No matter the size of a client, Bell Gully aims to build a strong relationship that enables deals and transactions to progress as smoothly as possible.
As a result of our successes over the years, we've built a formidable client list that continues to grow. It includes iconic New Zealand companies such as Air New Zealand, ANZ, ASB, Fletcher Building, Ngāi Tahu, Vodafone, Xero, public sector bodies, the New Zealand Treasury, the Ministry of Education and Vector Gas. We are very proud of our clients and the contribution we have been able to make to their success.
We're equally as proud working with emerging and innovative companies, helping them grow their businesses and New Zealand's economic future.
Our summer clerks get the opportunity to attend client meetings and become involved in transactions. This gives them a unique insight into what's involved in deals of all sizes and scopes.
Some examples of work we've done recently:
Contact Energy on Rockgas sale
Bell Gully advised Contact Energy (Contact) on the sale of its LPG business, Rockgas, to Gas Services NZ Midco (GSNZ) for NZ$260 million. Rockgas is New Zealand's largest LPG retailer – holding a market share of approximately 41%. The business serves close to 90,000 customers across six branches, three satellite branches and a network of 27 franchises.
Centrality's token generating event
Bell Gully advised blockchain technology company Centrality on its token generating event which raised the ethereum equivalent of US$80 million in just six minutes. This was New Zealand's first Initial Coin Offering (ICO) and the world's first Token Generating Event (TGE).
AIA's acquisition of the Sovereign life insurance businesses
Advised AIA on the acquisition of the Sovereign life insurance businesses as part of AIA’s acquisition of CBA’s Australian and New Zealand life insurance businesses for A$3.8 billion.
Ross Asset Management (in liquidation)
Acted for PwC as receivers and then liquidators of the Ross Asset group of companies, New Zealand's largest Ponzi scheme. The most significant aspect of this case in recent times has been successfully leading a test case against a former investor in order to claw back fictitious profits paid to him. Litigation against a number of former investors is now expected to follow.
Class actions
While still a relatively new development in the New Zealand legal market, Bell Gully is at the forefront of class action matters. We acted for the defendant directors of Feltex Carpets in the first securities class action to have gone to trial in both New Zealand and Australia. We are also acting in two other significant class actions currently before the courts including the claim against Southern Response Earthquake Services brought by earthquake affected Canterbury homeowners.
