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Multidisciplinary service tailored to your needs

Corporate

Meysan’s Corporate Group provides integrated advice and service across a spectrum of practice areas. The Group’s diverse client base includes international and regional industrial and commercial companies, financial service institutions, investment funds, governments and individuals.

Our lawyers are frequently engaged in complex commercial matters that have significant regulatory and litigation issues.The Group distinguishes itself by coordinating seamlessly across the Firm to provide multidisciplinary service tailored to the client’s needs.

Meysan’s Corporate Group core practice areas are:

Bank Finance and Restructuring:

Our lawyers represent lenders and borrowers in some of the largest and most complicated financing transactions in the region. Our clients include many of the region’s largest commercial banks, investment banks, insurance companies, finance companies, investment and merchant banking firms, private investment funds and other institutional lenders and investors, as well as private equity sponsors, strategic buyers, borrowers and issuers of securities.

Meysan banking lawyers advise on all types of financing transactions, including:

  • Acquisition financings
  • Asset-backed financings
  • Mezzanine financings
  • Workouts and restructurings
  • Private placements
  • Investment grade financings

Representative transactions for our lawyers include advising:

National Real Estate Company,on a “first-of-its kind” convertible loan transaction for the issuer, National Real Estate Company of Kuwait, a publicly listed real estate and investment company and one of the largest real estate companies in Kuwait. Deal value is  US$100 million convertible loan, involving a unique debt-to-equity conversion.

A’ayan Leasing & Investment Company, on all aspect of its US$ 1.5 billion restructuring including advising on court proceedings under the Financial Stability Law.

The Carlyle Group, in the restructuring and workout of senior loan facilities at TVK, a Turkish shipyard.

International Petroleum Investment Company, in the $450 million restructuring of Hyundai Oil Refining Company.

Kuwait Finance House “KFH”, on the reorganisation of its global direct investment portfolio.

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), on the establishment of a branch in Kuwait, including advising on Central Bank of Kuwait and Kuwait Foreign Investment Bureau approval processes.

National Bank of Kuwait, as lead arranger in the $475 million Sulaibiya Wastewater Project in Kuwait, the first BOT in the State of Kuwait (Winner of Project Finance Magazine’s Middle East Water Deal of the Year).

Capital Markets:

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Our lawyers regularly represent clients in some of the most sophisticated and innovative capital-raising transactions in the region. Not only are our lawyers able to navigate the complex regulatory regimes in the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council, in many instances, they have helped draft or shape the legislation and regulations that were designed to enhance the growth of the region’s capital markets.

We represent both issuers and investment banks in the full range of securities offerings, including:

Initial public offerings

Privatization of major state-owned industries

Private placements of securities

Debt and equity derivative securities, including suhuk offerings

Asset-backed offerings

Investment grade financings


We also advise clients on regulatory compliance, and corporate governance issues, and the evolving government regulations affecting capital markets activities.

Representative transactions for our lawyers include advising:

National Real Estate Company Kuwait - NREC on the structuring of the transaction, preparation of transaction documents arranging all Capital Markets Authority approvals and consents, Ministry of Commerce and Industry approvals, arranging for corporate approvals.

Massaleh Real Estate Co, we advised Massaleh Real Estate Company K.S.C.P. a publicly traded company, on a debt restructuring, and sale of shares of its subsidiaries.

National Investment Company, First Investment Company, Arzan Financial Group, Athens Stock Exchange, on the bidding phase organized by the Kuwait Capital Markets Authority prior to the launch of the privatization process.

National Bank of Kuwait on their most recent public rights issue of KD 137 Million in June 2016 in compliance with Basel III standards. The rights issue was the first for a leading bank under the new capital markets regulations in Kuwait. Meysan Partners acted as issuer’s counsel. This issuance was under Kuwait Law.

Markaz Financial Centre in their recent bonds issuance scheduled for closing in December 2016. Meysan Partners acted as issuer’s counsel.

Boubyan Bank in their recent Tier 1 Sukuk issuance of USD 250 Million in May 2016 in compliance with Basel III standards, the first ever globally and the first under the new Kuwaiti regulations on Sukuk issuance. Meysan Partners acted as underwriters’ counsel. This issuance was under English Law.

Gulf Bank in their Tier 2 Bonds issuance of KD 100 Million in May 2016 in compliance with Basel III standards, the first for a leading bank under the new Kuwaiti regulations on bonds’ issuance. Meysan Partners acted as issuer’s counsel. This issuance was under Kuwait Law.

Ahli United Bank in their recent Tier 1 Sukuk issuance of USD 200 Million in October 2016 in compliance with Basel III standards. Meysan Partners acted as issuer’s counsel. This issuance was under English Law.

Warba Bank in their recent Tier 1 Sukuk issuance of USD 200 Million in compliance with Basel III standards, that is still on-going. Meysan Partners is acting as underwriters’ counsel. This issuance was under English Law.

The Kuwait Capital Markets Authority on the privatization and IPO of the Kuwait Stock Exchange, including the structuring of the privatization under the new Kuwait Companies Law, and the drafting of the special law on the privatization of the Kuwait Stock Exchange.

Petrochemicals Industries Company, K.S.C. privatization committee and the board of directors with regards to the structuring and implementation of its private sector participation initiative in relation to its polypropylene plant

Mergers and Acquisitions

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Meysan represents a diverse range of multinational and domestic companies and financial institutions in not only the region’s largest mergers and acquisitions, but also many first-of-their-kind transactions in the region. We excel in regional M&A transactions, and our unparalleled experience and unified regional practice heighten our ability to seamlessly handle cross-border transactions.

We regularly advise companies on making acquisitions, merging, or being acquired. Our lawyers bring an understanding and appreciation for our clients’ business needs to every deal, and the firm measures its success on our ability to meet and exceed those needs. Our M&A team draws on the full resources of the firm as needed in a given transaction, coordinating efforts with our capital markets, commercial and regulatory, and bank finance lawyers.

Representative transactions for our lawyers include advising:

Advised Falcon Group on the acquisition of 4sale a leading online classifieds firm. Meysan acted as the exclusive legal advisor to the selling shareholders Falcon Group, the owner of the 4Sale business, the leading site in Kuwait for online classified advertisements. Valued at $100m.

Advised Al-Khair National for Stocks and Real Estate Company, on the sale of its shares representing 12.063% of Zain's issued share capital, to Oman Telecommunications Company ("Omantel") valued at $1.5 billion.

Advised Mobile Telecommunications Company “Zain” on the sale of its entire block of treasury shares, representing 9.84% of Zain's share capital, to Oman Telecommunications Company ("Omantel") valued at $846m.

Advised National Investment Company, First Investment Company, Arzan Financial Group, Athens Stock Exchange. in respect of its acquisition of a 44 percent equity stake in Boursa Kuwait, the Kuwait stock exchange in a deal valued at $65m.

Advised British School of Kuwait We advised the selling shareholders of The British School of Kuwait, the largest private school in Kuwait, on the sale of 100% of its equity interest to publicly listed company, Nord Anglia Education, valued at $160m. Advised Kuwait Telecommunications Company (Viva Kuwait), in relation to its acquisition of Kuwait internet service provider Qualitynet from Batelco and National Bank of Kuwait. Viva acquired the entire share capital of Qualitynet for a total value of KD 28.3 million, consisting of a 90 percent stake from Batelco, and 10 percent from National Bank of Kuwait. Overall the deal is valued at just under US$100 million.

Taameer Real Estate Investment Company in relation to the sale of two luxury hotels in Morocco. Our role involved assisting the sellers in respect of the sale of 100 percent of the issued share capital of two hotel companies in Morocco, Ram Three and Boulevard Hotel Company

Advised the shareholders of Abyat Megastore in the sale of a 35% strategic interest in Abyat Megastore to Saudi Arabian regional conglomerate, Al Muhaidib Group.

Advised Affiliates of the Al-Kharafi Group, and Kuwait Financial Centre - Markaz as financial advisor, on the sale of a 29.5% equity stake in a publicly listed Kuwaiti company Heavy Engineering Industries & Shipbuilding Co, valued at $130m.

Advised National Investment Company KSCP on the first ever corporate merger in Kuwait under the new 2015 merger regulations.  The merger involved two NIC affiliates regulated by the CMA as financial brokerage companies, Al Seef and Al Waseet, deal valued at $100m.

Advised the shareholders of online food takeaway market leader Talabat.com on its acquisition for $170m by German E-commerce group, Rocket Internet AG.

Tristar Transport LLC on its acquisition of Abu Dhabi-based Emirates Ship Investment Company, also known as “Eships”, from Egon Oldendorff GmbH & Co. KG, a company of the Oldendorff Group, for $ 90 million.

PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND FINANCE

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Meysan’s lawyers have advised on the development and financing of some of the most cutting-edge transactions in the region. These include public-private partnerships, acquisitions and divestitures (including privatizations), private equity investments, debt restructurings, tax equity transactions and the resolution of political risk claims and investment disputes. We excel in helping clients craft sophisticated solutions to issues that arise in connection with projects in all major industries in the region. Our clients include sponsors, project companies, lenders, private commercial and investment banks, placement agents, underwriters, export credit agencies, multilateral lending institutions, suppliers, contractors, off-take purchasers and advisors.

We advise on:

Initial development and financing of a project

Restructuring and refinancing of projects

Project mergers, acquisitions, and dispositions

Sovereign and project restructurings, political risk insurance, and other novel split-risk arrangements

Representative transactions for our lawyers include advising:

Kuwait Ministry of Communications, we a advised the Ministry of communication on a PPP project for the Kuwaiti fixed line telecommunications network as part of a consortium. Work includes legal due diligence, regulatory advice, preparation of the feasibility study, running the RFQ process and preparing the PPP contract.

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company in:

**Its auction sale of a 28% strategic undivided interest in the Upper Zakum Field, one of the largest offshore oilfields in the world,

**The merger of Abu Dhabi Gas Industries Limited and Abu Dhabi Gas Company.

Egis on its acquisition of a 51% interest in one of the largest Middle Eastern project and construction management firms.

National Waste Management Company and Boubyan Petrochemicals Company, sponsors of the $120 million Amghara Solid Waste Treatment Project in Kuwait.

Mubadala, in negotiating and drafting the Development and Production Sharing Agreement and the Joint Venture Agreement relating to Project Dolphin, the landmark project to develop a tract of Qatar’s giant North Field and produce up to 2 billion cubic feet of gas per day for export to the United Arab Emirates.

National Bank of Kuwait as lead arranger in the $475 million Sulaibiya Wastewater Project in Kuwait, the first BOT in the State of Kuwait (Winner of Project Finance Magazine’s Middle East Water Deal of the Year).

Petrochemicals Industries Company, K.S.C. privatization committee and the board of directors with regards to the structuring and implementation of its private sector participation initiative in relation to its polypropylene plant.

Kuwait Energy plc. in reviewing and negotiating the Heads of Terms in connection to the sale of a net revenue interest to affiliates of Schlumberger Ltd.

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company in

**Its auction sale of a 28% strategic undivided interest in the Upper Zakum Field, one of the largest offshore oilfields in the world, and

**The merger of Abu Dhabi Gas Industries Limited and Abu Dhabi Gas Company.

The shareholders of Iso Octane Company, an independent refining company in the Emirate of Dubai, in its proposed $200 million sale to affiliates of The Carlyle Group and Riverstone Holdings.

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