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Kristy Duane
Partner

Kristy Duane

Co-Head of the CMS Infrastructure & Projects Group

Languages
  • English
Social media

Kristy is a partner and Co-Head of the firm's infrastructure sector group. She advises a wide range of infrastructure clients on their corporate transactions. She has a particular interest and extensive experience advising infrastructure funds on their M&A and capital markets activities in the UK and Europe. Kristy regularly speaks at high profile conferences and events including the Global Infrastructure Investors Summit in London. More recently she has developed expertise in relation to corporate governance, ESG and sustainability reporting including SFDR, TCFD and SDR.

Awards & Recognitions
01
  • Quote
    "Excellent legal and corporate advice"
    Chambers and Partners 2016
  • Quote
    Ranked Lawyer for Infrastructure
    Chambers and Partners 2016

Relevant experience

  • Aquila European Renewables Income plc in relation to the €150m IPO on the main market, subsequent €40m institutional placing and various renewables M&A transactions.
  • Atlantis Holdings and AXA Investment Managers-Real Assets in relation to the acquisition of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. LP’s 33.33% stake in Acciona Energia Internacional, S.A for €445m and partial sale of 13.33% to ACCIONA.
  • John Laing Infrastructure Fund Limited in relation to its £1.45bn takeover by Jura Acquisitions Limited, a company owned by a consortium led by Dalmore Capital Limited and Equitix Investment Management Limited.
  • VINCI Construction in relation to the acquisition of F M Conway, an infrastructure services business specialising in essential maintenance and construction services in the UK.  
  • BBGI Global Infrastructure SA on its acquisition of various PPP assets in the UK, including Poplar Baths Leisure Centre in Tower Hamlets, an interest in the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, Ayrshire and Arran Hospital, and North West Fire & Rescue. 
  • Aquila Energy Efficiency Trust plc in relation to the £100m IPO on the main market and subsequent £18m return of capital to shareholders by way of tender offer.
  • John Laing Infrastructure Fund Limited in relation to the £242m placing, open offer, offer for subscription and subsequent £90m and £95m placings to institutional investors.
  • RNA Energy on its investment partnership with Nippon Koei to develop its battery storage pipeline; and its co-development agreement with Ignis Energia SA for large scale solar and storage development.
  • Heathrow Hub Limited on the proposed £13.5bn scheme to extend the existing northern runway at Heathrow Airport.
  • Aquila Energy Efficiency Trust plc in relation to the £100m IPO on the main market.  
  • John Laing Infrastructure Fund Limited in relation to the acquisition of debt and equity interests in a portfolio of 5 rail and social accommodation assets, including City-Greenwich-Lewisham Docklands Light Railway (£65m), the £50m disposal of Barnsley Schools BSF and Newham Hospital, acquisition of equity interests in Peterborough Hospital from Brookfield (£26.7m) and a portfolio of 11 assets in schooling; housing; hospitals; street lighting from Mill Group (£123m).
  • Jordan Wind Farm Company on the development of the Tafila Wind Farm in Jordan, a 117 MW wind farm, likely to be the first utility-scale onshore wind farm in the Middle East.
  • Euromoney Institutional Investor plc in relation to the acquisition of Infrastructure Journal (£12.5m) from Top Right Group.
  • Quintain Estates and Development plc on the unwinding of the existing joint venture arrangements with Lend Lease in relation to the Greenwich Peninsula development and class 1 circular and joint venture with Knight Dragon.
  • US Shipping Group in relation to the proposed investment and joint venture with a British shipping company.
  • Carbon Trust in relation to the Siemen Financial Services or Carbon finance scheme and collaboration agreement.
  • Pacific Agrifoods Limited on PAF’s acquisition of a 66.7% interest in Interflour Holdings Limited (Asian flour mill and Vietnamese grain terminal operator).
  • London Climate Change Agency and the Mayor’s office on the establishment of the Better Buildings Partnership, a London commercial property owners’ sustainability/climate change initiative.
  • Liberum Capital and Renaissance Capital in relation to the £147m AIM float of Ncondezi Coal Company Limited and subsequent £23.4m placing.

Memberships & Roles

  • Trustee, Friends of UWA in the UK & Europe.

Education

  • 1997 - LLB, University of Western Australia, Perth.
  • 1997 - BSc, University of Western Australia, Perth.

Kristy is a Partner in our Corporate team. Having previously worked for six years with Clayton Utz in Australia, she moved to the UK in 2005 and subsequently qualified in England and Wales in 2008. Kristy has a wide range of experience in corporate and corporate finance transactions, IPOs, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and reorganisations. She regularly advises on cross-border transactions and acts for a number of listed FTSE 250 clients on their public and private M&A and capital markets activities. 

More recently she has developed expertise in relation to corporate governance, ESG and sustainability reporting including SFDR, TCFD and SDR.  

Awards & Recognitions
01
  • Quote
    "Excellent legal and corporate advice"
    Chambers and Partners 2016

Relevant experience

  • LondonMetric Property plc in relation to its (i) £1.9bn takeover of LXi REIT plc; (ii) £26m acquisition of LXi REIT Advisors Limited; (iii) £200m takeover of CT Property Trust Limited; and (iv) £415m takeover of A&J Mucklow Group plc, each by way of scheme of arrangement.
  • Aquila European Renewables Income plc in relation to the €150m IPO on the main market, subsequent €40m institutional placing, €175m placing programme and various renewables M&A transactions across Europe.
  • VINCI Construction in relation to the acquisition of F M Conway, an infrastructure services business specialising in essential maintenance and construction services in the UK.  
  • APG on the €300m acquisition of VIA Outlets by way of class 1 disposal and associated £550m rights issue undertaken by Hammerson plc.
  • LondonMetric Property plc in relation to the £175m and £95m institutional placings to fund its logistics investments and developments, the £800m merger by way of scheme of arrangement of London & Stamford and Metric Property Investments plc and subsequent return of capital of £100m by the enlarged group.
  • Aquila Energy Efficiency Trust plc in relation to the £100m IPO on the main market and subsequent £18m return of capital to shareholders by way of tender offer.
  • NewRiver REIT plc on the class 1 disposal of Hawthorn Leisure for £222m to Admiral Taverns.  
  • Urban & Civic plc on the £506m takeover by Wellcome Trust by way of scheme of arrangement. 
  • Atlantis Holdings and AXA Investment Managers-Real Assets in relation to the acquisition of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. LP’s 33.33% stake in Acciona Energia Internacional, S.A for €445m and partial sale of 13.33% to ACCIONA.
  • ThreeSixty Developments Limited and management team in relation to: (i) £500m disposal of Westbourne student accommodation portfolio; and (ii) subsequent £400m disposal of River student accommodation portfolio and operating platform, by funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management.
  • Euromoney Institutional Investor plc on its acquisition of Seven Site Media Limited, trading as TowerXchange, disposal of Institutional Investor Journals business, investment in Zanbato (private capital placements platform), the acquisition of Fastmarkets Ltd and disposal of Petroleum Economist and related businesses.
  • John Laing Infrastructure Fund Limited in relation to the £242m placing, open offer, offer for subscription and subsequent £90m and £95m placings to institutional investors, the acquisition of debt and equity interests in a portfolio of 5 rail and social accommodation assets, including City-Greenwich-Lewisham Docklands Light Railway (£65m), the £50m disposal of Barnsley Schools BSF and Newham Hospital PFI and acquisition of equity interests in Peterborough Hospital from Brookfield (£26.7m) and a portfolio of 11 assets in schooling; housing; hospitals; street lighting from Mill Group (£123m).
  • Clarion Capital Partners, LLC in relation to its $320 million sale of Moravia US Holding Company, Inc. and Moravia Lux Holding Company, S.A.R.L. to RWS US Holding Co and RWS (Overseas) Limited.
  • Urban & Civic plc in relation to the reverse takeover of Terrace Hill Group plc and £160m placing by the enlarged group.
  • Blackstone Real Estate Partners Europe III in relation to the sale of Lacon London, 84 Theobald’s Road WC1 to a private investor for £285m.
  • Quintain Estates and Development plc on the £115m secured bond issue, listed on the Irish Stock Exchange.
  • Frasia Holding S.A. on the establishment of a UK REIT, listing on the CISX and acquisition of 25 Ropemaker Place for £472m from The British Land Company PLC.
  • Dealogic (Holdings) plc on the £46m buyback tender offer to shareholders.
  • Cambridge Flat Projection Displays Limited and its shareholders on the sale to Microsoft Corporation.

Memberships & Roles

  • Trustee, Friends of UWA in the UK & Europe

Education

  • 1997 - LLB, University of Western Australia, Perth
  • 1997 - BSc, University of Western Australia, Perth