Alister McDonald Alister McDonald

Alister McDonald

Consultant
Christchurch

Corporate & commercial

With 40 years’ legal experience, Alister provides general corporate and commercial advice to numerous leading businesses and international companies operating in the South Island.

Since joining Chapman Tripp in 2000, Alister has worked with clients across both public and private sectors and all industries. He focuses on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, securities and corporate structuring and governance.

Recent highlights

  • Worked as lead partner with EBOS Group on its $1.1b acquisition of Symbion and associated equity raising and debt financing. The acquisition saw EBOS become the third largest New Zealand-listed company by revenue.
  • Acted for EBOS Group on several business acquisitions and divestments, including its acquisition of New Zealand vitamin and herbal tea maker Red Seal for $80m, $140m acquisition of Masterpet Corporation (including 50% share of the Animates retail pet shop chain), $82.5m acquisition of Pharmacy Retailing and Healthcare Logistics businesses and the divestment of its scientific businesses in Australia and New Zealand to VWR International for $45m.
  • Advised EBOS Group subsidiary Symbion on its acquisition of a 25% interest in the Good Price Pharmacy Warehouse Group, an Australian pharmacy retailer, and subsidiary Masterpet Corporation on its AU$57m acquisition of BlackHawk Premium Pet Foods.
  • Acted for Skyline Enterprises on the purchase of Totally Tourism, The Helicopter Line and other associated companies for $23m.
  • Advised Pratt & Whitney Air New Zealand Services on collaboration with Christchurch City Holdings to build a new jet engine test cell at Christchurch International Airport and the associated re-development of the Christchurch Engine Centre, including advising on the construction, financing, lease and buyout arrangements.
  • Assisted Christchurch Casinos on casino licences and other regulatory issues.

Alister's insights

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Disclosure – a key performance and risk area for boards

​The quality of disclosure is improving in response to regulatory signals but has a way to go yet despite a recent high profile reminder from mining giant Rio Tinto about the costs of getting it wrong.

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