ChrisAhern

Partner-in-Charge Australia/Japan

Sydney + 61.2.8272.0530

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Chris Ahern has advised on Australian corporate law for more than 20 years. His practice is focused on M&A, particularly distressed M&A, in the technology, natural resources, and banking sectors.

He has advised on numerous transactions for Fortune 500 companies, and his experience in corporate law covers the full range of M&A, including court approved mergers by scheme of arrangement, venture capital, development capital, private placements, public to private transactions, as well as private company M&A work. Chris acted for First Data Corporation on its $22 billion acquisition by KKR, Lowe's Home Improvement on their multibillion dollar joint venture with Australia's largest retailer, USG on their $2.5 billion pan-Asian joint venture with Boral, and multiple acquisitions in the energy sector.

Chris also has significant experience in distressed M&A, having acted for Lucent on the $2.5 billion collapse of One-Tel (including the appointment of a Receiver over most of the assets of One-Tel and the workout that followed), Lehman Brothers Holdings on their collapse (including drafting the DOCA between the company and the CDO holders), and acting for Cyrus Capital on their bid for Virgin Australia, Australia's second airline.

He also advises on joint ventures (incorporated and unincorporated) and complex alliance arrangements in the technology and fintech sectors and is skilled at dealing with the complex intellectual property issues that arise in such transactions.

Chris commenced the Australian law practice for Jones Day in 2006 and has been named in Chambers legal directories as a leading lawyer since 2001. Prior to joining Jones Day, he was a partner at one of Australia's national law firms.

Experience

  • PolyOne acquires Clariant color and additive masterbatch business for $1.5 billionJones Day advised PolyOne Corporation in the $1.5 billion purchase of Clariant’s global color and additive masterbatch business.
  • USG acquired by Gebr. Knauf for $7 billionJones Day advised USG Corporation in the acquisition by Gebr. Knauf KG ("Knauf") of all of the outstanding shares of USG in a transaction valued at $7 billion.
  • Lennox International sells refrigeration businesses in Australia, New Zealand, and Asia to Beijer Ref ABJones Day advised Lennox International Inc. in the sale of its refrigeration businesses in Australia, New Zealand, and Asia to Beijer Ref AB.
  • Lowe's exits from Masters Home Improvement joint venture with Woolworths in AustraliaJones Day provided strategic advice and assisted Lowe's Companies, Inc. with various aspects of its exit from a joint venture with Woolworths Limited, with respect to the Masters hardware and home improvement retail business established by the joint venture in Australia and New Zealand.
  • GfK sells animal and crop health divisionJones Day is representing GfK SE, a market research provider, in connection with the sale of its global animal and crop health division to a consortium consisting of Inflexion, a private equity investor, and the current management.
  • USG forms $1.6 billion plasterboard and ceilings joint venture with Boral Limited in Asia, Australia, and Middle EastJones Day advised USG Corporation in its formation of a strategic 50/50 $1.6 billion plasterboard and ceilings joint venture with Boral Limited in Asia, Australia, and the Middle East, known as USG Boral Building Products.
  • NEP acquires Global Television from CatalystJones Day advised NEP Group, Inc., a portfolio company of Crestview Partners, in connection with its acquisition of Global Television, Australia's leading provider of outsourced television production services, from Catalyst Investment Managers.
  • Computer Sciences Corporation divests Paxus to Adcorp HoldingsJones Day advised Computer Sciences Corporation on the divestiture of Paxus, its Australian IT recruitment services unit, to Adcorp Holdings Limited (a JSE listed company and South Africa's largest employment services provider), for US$73.5 million.
  • Applied Industrial Technologies acquires SFK's company-owned distribution businesses in Australia and New ZealandJones Day advised Applied Industrial Technologies in its acquisition of SKF's company-owned distribution businesses in Australia and New Zealand.
  • J.F. Lehman portfolio company acquires maritime interests of Chemring MarineJones Day advised long-standing client J.F. Lehman & Company, a leading mid-market private equity firm focused on the defense, aerospace, and maritime sectors, in connection with the £32 million (US$50 million) acquisition and related financing by portfolio company Drew Marine of the maritime interests of Chemring Group PLC, a designer, manufacturer, and seller of counter-improvised explosive device (IED) equipment, countermeasures, pyrotechnics, and munitions.
  • Large global retailer acquires GrabbleJones Day advised a large global retailer in its acquisition of Grabble, an Australian start-up company incorporated as a vehicle for the sale of hand-held devices point of sale receipt generation technology, including software and hardware.
  • Computer Sciences Corporation acquires iSOFT Group for A$437 million (US$452 million)Jones Day advised Computer Sciences Corporation in its acquisition of iSOFT Group Limited, one of the world's largest providers of advanced healthcare IT solutions, for A$437 million (US$452 million), by way of a court-approved scheme of arrangement.
  • Potash Corporation successfully defends historic $43.1 billion hostile takeover bidFollowing an arduous three-month battle, Jones Day's client, Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan, Inc., successfully repelled BHP Billiton's hostile $43.1 billion tender offer for all of PotashCorp's shares in November 2010.
  • Schneider Electric acquires SCADAgroup for AU$200 million ($186.3 million)Jones Day advised Schneider Electric Asia Pacific Limited in its acquisition of SCADAgroup, an Australian-based leading provider of telemetry products and solutions for the water and waste-water, oil & gas; gas and electric power end-market segments.
  • Sumitomo Chemical acquires 20% of NuFarm for $622 millionJones Day advised Sumitomo Chemical, a company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange ("Sumitomo") in its strategic investment and alliance with Nufarm Limited, a company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and one of Australia's largest agro-chemical companies with an annual turnover in excess of $2.6 billion.
  • Discover Financial Services, Diners Club International and PULSE Network involved in global rollout of ATM card acceptance arrangementsJones Day is currently advising on the global rollout of ATM card acceptance arrangements for Diners Club International, Discover Financial Services and PULSE Network Cards in a number of Asian and European jurisdictions, including China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and Australia.
  • Lowe's Companies acquires Danks through joint bid with WoolworthsJones Day advised Lowe's Companies, Inc. in its joint bid with Woolworths Limited to acquire the entire share capital of Danks Holdings Limited by way of an off-market takeover bid.
  • Lowe's forms joint venture with WoolworthsJones Day advised Lowe's Companies, Inc. in its joint venture with Woolworths Limited, Australia's largest retailer and the 23rd largest retailer in the world.
  • Toni & Guy's Mascolo brothers sell TIGI hair product business and advanced education academies for $411.5 million to UnileverJones Day advised Mascolo Brothers Limited in its $411.5 million sale of the global TIGI professional hair product business and its supporting advanced education academies to Unilever.
  • Lehman Brothers in High Court proceedings concerning validity of Deed of Company ArrangementJones Day is acting for Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. in High Court proceedings concerning the validity of a Deed of Company Arrangement.
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