Matt Yates

I specialise in corporate and commercial law with a particular focus on capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, takeovers and joint ventures. I have particular sector expertise in energy and resources.

I advise a range of domestic and international clients and have extensive experience dealing with market regulators such as the Takeovers Panel, Financial Markets Authority and NZX. I have been involved in a substantial number of private and public capital raisings, employee share purchase schemes, dividend reinvestment plans, share purchase plans and stock exchange listings.

In addition, I have advised on numerous major public and private M&A transactions (including advising offerors and target companies on takeover offers made under the Takeovers Code) and also in establishing joint venture arrangements.

My recent experience includes:

• acting for NZX listed Chatham Rock Phosphate in raising over $20 million in new capital including through a public prospectus offer and obtaining relevant Takeovers Code approvals.
• acting for NZX listed Cooks Food Group in relation to acquiring the international rights to Esquires Coffee Houses, four related acquisitions, raising capital to support those acquisitions and seeking Takeovers Code approvals for the transactions.

I hold a practice diploma in international mergers and acquisitions from the College of Law of England and Wales.