Andrew Rich

Practice Areas

Andrew has over 20 years’ experience as a corporate M&A solicitor. His practice involves a broad range of public and private M&A transactions, corporate restructurings, securities and equity capital markets transactions and general corporate advisory work.

Having practised in the United Kingdom and Australia, Andrew has experience in major domestic and cross border transactions, in industries including banking and finance, energy and resources, insurance, consumer, media, property, retail and telecommunications.

Andrew has had regular dealings with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) and the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) and also advised on high-profile takeover disputes before the Australian Takeovers Panel.

Publications:

He is the co-author of:

- Schemes, Takeovers and Himalayan Peaks, (a leading Australian book on the use of members’ schemes of arrangement to effect changes of control of widely held companies and on the use of creditors’ schemes of arrangement to effect corporate restructurings. It has been described as the “pre-eminent text” on schemes of arrangement. The book is now in its fourth edition);

- Before You Tie The Knot (a leading book on joint ventures); and

- Towns Under Siege (a leading book on contemporary issues in takeovers and schemes of arrangement).

Andrew also lectures on public M&A in the Masters Course at The University of Sydney and is ranked in both Chambers and Best Lawyers.

Andrew regularly advises clients on complex, innovative and strategic transactions.

Background:

Andrew holds a Bachelor of Economics with majors in Accounting and Economics, and a Bachelor of Laws (Honours). He joined Freehills (now Herbert Smith Freehills) in 1998, before relocating to London from 2004–2008, returning to Australia in 2008.

Work Highlights

Sydney Aviation Alliance - the Australian-led consortium comprising IFM Australian Infrastructure Fund, AustralianSuper, Australian Retirement Trust, IFM Global Infrastructure Fund and Global Infrastructure Partners – on its A$32 billion (EV) acquisition of Sydney Airport. This was the largest the takeover and the largest infrastructure deal in Australian corporate history

Allegro Funds on its acquisition of the Global Express business from Toll and its parent Japan Post, and the related refinancing

Coca-Cola Amatil on its $9.3 billion acquisition by Coca-Cola European Partners by way of scheme of arrangement

iCar Asia on its $243 million acquisition by Carsome by way of scheme of arrangement (and the previously proposed acquisition by Autohome)

UAC Energy on its unsolicited $800 million takeover bid for Infigen Group

Speedcast in relation to its global restructuring under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code

Cognizant on its acquisition of Servian

ERM Power in relation to its $620 million acquisition by way of scheme of arrangement by Shell Australia

Propertylink on its proposed $755 million takeover bid for Centuria Industrial REIT and on the simultaneous $723 million takeover bid for Propertylink by ESR

Metcash on its $300 million equity placement and share purchase plan

The senior lenders on the $1.2 billion restructuring of Bis Industries, which was effected by way of a creditors’ scheme of arrangement

Cochlear on its $880 million equity placement and share purchase plan

Shiro Holdings Limited on its IPO