Marnie Fels
Image of Marnie Fels

Marnie Fels

Partner

Email

marnie.fels@aoshearman.com

Phone

+612 9373 7600

Offices

Sydney

V-CARD
Marnie advises private equity sponsors, banks, private credit funds, and other stakeholders across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region on financing M&A and other event-driven transactions.

Her practice focuses on large-cap and mid-market deals, with deep experience across credit products favoured by private equity sponsors — including unitranche, holdco, mezzanine, covenant-lite, and term loan B financings, as well as traditional loan facilities.

Marnie is passionate about helping clients structure and execute complex financings that support strategic growth and investment.

Marnie is recognised in Chambers, as a Next Generation Partner by Legal 500 Asia Pacific and as a Best Lawyer in Australia for Banking and Finance Law, Leveraged Buyouts, and Private Equity.

Expertise

Industries

Experience

Representative matters

  • The lead arrangers on the financing for CC Capital’s AUD3.3bn take-private acquisition of the Australian wealth manager, Insignia Financial via a scheme of arrangement.
  • The lenders on a refinancing and recapitalisation of TPG’s portfolio company, Novotech Group, a leading independent consumer healthcare and medicine products company.
  • The lenders on the financing for Adamantem Capital’s A$254m take-private acquisition of ASX-listed QANTM IP, the owner of a group of leading intellectual property services businesses.
  • The lenders on the financing for Advent International’s acquisition of the luxury clothing brand, Zimmermann, a transaction valued at up to $1.75bn, the highest ever valuation for an Australian fashion brand.
  • The lenders on the debt financing for InVivo Group’s takeover of ASX-listed United Malt Group for A$1.5 billion.
  • PAI Partners on the financing for its acquisition of a majority stake in ECF Group, a leading business-to-business distributor of equipment and consumables for hospitality and care professionals.
  • Bain Capital on its $3.5 billion acquisition of Virgin Australia Group by way of a deed of company arrangement and all related financing arrangements (previous firm experience).
  • Brookfield on a term loan B to finance its acquisition of La Trobe financial services business (previous firm experience).
  • Brookfield and its institutional co-investors, through a joint venture with Qube Holdings, on the acquisition financing for Asciano Limited's Patrick Terminals business for approximately A$2.9 billion by way of scheme of arrangement (previous firm experience).
  • Livingbridge Australia on the financing for its acquisition of a significant stake in Smart Clinics and Better Medical (previous firm experience).
  • Pacific Equity Partners on the financing of the acquisition by IntelliHUB Holdings Pty Ltd (a joint venture vehicle between Pacific Equity Partners and Landis + Gyr) of the Acumen electricity metering infrastructure business from Origin Energy Limited (previous firm experience).
  • The Growth Fund on the debt financing for its investments in Quantum Radiology, Fitness Passport, M&J Chicken's, My Pet Warehouse, Guest Group and Royans Group (previous firm experience).
  • The Riverside Company on the acquisition financing for its investments in Waste Services Group, Energy Exemplar, Independent Living Services and Avance Clinical and EventsAir (previous firm experience) and Virtual IT Group.

Qualifications

Admissions

Admitted as a solicitor, New South Wales, Australia, 2001

Academic

Bachelor of Laws (with Distinction), University of Western Australia, 2000
Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.