Mark advises on a full range of corporate matters, with a focus on capital markets transactions, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and listed company takeovers.

He has advised on a number of initial public offerings of listed equity securities and public offers of listed debt securities and acted for underwriters of public and private security offerings and placements.

In addition, he has advised on numerous major public and private M&A transactions (including advising offerors and target companies on takeover offers made under the Takeovers Code) and joint venture arrangements.

In 2008 Mark was appointed to NZX Discipline (now known as the NZ Markets Disciplinary Tribunal), the body which adjudicates on breaches of NZX listing and participant rules.

Chambers Asia Pacific 2013 names Mark as a leading lawyer. Previous editions note that he "has extensive experience on both debt and equity capital markets" and is singled out by sources as "a great securities lawyer." Mark is also commended for "his expertise in capital markets and M&A" and he is described as a "key player in the commercial department, noted for his presence in capital markets."

Qualifications

LLB(Hons), Victoria University of Wellington

Admitted

1983 New Zealand

Publications

Contact

Email: Mark Freeman

DDI: +64 4 915 6963

Mobile: +64 21 632 917

Download Vcard: Vcard for Mark Freeman

Areas of Expertise

Work Highlights

Acquisition of Gareth Morgan Investments
Advised Kiwibank on the acquisition of the Gareth Morgan Investments funds management business.

Sale of Masterpet Corporation
Advised on the NZ$105 million sale of Masterpet Corporation to NZX-listed EBOS Group.

Mixed Ownership Model
Advising The Treasury on the initial public offering of shares in Mighty River Power.

Corporatisation of AMP NZ Office Trust
Advised AMP Haumi Management Limited on the new management arrangements for AMP NZ Office Limited in connection with the corporatisation of AMP NZ Office Trust and advised AMP Capital Investors (New Zealand) Limited on the new shareholders agreement with Haumi Development Auckland Limited in respect of AMP Haumi Management Limited and the new pre-emptive rights arrangements with Haumi Company Limited in respect of shares in AMP NZ Office Limited.

Sale of 50% of Summerset Group Holdings Limited and Summerset Management Company Limited
Advised three of AMP Capital Investors’ Australian managed funds on the sale of 50% of retirement village owner and operator, Summerset, to Quadrant (an Australian private equity firm). Also advised AMP Capital Investors (New Zealand) Limited on the sale of 50% of Summerset Management Company Limited (a joint venture company which manages Summerset) to Quadrant. In addition to advising on the agreements for sale and purchase, advised on the shareholders agreements entered in respect of Summerset and Summerset Management Company Limited. Also advised on the subsequent sale of the balance of AMP’s interest in Summerset and Summerset’s manager to Quadrant.

AMP Capital Investors purchase and sale of units in AMP NZ Office Trust
Advised AMP Capital Investors (New Zealand) Limited on the purchase of 50% of the manager of AMP NZ Office Trust and units in AMP NZ Office Trust, and the subsequent sale of 50% of the manager and the sale of 19.9% of the units in AMP NZ Office Trust to Haumi (NZ) Limited Partnership and Haumi Development Limited Partnership, respectively.

AMP Capital Investors
Advised on the sale of a 50% shareholding in the manager of AMP NZ Office Trust, the acquisition of Auckland Car Parking Holdings Limited, the licensee of the Auckland Hospital car park and the sale of the management agreement for Property for Industry Limited, a NZX-listed company.

SKYCITY
Advised SKYCITY on its acquisition of a 40% interest in Christchurch Casino Limited and its takeover of SKYCITY Leisure Limited.