M&A experts act as Australian company makes $118m move in New Zealand

Dealmakers from Bell Gully have played a key role as an ASX-listed company has made a major move in New Zealand.

The top-tier firm advised GWA Group in its successful $118m acquisition of NZX-listed Methven. Partner James Cooney headed the firm’s team, which also included partner Amon Nunns, and solicitors Ruairí O'Donovan and Louisa Craig.

With the acquisition, Bell Gully has now acted on three of the four scheme-of-arrangement deals for NZX Main Board targets since 2014, when the schemes law in New Zealand was changed.

Richard Thornton, GWA executive director, said that Bell Gully “played an important part in ensuring a successful transaction through their hard work, quality advice, and responsiveness.

GWA’s financial adviser was Macquarie. Australian law aspects of the transaction were managed by Clayton Utz.

The deal comes after Bell Gully confirmed its role in a $220m deal for Auckland car parks.