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Herbert Smith Freehills has solidified its position as a leading loans legal advisor by topping Debtwire’s 2019 Loans League Tables for Borrowers’ Legal Counsel for the first half of 2019.
The firm ranked first for deal count, volume and market share in Asia Pacific (ex-Japan) and Australia.
Debtwire is a market provider of data and analysis on global leveraged finance, distressed debt, credit and direct lending. Its league tables recognise the region’s best loans legal advisor.
Herbert Smith Freehills’ Australian Head of Finance Andrew Booth said 2019 had so far been a strong year for Asia Pacific and Australian finance deals, with substantial activity across a variety of different sectors including financial services, healthcare, energy & resources, real estate and infrastructure.
“Our finance group is one of the leading lender and borrower-focused teams in the region, with a strong practice across Asia Pacific,” Mr Booth said.
“We appreciate that our corporate borrower clients continue to trust us in their important transactions.”
“In addition to our team‘s market-leading expertise on Asia Pacific finance matters, the Australian practice is a strategically important hub for the firm’s global finance practice, supporting cross-border matters executed by the broader Herbert Smith Freehills team.”
“We consistently work on the largest and most complex matters, and we are the firm of choice for clients seeking reliable advice and support on their strategic and significant finance matters.”
Herbert Smith Freehills advised clients on a range of complex, large scale and diverse transactions in the first half of 2019, including advising:
- IntelliHUB Australia Pty Ltd on their acquisition financing of Metrix Limited from Mercury NZ Ltd in New Zealand, significantly expanding its meter footprint and capability to roll out innovative smart metering solutions in Australia and New Zealand.
- Momentum Trains Consortium (Pacific Partnerships, DIF and CAF Investment Projects) on all aspects of the project financing of the Regional Rail Project, which was awarded by Transport for NSW to the Momentum Trains Consortium and entailed project financing, designing, building and maintaining the new regional rail fleet and a new purpose-built fleet maintenance facility in Dubbo, New South Wales.
- Malakoff Corporation Berhad in the refinancing of its A$140million corporate facility from sole mandated lead arranger and bookrunner, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation.
- PowerChina and Goldwind on the project financing of the Cattle Hill Wind Farm, located on the eastern shore of Lake Echo in central Tasmania. This was PowerChina’s inaugural investment in the Australian market.
- Total Eren on the project financing of Stage 1 of the Kiamal Solar Farm, located in Ouyen, approximately 100km south of Mildura, Victoria and with a generation capacity of 200MWac. Once completed, Stage 1 of the Kiamal Solar Farm will be the largest solar farm in Victoria.
