Harry Hecht

Harry has a broad corporate practice, both transactional and advisory, with particular experience in public and private M&A, joint ventures and equity capital markets work. Harry’s advisory practice includes a particular focus on ESG-related issues.

Transactional highlights include advising:

• BHP on various matters, including:
  • the unification of its dual-listed company structure, implemented via an English scheme of arrangement
  • the merger of its oil and gas assets with Woodside to form Woodside Energy, a top 20 ASX-listed group, as well as the related issue, and in-specie dividend, of new Woodside shares to BHP shareholders
  • the disposal of its 33.3% interest in Cerrejón, a non-operated energy coal joint venture in Colombia, to Glencore
• Whitbread PLC on its rights issue to raise gross proceeds of approximately £1 billion during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Spectris plc on various matters, including the disposal of BTG Group to Voith GmbH for €319 million
• Arm Limited on various matters, including the establishment and ongoing operation of a US$1.5 billion joint venture for its semiconductor technology in China, as well as assorted pieces of governance-related advice in response to the actions taken by its Chief Executive following his removal from the board in June 2020
• Cineworld plc on various matters, including the issuance of $213 million of unsubordinated guaranteed convertible bonds
• Non-Standard Finance plc on its all-share takeover offer for Provident Financial plc
• Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc. on its recommended £4.3 billion cash takeover of Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc
• Countrywide plc on various matters, including:
  • its 2018 capital refinancing plan, including a placing and open offer
  • the proposed strategic investment by Alchemy Partners and related recapitalisation
  • the recommended cash acquisition of Countrywide’s entire issued and to be issued share capital by Connells Limited for approximately £134.4 million
• INEOS on a range of matters, including:
  • the disposal by INEOS Enterprises of INEOS Baleycourt and INEOS ChloroToluenes to Valtris Speciality Chemicals
  • the formation of the INVOYN joint venture
• Actelion Ltd on its US$30 billion acquisition by Johnson & Johnson and related demerger of Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Advisory highlights include advising:

• International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) on its combination with the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) to form the Value Reporting Foundation (VRF), including the formation of the VRF’s governance arrangements and the governance-related processes necessary for the IIRC to seek the blessing of its many stakeholders
• Cineworld on the formation and operation of its environmental committee, the development of its action plan to make everyday operations more sustainable, the articulation of its new principal risk relating to climate change, and the formulation of its inaugural TCFD-compliant disclosures
• The board of a major listed mining company on their fiduciary duties in respect of climate change and sustainability-related issues
• A number of listed companies on governance processes necessary to consider, approve and implement major transactions