"Harmos Horton Lusk (HHL) is 'giving the big firms some serious competition on large commercial transactions," says a client. This idea that the firm is punching above its weight and competing with larger firms was galvanised when the firm brought in Paul Oldfield from Russell McVeagh this year to enhance its M&A team....
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"Harmos Horton Lusk (HHL) is 'giving the big firms some serious competition on large commercial transactions," says a client. This idea that the firm is punching above its weight and competing with larger firms was galvanised when the firm brought in Paul Oldfield from Russell McVeagh this year to enhance its M&A team.
"Boutique law firm they may be but their quality of work is by no means less than the traditional New Zealand powerhouses," comments a client.
The team advised Southern Cross Building Society in respect to its participation in a three-way merger with Marac (a subsidiary of New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZSX) listed PGC) and CBS to create Building Society Holdings. The merged vehicle, which had establishment assets of NZ$2.2 billion ($1.8 billion), is hoped to become New Zealand's only locally domiciled and NZSX primary listed registered bank.
Another highlight for the team was acting for the Fidelity Family Trust, as majority shareholder in Fidelity Life, in respect of the successful defence of an unsolicited NZ$118 million proposed takeover offer by Tower.
A rival partner observes that HHL have four partners handling all the M&A work: Greg Horton "negotiates the optimal outcome", Andrew Harmos is considered a "legal statesman" and John Lusk and new recruit Paul Oldfield are the "behind the scenes opinion and knowledge providers".
To cap off a strong year, the team advised Maui Capital, manager of Maui Capital Indigo Fund, on the establishment of PagePack LP and on PagePack's acquisitions of New Zealand based BJ Ball Group and Australia based Focus Paper Group.
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