Chris Hodges

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Chris has extensive experience advising on a broad range of corporate transactions, with a particular focus on mergers and acquisitions and capital markets.

Chris advises clients across a wide range of industries on corporate transactions including mergers and acquisitions and capital markets. Chris takes a pragmatic and client focussed approach to his work, drawing on his breadth of experience in New Zealand as well as his years spent working overseas.

Chris has considerable experience working with both corporate clients and many of the world's largest financial institutions.

His recent work highlights include advising Bentley Systems on its US$1.05 billion acquisition of Seequent, advising Tricor on its agreement to acquire the corporate trusts services business of Complectus (including New Zealand Guardian Trust), advising Mataura Valley Milk on the sale of 75% of its interests to The a2 Milk Company for $268.5 million and advising Napier Port on its $234 million IPO.

Chris returned to Bell Gully in 2017 after spending four years working in the London office of leading US law firm Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP.

The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2023 recommends Chris in corporate and M&A.

Work highlights

Tricor acquisition of New Zealand Guardian Trust
Advising Tricor, the leading business expansion specialist in Asia, on the proposed acquisition of Complectus' corporate trusts services business (including The New Zealand Guardian Trust Company Limited and Covenant Trustee Services Limited).

Mataura Valley Milk on its investment by The a2 Milk Company
Advised Mataura Valley Milk on its NZ$268.5 million investment by The a2 Milk Company.

Bentley Systems acquisition of Seequent
Advised Bentley Systems, Incorporated, the leading NASDAQ-listed infrastructure engineering software company, on the acquisition of Seequent, a world leader in developing 3D geological modelling software, headquartered in Christchurch, for US$1.05 billion.

Initial public offering and NZX Main Board listing of Napier Port Holdings Limited
Acting for Hawke's Bay Regional Council, Hawke's Bay Regional Investment Company Limited, Port of Napier Limited and Napier Port Holdings Limited in connection with the $234 million initial public offering and NZX Main Board listing of Napier Port Holdings Limited.

Genesis Energy investment in Ecotricity
Advising Genesis Energy on its investment in Ecotricity, a carbonzero certified electricity provider.

Mitsui investments in Hiringa Energy and Green Hydrogen Refuelling
Advising Mitsui & Co. (Asia Pacific) on its strategic alliance with, and investment in, Hiringa Energy and its investment in Hiringa Refuelling New Zealand to develop a network of green hydrogen refuelling stations in New Zealand.

Tauhara North No.2 Trust acquisitions of Tamaki Tours and Rapidsjet
Advised Tauhara North No.2 Trust on its acquisitions of Tamaki Tours and Rapidsjet.

Orion Health sale of Rhapsody business to Hg
Advised Orion Health on the sale of its Rhapsody business to Hg.

Sell down in Cavalier Wool Holdings
Advised certain shareholders in relation to the sale of their interests in Cavalier Wool Holdings.

Sale of Noel Leeming Group
Advised Gresham Private Equity on the sale of the Noel Leeming Group to the Warehouse Group.

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Work highlights

Insights by Chris