Relevant Experience (Corporate Commercial)

Our experience in the Nigerian Oil & Gas sector is vast and varied. We have advised operators, contractors, banks and other financial institutions on several projects and transactions in the Nigerian oil and gas sector

EXAMPLES OF REPRESENTATIVE TRANSACTIONS OF THE FIRM* 

• Advising on the $785 Million Oso Field Development Project jointly owned by Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and partly financed by equity from the sponsors, and debt capital from international institutions, such as, the World Bank, International Finance Corporation (IFC), US Export Import Bank, Japan Export Import Bank and the European Investment Bank.

• Advising and negotiating the project financing, documentation and designing of the investment vehicle of the US$810million Oso-NGL Project, a gas utilisation project, which was sequel to the Oso-Field Development Project, and partly financed by equity from the sponsors and debt capital by a number of institutional investors in the United States and Europe. .

• In collaboration with lawyers in a UK law firm, acting for and advising a group of International Banks on aspects of the financing of the Eleme Petrochemical Plant.

• Advising Skye Bank Plc a USD75million syndicated petroleum products receivables pre-financing facility.

• Advising Skye Bank Plc in connection with the negotiation of a trade finance facility from African Export – Import Bank (“Afrexim”)

• Representing UTC Nigeria Plc, a publicly quoted company in a $14 million debt restructuring.

• Advising UTC Nigeria Plc on a rights issue.

• Advising on the Merger between the Nigerian subsidiaries of SmithKline Beecham and Sterling Products.

• Advising and assisting a private developer on the Concession Agreement with the Lagos State Government relating to the redevelopment of the Balogun Square Market in the Central Business District of Lagos

• Advising and assisting a private investor in connection with a joint venture arrangement with the Government of Ondo State of Nigeria, involving the privatization of the Ondo State Afforestation Project which was initially funded by the African Development Bank.
  Advising Inlaks Plc, a Conglomerate at that time, on the separation and corporatisation of some of its divisions.

• Advising and assisting a private investor in connection with the acquisition of Iwopin Pulp and Paper Company from the Bureau of Public Enterprises (‘BPE”) / Federal Government of Nigeria.

• Advising a leading Aluminum Company in Nigeria on a Scheme of Arrangement involving the Parent Company and a subsidiary.

• Advising a potential investor in the acquisition of equity shareholding in Nike Lake Resort under the proposed privatisation by the Enugu State Government.

• Advising on the structuring and financing of a major Hotel Project in Lagos, involving the international hotel chain, Accor.

• Advising the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) on the privatisation of the Abuja Sheraton Hotel.

• Advising the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) on the Privatisation of the Abuja International Hotel.

• Advising and documenting various syndicated facilities relating to Peugeot Automobile Nigeria, Intel Oil Services, G. Cappa, International Distillers, Victoria Garden Hotels and several other leading Companies.

• Advising Inlaks Plc, a Conglomerate at that time, on the separation and corporatisation of some of its division.

• Advising May and Baker Nigeria Plc on several rights issues and offers for subscription.

• Advising and assisting Royal Exchange Assurance Company Limited on several capital market transactions for various domestic and multinational clients

• Advising the International Finance Corporation on various aspects of financing of the re-organisation of the Federal Palace Hotels, Lagos, Nigeria.

• Advising on the structuring and financing of a large cotton-processing mill, in which the International Finance Corporation (IFC) provided debt finance.

• In collaboration with Nexton, conducted legal due diligence for Oceanic Bank Plc in respect to the relation to the acquisition of a bank in Ghana

• Advising on a number of banking and financial transactions including structuring and drafting of equipment leases, sale & lease back contracts and advising on the floatation of companies' securities in the capital market.

• Advising on several acquisitions and mergers, involving oil service companies, including the acquisition by Baker Hughes of a minority interest in a Nigerian Oil Service Company.

• Advising Baker Hughes on all legal aspects of the construction and development of a major facility in Port Harcourt, from negotiation of the long lease for the property to negotiating and rendering advise on the construction contract, advising on town planning regulatory issues as well as environmental issues, and undertaking the registration and perfection of the long lease.

• Advising and assisting Parker Drilling and its Nigerian affiliate on the licensing and flag registration of their vessels in Nigeria and compliance with the Cabotage Laws and Regulations

• Advising a US Oil Service Company on the establishment of wholly owned subsidiary in Nigeria - KDN Drilling Ltd., and assisting in obtaining all pre-investment and regulatory approvals.

• Advising Statoil on all legal aspects of the development of a number of residential and office complexes in prime areas of Lagos, Nigeria.

• Advising a South Africa Telecommunications group in its bid for a strategic stake in a Nigerian Mobile Cellular Network Company.

• Advising on and documentation of the Joint Venture between Ferrostaal, AG Germany and Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited.

• Representing General Telecom in the negotiation of a BOT arrangement for the development of an HNS Wireless Exchange Operation in Nigeria.

• Preparation of loan agreements, drafting, reviewing and advising on various Security Documentation including but not limited to Legal Mortgages, Debentures (Fixed, Floating and Mortgage), Equipment Leases including Sale and Lease Back contracts, bills of sale, mortgage debentures, pledges, guarantees and indemnities.

• Advising on the acquisition of Flexcube banking software by Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and Finnacle banking software by First Atlantic Bank Ltd.

• Advising on the acquisition of an Internet based Money Transfer facility by First Atlantic Bank Ltd.

• Advising Statoil on the establishment of several subsidiary companies in Nigeria, including processing and obtaining of all pre-investment and regulatory approvals.

* Includes matters handled by members of Gbenga Biobaku & Co. prior to joining the Firm.