Getting the AIA takeover bid off the ground.

Acumen Republic was asked to assist the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board with their $NZ1.8 billion ($AU1.5 billion) partial takeover offer for Auckland International Airport - one of New Zealand's largest listed companies.

As anyone who reads the business media well knows, the hostile takeover offer was one of the largest and most complex in New Zealand corporate history. We provided advice on media, local government, investor relations, and advertising throughout the process.

The offer received necessary shareholder approval but unfortunately failed to meet legal requirements for overseas investment.

The perfect mix: Bacardi and 42 Below.

Acumen Republic worked with global leader Bacardi during its successful $NZ138 million takeover of NZX-listed vodka manufacturer, 42 Below. As an overseas company acquiring an iconic local brand, Bacardi needed to tread carefully.

From the moment of the first announcement of the takeover, we positioned Bacardi as a future owner that would preserve and enhance the 42 Below brand. We launched this positioning by holding a media conference at the Hilton bar which included Bacardi's Global Vice-president for Business Development - to highlight that this was a partnership, rather than a takeover.

We communicated strong key messaging to position Bacardi as a global player with prior experience in acquiring and preserving unique brands such as 42 Below, but with the overriding message that this was the best deal financially for shareholders. We worked closely with 42 Below, as well as Bacardi's Miami-based public relations team, lawyers, investment bankers and senior management throughout the three-month process.

The transaction was successful with the requisite 90 per cent of shareholders accepting the offer, allowing for the compulsory acquisition of the remaining shares.

Tough issue. Good outcome.

When ASX-listed Transpacific Industries was planning its $870 million amalgamation with NZX-listed Waste Management, we undertook an investor and media relations project on their behalf.

Our objective was to encourage at least 75 per cent of voting Waste Management shareholders to accept the proposal to amalgamate.

The transaction, which was structured legally as an amalgamation, was widely regarded as a "takeover in disguise". The Takeovers Panel and media commentators believed that Transpacific Industries was exploiting a loophole in the law which enabled it to succeed with 75 per cent of votes instead of the 90 per cent threshold required if the transaction had been structured as a takeover.

Essentially, Transpacific Industries was accused of attempting to circumvent the rights of minority shareholders. In addition, Transpacific was an Australian company as so attracted negative media attention for "taking another NZX-listed company off the stock exchange".

We worked closely with the Transpacific Industries and its investment bankers to communicate the benefits of the offer to Waste Management shareholders (in particular, a highly attractive premium) through media, advertising and direct communications. Simultaneously, we provided advice and support on how to respond to the allegations relating to the transaction's structure.

Despite the criticism, the deal was successful, with 97.3 per cent of shareholders voting to accept the proposal.