James Cooney

• Fletcher Building on its NZ$750 million fully underwritten accelerated renounceable entitlement offer. This transaction was the largest secondary capital raising ever undertaken in New Zealand.
• Nuplex Industries on its acquisition by Allnex by way of scheme of arrangement. The billion-dollar transaction was the largest completed takeover involving a New Zealand target company in a decade and was the first large takeover to be implemented by way of scheme of arrangement under the new regime for schemes, which came into force in 2014. This transaction won the New Zealand Deal of the Year, as well as M&A Deal of the Year, at the 2017 New Zealand Law Awards.

James has particular expertise in takeovers law and strategy (including e​xtensive schemes experience), and is one of New Zealand's leading takeovers lawyers. He has acted on nearly half of the major takeovers in the New Zealand market over the last decade. He brings an international perspective to his takeover practice, having worked on a number of significant takeovers during his four years at Slaughter and May in London. His understanding of Australian and UK takeovers law and practice is particularly valued by international clients.

In addition to his transactional work, James regularly provides listing rule and corporate governance advice to a number of listed companies. He is a member of the executive of the Listed Companies Association. He was also a member of the regulatory working group of Capital Markets 2029 (the NZX and FMA initiated industry-led review of New Zealand's capital markets).

Chambers Asia Pacific 2021 ranks James as a leading corporate lawyer, noting that he is well regarded for his work advising clients in relation to both international and domestic M&A transactions, operating in a number of sectors including healthcare and natural resources. In previous editions, he is described by clients as a "real star", "excellent", and a "sharp operator" who "will always go that extra mile".

The IFLR1000 2022 recognises James as highly regarded for his corporate and M&A work.​ ​James is also recommended for corporate and M&A by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2021, with client feedback stating that he “provides insightful and commercial advice" and is “highly recommended".​

New Zealand Oil & Gas takeover
Acted for Eyal Ofer's O.G. Oil & Gas (Singapore) Pte. Limited on its successful contested partial takeover in respect of New Zealand Oil & Gas.

Nuplex takeover
Advised Nuplex Industries on its acquisition by Allnex by way of scheme of arrangement. The billion-dollar transaction is the largest completed takeover involving a New Zealand target company in a decade and was the first large takeover to be implemented by way of scheme of arrangement under the new regime for schemes, which came into force in 2014. This transaction won the New Zealand Deal of the Year, as well as M&A Deal of the Year, at the 2017 New Zealand Law Awards.

Private M&A

Acquisition of Healthscope's New Zealand pathology business
Advised Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board on the regulatory aspects of, and the shareholder arrangements for, its acquisition, with NZ Super Fund, of New Zealand's largest provider of pathology services, Asia Pacific Healthcare Group, for approximately NZ$550 million. Both OTPP and NZ Super Fund took at a 50% stake.

Nippon Paper acquisition of Orora's fibre business
Advised Nippon Paper, as part of an integrated team with Herbert Smith Freehills, on its acquisition of Orora's Fibre business in Australia and NZ for A$1.7 billion.

Sale of Hellers
Advised New Zealand private equity firm Rangatira on the sale of the iconic New Zealand company Hellers to Adamantem Capital.

Capital Markets

Fletcher Building on-market share buyback programme
Advising Fletcher Building on its on-market share buyback of Fletcher Building shares, for a maximum aggregate purchase price of NZ$300 million, announced in May 2021 and which commenced in June 2021.

Fletcher Building NZ$750 million rights issue
Advised Fletcher Building on its NZ$750 million fully underwritten accelerated renounceable entitlement offer. This transaction was the largest secondary capital raising ever undertaken in New Zealand.

Sale of Mitsu's interest in Synlait Milk
Advised Mitsui on the sale of substantially all of its interest Synlait Milk to The a2 Milk Company for NZ$162 million.

Millennium & Copthorne capital reduction and distribution in specie
Acted for Millennium & Copthorne Hotels New Zealand on its capital reduction and distribution in specie of approximately NZ$240 million worth of shares in First Sponsor Group by way of a Court approved scheme of arrangement. This deal won the Capital Markets Deal of the Year and the International Deal of the Year at the 2015 New Zealand Law Awards.