Graeme Quigley

Graeme’s recent projects as lead legal advisor have included the following:

• Fonterra Co-operative Group on its Capital Structure Project. Since its commencement in April 2020, Graeme has led a team of advisers to Fonterra on this high profile and nationally significant project. The resulting structure was strongly endorsed by Fonterra shareholders in December 2021, with a 85% majority shareholder vote. Graeme continues to assist Fonterra with implementation work on this project.
• Indevin Group on its acquisition of Villa Maria Estates.   This complex acquisition (from receivers appointed in respect of Villa Maria’s parent company) was successfully completed in a tight timeframe in September 2021.  The team then assisted Indevin with the acquisition of a 75% interest in Thornhill Horticultural Contracting.
• Macquarie Asset Management on its $200 million cornerstone investment in Winton Land as part of Winton’s $1.15 billion IPO and listing in December 2021.
• Tomlinson Group on the sale of Argenta Limited to US private equity firm KKR.
• Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation on Fidelity Life Assurance’s acquisition of Westpac Life (NZD$400m) and associated equity funding arrangements. (NZ Super co-funded the acquisition with Ngai Tahu Holdings and other investors).
• Mercury Capital (and co-investors) on the acquisition of Recreational Services Limited, one of New Zealand’s largest parks, grounds and facility maintenance businesses.
• A multinational PE client on its attempted acquisition of Education Perfect, an online learning business headquartered in NZ with global operations (ultimately sold to KKR for >$400m.
• A major shareholder in relation to the disposal of Allpress International to Asahi Beverages.
• Genesis Energy on its strategic review of its 46% interest in the Kupe Oil and Gas Field.
• Quadrant Private Equity and Five V Capital on the New Zealand aspects of their disposal of Probe CX to KKR.
• Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation in relation to their joint venture with CDPQ to bid for the Auckland passenger light rail project.
• Fonterra Co-operative Group on the unwind of its investment in, and relationship with, PRC-listed Beingmate Baby & Child Food Co.
• Complex (and successful) capital raising projects for a NZ headquartered, ASX listed, technology company.
• A major financial institution on a proposed (and subsequently implemented) corporate governance review in the wake of the APRA review and the Hayne Commission.

A selection of older matters that Graeme handled (prior to joining Webb Henderson) includes:

• Macquarie Group on multiple acquisitions and subsequent divestments in the aged care sector, including Eldercare, Qualcare, and others;
• Genesis Energy on its 2016 acquisition (from NZOG) of an additional 15% interest in the Kupe field ($168m);
• Fonterra’s 2015 joint venture with Abbott Laboratories ($342m);
• Primavera Capital’s acquisition (via scheme) of Vitaco Health Group;
• Genesis Energy on its $735m IPO;
• Guardians of NZ Superannuation on their exits (via IPO) from Scales Corporation and from Z Energy;
• Aveo Group on its underwritten block trade of its residual stake in MetlifeCare ($270m);
• Fonterra Co-operative Group on it’s 2012 capital restructure, under which TAF (Trading Among Farmers) was launched; Fonterra shares were listed on the Fonterra Shareholders’ Market; and the Fonterra Shareholders’ Fund was formed and listed on the NZX.