Allens has advised a consortium of international institutional investors on its intention to combine wholly-owned Accolade Wines with Pernod Ricard's Australian, New Zealand and Spanish wine businesses.
The consortium - Australian Wine Holdco Limited (AWL) - comprises funds backed by Bain Capital Special Situations, ICG, Capital Four, Sona Asset Management and Samuel Terry Asset Management.
'We congratulate AWL and Accolade Wines on the announcement of the proposed amalgamation of Accolade Wines with Pernod Ricard's assets, which will create a more diversified portfolio of brands and a more efficient, resilient global wine business,' said co-lead Partner Charles Ashton.
'The combined business will have a foothold in every continent, balancing new- and old-world wine brands and streamlining global operations,' said co-lead Partner Jessica Mottau.
Accolade Wines' portfolio includes recognised brands such as Hardys, Grant Burge, Banrock Station, St Hallett and Petaluma. The Pernod Ricard assets which form part of the transaction include, among others, Jacob’s Creek, Orlando and St Hugo from Australia, Stoneleigh, Brancott Estate and Church Road from New Zealand and Campo Viejo, Ysios, Tarsus and Azpilicueta from Spain.
The transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals.
Allens worked alongside Latham and Watkins (UK and Spain) and Chapman Tripp (NZ).
Allens legal team
M&A and Capital Markets
Charles Ashton (co-lead Partner), Tom Story (Partner), Wendy Rae (Partner), Tom Hall (Managing Associate), Kimberley Lowrie (Managing Associate), Andrew Wong (Counsel), Katherine Silvers (Senior Associate), Patrick Daaboul (Associate), Michelle Li (Associate), Jason Bath (Associate), Kevin Fan (Associate)
Technology, Media & Telecommunications
Jessica Mottau (co-lead Partner), David Liao (Senior Overseas Practitioner), Aveline Orban (Senior Overseas Practitioner), Emiliana Gallego (Associate)
Restructuring & Insolvency
Matthew Whittle (Partner)
Banking & Finance
Warwick Newell (Partner), Sarah Delaney (Managing Associate)
Competition
Felicity McMahon (Partner), Molly Snaith (Managing Associate), Rosie Finlayson (Senior Associate)
Intellectual Property
Caroline Ryan (Partner), Tracy Lu (Partner), Paul Mersiades (Senior Associate), Matthew Wang (Associate), Caitlin Goutama (Lawyer)