Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) and Allens are acting on a AUD24 billion (USD16 billion) Blackstone agreement to acquire AirTrunk, the Asia-Pacific’s leading data centre platform.
Simpson Thacher and KWM are advising Blackstone, the world’s largest alternative asset manager, to purchase AirTrunk in a deal expected to be the largest M&A transaction in Australia this year.
“Our integrated platform and collaborative approach enable us to draw upon lawyers from across the firm and provide clients with global, 360-degree advice across a range of industries and jurisdictions,” Anthony King, partner at Simpson Thacher told Asia Business Law Journal.
King and partners Samuel Rudik from New York, and Makiko Harunari from Hong Kong led the Simpson Thacher team. The firm’s involvement includes advising Blackstone Real Estate Partners, Blackstone Infrastructure Partners, Blackstone Tactical Opportunities, and Blackstone’s private equity strategy for individual investors. Their collaborative efforts, along with the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP), are aimed at acquiring AirTrunk from Macquarie Asset Management and the Public Sector Pension Investment Board.
KWM partners Alex Elser, Gareth Howe, Yuen-Yee Cho, Dan Flanagan, Tim Sherman and Victoria Lanyon led the transaction team. The team also received support from partners Mandy Tsang, David Eliakim, Francesca Giorlando, Felicity Savage, Vishal Ahuja, Angela Weber and Malcolm Brennan.
Allens is acting as counsel for CPP, with partners Wendy Rae and Michelle Bennett advising on the deal.
The transaction is subject to approval from the Australian Foreign Investment Review Board.
