MinterEllisonRuddWatts has advised global creative company Special on its strategic investment from New Zealand private equity firm Waterman Capital, a major transaction designed to support Special’s next phase of international growth.
Founded in Auckland in 2007, Special has grown from a New Zealand independent agency into an acclaimed international creative business. The investment from Waterman Capital will support further international expansion, the development of Special’s design, public relations and strategic consultancy services, investment in technology and talent, and potential acquisitions.
The transaction, signed on 28 October with completion scheduled for December, encompasses seven entities across New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, making it a significant cross-border deal requiring coordination across multiple jurisdictions.
Corporate M&A Partner Neil Millar, who led the firm’s team advising Special, said the transaction was significant both for the company and for New Zealand’s broader growth story.
“Special is a standout New Zealand success story, having built a highly regarded creative business with genuine international scale and ambition. This investment provides for the next stage of its growth, while preserving the culture and independence that have been central to Special’s success,” said Neil Millar.
“From a transaction perspective, this was a complex, genuinely cross-border deal involving multiple entities and jurisdictions. It was great to work alongside Special to help achieve this important milestone.”
The MinterEllisonRuddWatts team coordinated key legal and tax workstreams across the jurisdictions involved, working closely with advisers in each market. The firm also managed a substantial vendor group, supported the due diligence and data room process, and coordinated the legal elements required to reach signing.
The firm’s deal team included Partner Andrew Ryan (Tax), Senior Associate Jasmin Matthews (Corporate M&A), Senior Solicitor Nancy Chen (Tax), and Solicitor Oscar England – along with partners Aimee Mitchell (Private Wealth) and Allison Hancock (Banking and Finance); senior associates Steven Liu (Tax), Maysie Chan (Private Wealth), Sean Dolan and Sophie Coggan (Banking and Finance); solicitors Caitlin Read and Kotaro Ishii (Corporate M&A); and Law Clerk Charlotte Print (Corporate M&A).
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