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© 2012 Dorsey & Whitney LLP

  • University of Cambridge (Trinity College) (M.A., 1998)
  • University of Virginia School of Law (LL.M., 1996)
  • University of Cambridge (Trinity College) (B.A., 1994)

  • New York

Jamie A. Benson

Special Counsel
London, Sydney
P: +44 (0)20 7826 4513, +61 (0)2 8211 0435
F: +44 (0)20 7588 0555, +61 (0)2 8211 0555
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Jamie A. Benson is a special counsel in Dorsey’s London and Sydney offices. He has more than 14 years’ experience practising as a U.S. corporate lawyer. He advises companies and investment banks on international capital markets deals and cross-border M&A transactions.

Jamie’s experience includes advising on SEC-registered equity offerings, equity private placements, SEC-registered debt offerings, high-yield, convertible and investment-grade bond offerings, debt private placements, American Depositary Receipt (ADR) programs, Global Depositary Receipt (GDR) offerings, mergers and acquisitions of U.S. public companies, mergers and acquisitions of non-U.S. public companies, asset purchases and sales, SEC-reporting obligations, migrating companies to the United States and the establishment of and sale of interests in hedge funds and private equity funds.

Jamie has worked on a number of high profile transactions in the U.S., U.K., Australia and India, including large securities offerings for Qantas, BHP Billiton, Foster’s, Optus, Macquarie Bank, Macquarie Infrastructure Group, CSL and Promina Group.

Jamie is one of the more experienced international legal counsel on capital markets transactions in India. He has worked on over 20 capital markets transactions in India, including equity offerings by Ashoka Buildcon, Dhanlaxmi Bank, DEN Networks, TV18 Broadcast, Central Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Jagran Prakashan, Andhra Bank, HT Media (Hindustan Times), PVR, IDFC, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Allahabad Bank and Yes Bank.

Jamie has represented numerous investment banks around the world, including, Antique Capital Markets, Avendus Capital, Citi, Deutsche Bank, Edelweiss, Enam, Goldman Sachs, Goldman Sachs JBWere, HSBC, ICICI, IDFC Capital Markets, JM Financial, JP Morgan, Kotak Mahindra, Macquarie Bank, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley and UBS.

Prior to joining Dorsey, Jamie was a senior associate at Coudert Brothers in Sydney, a senior associate at Jones Day in Sydney and an associate at Akin Gump in New York.

Representative Transactions

  • Enam Securities, IDFC Capital Markets and Motilal Oswal Investment Advisors in the IPO in India and concurrent Regulation S offering outside India of Rs. 2,250 million (US$51 million) of shares in Ashoka Buildcon Limited.
  • IDFC Capital Limited and JM Financial Consultants Private Limited in the QIP in India and concurrent Regulation S offering outside of India of Rs. 3,800 million (US$81 million) of shares in The Dhanalakshmi Bank Limited.
  • Deutsche Equities (India), Antique Capital Markets and Antique Stock Broking in the initial public offering and concurrent Regulation S offering outside India of Rs. 3,645 million (US$76 million) of shares in DEN Networks Limited.
  • JM Financial Consultants, HSBC Securities and Capital Markets (India), and Antique Capital Markets in the QIP in India and concurrent Regulation S offering outside India of Rs. 1,143 million (US$24 million) of shares in ibn18 Broadcast Limited (now called TV18 Broadcast Limited).
  • Central Bank of India, Citigroup Global Markets India Private Limited, IDBI Capital Market Services Limited, Enam Financial Consultants Private Limited, ICICI Securities Primary Dealership Limited and Kotak Mahindra Capital Company Limited, and the other underwriters in the sale of Rs. 8,160 million (US$200 million) of shares in Central Bank of India in an initial public offering in India and in concurrent private placements outside India (including a Rule 144A offering in the U.S.).
  • Bank of Baroda, DSP Merrill Lynch Limited, Kotak Mahindra Capital Company Limited, JM Morgan Stanley Private Limited, HSBC Securities and Capital Markets (India) Private Limited, SBI Capital Markets Limited, Karvy Investor Services Limited, Enam Financial Consultants Private Limited and the other underwriters in the sale of Rs. 16,330 million (US$380 million) of shares in Bank of Baroda in a follow-on public offering in India and in concurrent private placements outside India (including a Rule 144A offering in the U.S.).
  • Andhra Bank, Citigroup Global Markets India Private Limited, DSP Merrill Lynch Limited, Kotak Mahindra Capital Company Limited, SBI Capital Markets Limited, Enam Financial Consultants Private Limited and the other underwriters in the sale of Rs. 7,650 million (US$178 million) of shares in Andhra Bank in a follow-on public offering in India and in concurrent private placements outside India (including a Rule 144A offering in the U.S.).
  • Jagran Publications Limited, an Indian newspaper publisher (publisher of Danik Jagran, the newspaper with the world’s highest readership), DSP Merrill Lynch Limited, ICICI Securities Limited and the other underwriters in the Rs. 3,694 million (US$86 million) sale of shares in Jagran Publications Limited in an IPO in India and in concurrent private placements outside India (including a Rule 144A offering in the U.S.).
  • PVR Limited, an Indian film exhibition and film distribution company, ICICI Securities Limited, Kotak Mahindra Capital Company Limited and the other underwriters in the Rs. 1,733 million (US$40 million) sale of shares in PVR Limited in an IPO in India and in concurrent private placements outside India (including a Rule 144A offering in the U.S.). 
  • HT Media Limited, an Indian newspaper publisher (publisher of Hindustan Times), Kotak Mahindra Capital Company Limited and the other underwriters in the Rs. 4,076 million (US$95 million) sale of shares in HT Media Limited in an IPO in India and in concurrent private placements outside India (including a Rule 144A offering in the U.S.). 
  • Kotak Mahindra Investments Limited on the creation of and sale of interests in Kotak Real Estate Fund, a Rs. 7,500 million (US$175 million) fund that will invest in real estate in India and provide finance to companies in the real estate industry in India.
  • DSP Merrill Lynch Limited, Kotak Mahindra Capital Company Limited and the other underwriters in the Rs. 13,722 million (US$319 million) sale of shares in Infrastructure Development Finance Company Limited in an IPO in India and in concurrent private placements outside India (including a Rule 144A offering in the U.S.). 
  • Yes Bank Limited, DSP Merrill Lynch Limited, Enam Financial Consultants Private Limited, Karvy Stock Broking Limited and the other underwriters in the Rs. 3,150 million (US$73 million) sale of shares in Yes Bank Limited in an IPO in India and concurrent private placements outside India (including a Rule 144A offering in the U.S.). 
  • Provogue (India) Limited and SBI Capital Markets Limited, as underwriter, in the Rs. 560 million (US$13 million) sale of shares in Provogue (India) Limited in an IPO in India and in concurrent private placements outside India and the U.S. 
  • Syndicate Bank, SBI Capital Markets Limited, Enam Financial Consultants Private Limited, JM Morgan Stanley Private Limited, SSKI Corporate Finance Private Limited and the other underwriters in the Rs. 2,600 million (US$60 million) sale of shares in Syndicate Bank in a follow-on public offering in India and in concurrent private placements outside India (including a Rule 144A offering in the U.S.).
  • Shringar Cinemas Limited, Enam Financial Consultants Private Limited, JM Morgan Stanley Private Limited and the other underwriters in the Rs. 432 million (US$10 million) sale of shares in Shringar Cinemas Limited in an IPO India and in concurrent private placements outside India and the U.S. 
  • Oriental Bank of Commerce, ICICI Securities Limited, DSP Merrill Lynch Limited, Kotak Mahindra Capital Company Limited, Citigroup Global Markets India Private Limited and Bajaj Capital Limited and the other underwriters in the Rs. 13,630 million (US$317 million) sale of shares in Oriental Bank of Commerce in a follow-on public offering in India and in concurrent private placements (including a Rule 144A offering in the U.S.).
  • SBI Capital Markets Limited, DSP Merrill Lynch Limited, ICICI Securities Limited, JM Morgan Stanley Private Limited, Kotak Mahindra Capital Company Limited, Enam Financial Consultants Private Limited and the other underwriters in the Rs. 8,200 million (US$190 million) sale of shares in Allahabad Bank in a follow-on public offering in India and in concurrent private placements outside India (including a Rule 144A offering in the U.S.).
  • India Infoline Limited, Enam Financial Consultants Private Limited and the other underwriters in the Rs. 902 million (US$21 million) sale of shares in India Infoline Limited in an IPO in India and in concurrent private placements outside India and the U.S.
  • Allsec Technologies Limited, an Indian business process outsourcing company, IL&FS Investsmart Limited, Kotak Mahindra Capital Company Limited and the other underwriters in the Rs. 424.1 million (US$10 million) sale of shares in Allsec Technologies Limited in an IPO in India and in concurrent private placements outside India and the U.S..
  • Lend Lease Corporation on its proposed A$7.5 billion merger (via stapled securities) with General Property Trust. The shareholders of General Property Trust voted against the proposed transaction and it did not proceed. 
  • Bradken Limited on its A$245 million IPO on the Australian Stock Exchange ("ASX") and U.S. private placement.
  • Goldman Sachs JBWere and Macquarie Bank as underwriters of an A$190 million rights offering by Oxiana Limited.
  • JBWere on the U.S. regulatory requirements (SEC, NASD and NYSE) for its sale of a 45% interest in itself to Goldman Sachs.
  • Oil Search on the sale of two of its subsidiaries to Durban Roodepoort Deep, an SEC registered company, and the issuance of shares in Durban Roodepoort Deep to Oil Search in compliance with Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act.
  • Promina Group and Royal & SunAlliance on Promina Group's A$1.9 billion IPO on the ASX and U.S. private placement.
  • Citigroup and JPMorgan on sale of US$850 million of BHP Billiton's 4.80% Senior Notes due 2013 in an SEC-registered offering.
  • Deutsche Bank and UBS on A$500 million private placement of ordinary shares by Insurance Australia Group Limited.
  • Qantas Airways on A$720 million private placement and entitlement offer of its ordinary shares.
  • Virotec International on the establishment of its Level 2 American Depositary Receipt program.
  • Fletcher Building on NZ$123 million private placement of its ordinary shares. 
  • Deutsche Bank and UBS on A$125 million private placement of ordinary shares by PaperlinX.
  • Crane Group on its US$70 million private placement of notes.
  • UBS and JBWere on A$836 million private placement and entitlement offer of ordinary shares by Amcor.
  • Merrill Lynch on A$338 million private placement of ordinary shares by MIM.
  • Deutsche Bank as financial advisor to AngloGold in its A$3.2 billion take-over bid for Normandy Mining. 
  • UBS on A$66 million private placement of ordinary shares by OneSteel.
  • JBWere and ABN AMRO Rothschild on A$525 million private placement of distribution entitled securities by Australian Magnesium Corporation.
  • Qantas Airways on A$456 million private placement of its ordinary shares.
  • Citigroup and JBWere on A$182 million private placement of ordinary shares by Toll Holdings Limited.
  • Macquarie Bank and UBS on A$1.7 billion private placement and entitlement offer of stapled securities of Macquarie Infrastructure Group.
  • Deutsche Bank in connection with A$145 million renounceable rights issue by BRL Hardy and related underwritten offer of “shortfall” shares.
  • Macquarie Equities and JPMorgan on A$500 million private placement of ordinary shares by Macquarie Bank Limited.
  • UBS and ABN AMRO Rothschild on A$91 million private placement of ordinary shares by Oil Search Limited.
  • Merrill Lynch on A$320 million private placement of ordinary shares by CSL.
  • Citigroup, Merrill Lynch and JBWere on A$550 million private placement of ordinary shares by Suncorp-Metway.
  • Deutsche Bank on NZ$104 million private placement of ordinary shares of UnitedNetworks by its major shareholder.
  • Merrill Lynch, Credit Suisse First Boston and Macquarie Bank on A$334 million IPO on the ASX and U.S. private placement by Austereo.
  • Citigroup on A$30 million private placement of ordinary shares by Ramsay Health Care.
  • Morgan Stanley on A$197 million private placement of ordinary shares by Mayne Nickless.
  • Australian Stock Exchange on establishing Australian Stock Exchange World Link, which enables Australian investors to trade, shares listed on Nasdaq and NYSE.
  • Ilion Technology on U.S. securities and Delaware corporate law matters in connection with its conversion from a New Zealand company (formerly Pacific Lithium) into a Delaware corporation and its proposed IPO in the United States and listing on Nasdaq.
  • Foster’s on its US$1.5 billion acquisition of California-based Beringer Wine Estates as well as the related A$700 million equity funding and US$400 million debt funding.
  • ABN AMRO Rothschild and Citigroup on A$59 million IPO on the ASX and U.S. private placement by Commander Communications Limited.
  • Deutsche Bank, Citigroup and JBWere on A$350 million IPO on the ASX and U.S. private placement by Uecomm Limited.
  • Citigroup on A$102 million private placement of ordinary shares by Sonic Healthcare.
  • ABN AMRO on the US$44 million private placement of Fixed Interest Rate Interest Only Converting to Escalating Annuity Bonds by JEM US Bonds (No. 1) Pty Limited.
  • Merrill Lynch and Chase Securities Inc. on US$500 million private placement of 8% Notes due 2010 by Cable & Wireless Optus.
  • Frucor on its NZ$94 million IPO on the ASX and U.S. private placement.
  • Merrill Lynch and UBS on A$360 million private placement of ordinary shares by CSL Limited.
  • UCMS on U.S. securities and Delaware corporate law matters in connection with its conversion into a Delaware corporation and its proposed listing on the ASX.
  • Vapotronics on its restructuring as a Delaware corporation.
  • ABN AMRO Rothschild on A$87.5 million private placement of ordinary shares by SecureNet.
  • Citigroup and JPMorgan on A$60 million IPO on the ASX and U.S. private placement by IBA Technologies Limited.
  • Citigroup on A$250 million private placement by ERG Limited of convertible notes.
  • Pacific Lithium on its proposed acquisition of a U.S. public company.
  • Credit Suisse First Boston and Deutsche Bank on NZ$350 million IPO on the ASX and U.S. private placement by Tower Limited. 
  • Citigroup on A$129 million IPO on the ASX and U.S. private placement by Programmed Maintenance Services.
  • Merrill Lynch on private placement of ordinary shares by Novus Petroleum.
  • Chip Application Technologies Limited on its restructuring as a Delaware corporation (Catuity Inc.) listed on the ASX.
  • Lehman Brothers in connection with proposed IPO in the United States and dual listing on Nasdaq of Libertyone Limited, a then ASX listed company.
  • Jupiters Limited on its US$135 million 8.5% Senior Notes due 2006 follow-on SEC-registered exchange offer.
  • AKI, Inc. and AKI Holding Corp. on A/B exchange offers.
  • Apex Silver Mines Limited on its US$55 million SEC-registered IPO and listing on the American Stock Exchange.

Attorney Articles

April 6, 2009
US Regulatory Reforms in a Time of Global Financial Crisis
November 17, 2008
Baumann, Benson, and Taylor: Topping Up UK Annual Reports for the US
November 17, 2008
Ongoing Reporting Obligations: Requirements for Foreign Private Issuers

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