Corporate Support Some of the most important, but underestimated issues to arise in a corporate transaction are the transfer of employees, and the management of the legal and practical issues that arise in that process.

We understand the employment law compliance requirements and commercial issues that arise in corporate transactions (such as mergers, acquisitions, takeovers, IPOs and dispositions), and deliver practical solutions.

The majority of this work is undertaken for either a vendor or purchaser, with a team of other expert advisers, led by a specialist corporate law firm. At other times we work directly with the client with whose business and employment culture we are very familiar.

This corporate support work is a busy and important part of LangtonHudson’s practice, and we are chosen to work on some of NZ’s most high-profile corporate transactions.

The types of work we often assist with include:

• Due diligence for purchasers – identifying material risks and providing recommendations in relation to employment issues within the target business
• Due diligence for vendors – assisting with preparing a vendor due diligence report and/or answering purchaser requests for information
• Employee and union consultation requirements
• Retention incentives
• Restraint of trade issues
• Technical redundancy issues
• Transfer of union-member employees on collective agreements
• Vulnerable employees’ statutory rights to transfer
• Sale and purchase agreements – advising on employment-related provisions, including treatment of accrued employee entitlements (such as holidays and leave), pre-conditions, transfer provisions, warranties and indemnities
• Communications with employees – sale announcement and transfer documentation
• Post-acquisition support

• Advising Edwards Lifesciences on its sale of Critical Care Product Group to Becton, Dickinson and Company (2024) for USD4.2 billion.
• Advising Pernod Ricard on its sale of key wine brand portfolios to Australian Wine Holdco Ltd (2024).
• Advising Green Cross Health on its sale of Access Community Health (2023) for NZD50 million.
• Advising Allegro Funds on its purchase of Gull (2022) for NZD572 million.
• Advising Anchorage Capital Partners on its purchase of Evolve Education (2022) for NZD46 million.
• Advising Vontier on its purchase of Invenco (2022).
• Advising Unity Technologies on its purchase of Weta Digital (2021) for USD1.625 billion.
• Advising IPH Limited on its acquisition of Baldwins and plans to merge with AJ Park (2020).
• Advising Tower on the divestment of its Medical Insurance, Life Insurance and Investments business (2012 – 2014).