Managing a foreign-owned company presents a unique set of demands and obligations. We know because we act for more than 90 of them across a broad range of industries. Our multinationals client list includes automotive component + aircraft engine manufacturers, retail brands, mining services operators, and IT, electronics + home appliance distributors.
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National Head, MultinationalsAdrian Fong | Principal
02 8298 9508
Experience
International reach
Our team has acted on a vast majority of matters based overseas. These include acting for an Australian subsidiary on one of the largest global suppliers of SAP consultancy services based in Singapore and the UK; acting for a New York based finance company to establish an Australian subsidiary seeking acquisitions; advising on a $200m facility with a German bank as fund capital for its Australian operations; helping a listed Australian mining services company acquire an internationally owned screening company; and advising on a joint venture agreement between two international drilling companies.
Getting the deal across the line, quickly
An Australian-based consultancy firm owned by a UK publicly-listed parent company was interested in making an acquisition. Given the parent company need to announce the acquisition prior the end of financial year announcements, this acquisition needed to be completed in an extremely short amount of time.
The transaction involved the unwinding of complex trust ownership structures, securing senior management employees, and negotiating the formal assignment of some key customer contracts with large Government owned companies whilst ensuring Government contract procurement policies were complied with.
The transaction was completed within 2 weeks and in time prior to the EOFY announcements.
Surplus of wine stock
Our team advised on loan and security arrangements for the funding of a managed investment scheme operating and owning wine producing assets. There was an international surplus of wine stock which caused there to be a serious cash flow problem for the wine producer.
Corporate solutions in Zimbabwe
A client sought a majority stake in a Zimbabwean coal seam gas exploration company, but needed to comply with local Black empowerment laws. To resolve the issue, Brisbane Principal, Craig Roelofsz, worked closely with counsel in Zimbabwe. Ultimately, we structured a deal where our client retained control but also complied with local legislation.
Saving our client from defaulting
The loan portfolio for our client was in great risk of default. The enforcement of the security would mean the managed investment scheme would collapse and a significant devaluation in secured assets such as leaseholdings and wine sales royalties. Our team identified secured assets which could be liquidated without disrupting the borrower's business, addressed certain funding risks with substitute guarantees, and were successful in profitably selling the restructured and reduced loan assets to a local financier.
Resolving “back charging”
A Eurozone manufacturer of industrial doors for aerospace and defense installations encountered difficulty with illegitimate “back charging” designed to progress claims on an Australian site. Ultimately, we resolved our client’s issue under contractual dispute resolution – and preserved a valuable commercial relationship.
