drive impactful change in the sector”.
Bassil took point on the firm’s team with fellow corporate advisory partner Elizabeth Cameron and banking partner Stu Cormack.
Aside from Stewart, the Allens team included the following:
Corporate
- Adrian Amer (co-lead partner)
- Madeleine Hunt (managing associate)
- Will Brown (senior associate)
- Rachael Short (associate)
- Gilad Harel (associate)
- Tim Walsh (associate)
- Annie Reddick (lawyer)
Banking and finance
- Flavia Michael (senior associate)
- Steven Faulkner (senior associate)
- Angela Lambros (associate)
- Campbell Halliday (associate)
- Catherine Thomas (lawyer)
- Yukimaro Li (lawyer)
Funds, super and financial services
- Marc Kemp (partner)
- Wayne Kwok (associate)
- Lara Duggan (lawyer)
- Caitlin Douglas (law graduate)
FIRB
- Jeremy Low (partner)
- Andrew Wong (M&A counsel)
“It has been a privilege to work with Symphony's founder and CEO, Steve Butler, together with Nathan Gooley (CFO), Damien Hughes (general counsel), Louise Sexton (governance and company secretarial), and the broader Symphony and Lazard Australia teams on this important transaction, utilising an innovative debt and equity structure for the mutual benefit of all”, Amer said.
Lazard Australia acted as financial advisor to Symphony. A team from Kain Lawyers advised Symphony on the financing and portfolio company acquisitions.
