http://www.skrine.com/

 

Firm Profile

 

About Us

SKRINE is one of the largest law firms in Malaysia led by a team of 40 partners with over 100 lawyers across the Divisions.

We are the exclusive Malaysian member of Lex Mundi, a network of leading independent law firms in over 160 jurisdictions around the world and the Pacific Rim Advisory Council, a network of 30 top tier independent member law firms.

These memberships provide the Firm with a global reach and access to legal resources that enhance its ability to serve clients’ needs around the world and deliver seamless cross-border service.

International Accolades

Who’s Who Legal – The International Who’s Who of Malaysian Law Firm for the Years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013 & 2014 

 

Chambers Asia Pacific 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2014 – Band 1 Firm for Corporate/Mergers & Acquisitions, Dispute Resolution and Intellectual Property

International Law Office Client Choice Awards – Overall Malaysia Country Award 2012 & 2013

Asian-Mena Counsel Magazine – Most Responsive Domestic Firm Of The Year 2012 & 2013

 
Quotes mainly from clients:

 
“One thing that I like about them is that they are always able to provide sound legal advice, but also advice which is outside the box.”

Chambers Asia-Pacific 2014

 

We Are Uniquely Qualified To Support You

 

• We have extensive corporate M&A experience backed by a proved track record of performance in assisting MNCs in setting up in Malaysia
• We have served clients operating at all levels in a wide selection of industry areas in the context of M&A
• We have extensive experience in managing highly complex projects and transactions for various multinational companies
• We are one of the largest law firms in Malaysia and are able to call upon lawyers of different expertise should the need arise.

 

Why Skrine? Our Relevant Experience

 

Acquisitions, Mergers & Takeovers

 

• Acted for Prudential Financial Inc and Bank Simpanan Nasional in the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Uni. Asia Life Assurance Berhad through a newly formed joint venture for MYR 518m.

 

• Acted for Newfield in the disposal of its Malaysian oil and gas assets for MYR 2.85bn to SapuraKencana Petroleum Bhd.

 

• Represented Sun Life Financial Inc in the acquisition of CIMB Aviva Assurance and CIMB Aviva Takaful by Khazanah Nasional Berhad and Sun Life Financial Inc of 51% and 49% of the share capital in CIMB and Aviva plc respectively. The transaction is worth RM1.8 billion and includes an exclusive right to distribute insurance products including takaful products, through CIMB Bank’s network across Malaysia.

 

• Represented Friends Life FPL Limited in a disposal of its 30% shareholding in Amlife Insurance Berhad and AmFamily Takaful to AMAB Holdings Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of AMMB Holdings Berhad.

 

• Acted for ING in the AIA Group Ltd purchase of ING Malaysia for USD 1.73bn (MYR 5.3bn). SKRINE was Malaysian Counsel for the matter.

 

• Advised the Employee Provident Fund Board on the shareholders agreement and constitutional documents in respect of the Massive Equity Sdn Bhd, a joint venture between the Johor Corporation Berhad and an EPF led consortium via Melati Asia Holdings Limited for the purposes of the acquisition of the entire business and undertaking, including all the assets and liabilities of KFC Holdings (Malaysia) Berhad (“KFC”) and QSR Brands Berhad (“QSR”). KFC and QSR are primarily engaged in the operation of “Kentucky Fried Chicken” restaurants, “Pizza Hut” restaurants and the Ayamas integrated poultry business in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Cambodia and India.

 

• Acted for PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad in its acquisition of shares of targets (engaged in downstream activities) in Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia. We were the managing firm for this transaction.

 

• Advised British Petroleum in connection with the disposal to PETRONAS of BP‟s 15% interest in Ethylene Malaysia Sdn Bhd and BP‟s 60% interest in Polyethylene Malaysia Sdn Bhd, both already operated and partly-owned by PETRONAS, for an aggregate cash consideration of USD 363m (about MYR 1.2bn).

 

• Represented Genting Malaysia Berhad as Malaysian counsel in its acquisition of casino businesses in the United Kingdom from Genting Singapore PLC for a cash consideration of GBP 340m (about MYR 1.67bn).

 

• Acted for Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd, through its subsidiary, Fairfax Asia Ltd, in the acquisition of the entire share capital of the Pacific Insurance Berhad from Pacific Mas Berhad, for the purchase consideration of MYR 201m.

 

• Acted as Malaysian Counsel for Zurich Insurance Co Ltd, the acquirers in the disposal by MAA Holdings Berhad a of 4 wholly-owned subsidiaries, including Malaysian Assurance Alliance Berhad, which carries on life and general insurance business, to Zurich for a cash consideration of MYR 344m (subject to adjustments).

 

• Acted for Golden Hope Plantations Berhad in the MYR 3.2bn rationalisation exercise with Island & Peninsular Berhad involving the plantations business and the property development business of both these companies. The MYR 3.2bn rationalisation exercise involved the exchange of substantial assets between the two companies, resulting in one company focusing on plantations business and the other on property development.

 

• Acted for Golden Hope Plantations Berhad and Mentakab Rubber Company (Malaya) Berhad in the transaction involving the merger of Golden Hope Plantations Berhad, Mentakab, Sime Darby Berhad and two of its listed subsidiaries and Kumpulan Guthrie Berhad and two of its listed subsidiaries, to form Synergy Drive Bhd (now renamed Sime Darby Berhad). The transaction involved a total of eight listed companies and the total size of the transaction was about MYR 32bn. The enlarged merged group is one of the largest oil palm plantation companies in the world.

 

• Acted for PPB Group Bhd (“PPB”) in the disposal of its 55.6% equity interest in PPB Oil Palms Bhd (“PPBOP”) pursuant to a voluntary take-over offer by Wilmar International Ltd (“Wilmar”) (effectively a disposal of PPB’s oil palm plantation business). We also acted in PPB’s disposal, via its wholly-owned subsidiary FFM Bhd, of its 65.8% equity interest in PGEO Group Sdn Bhd (“PGEO”) and its 28% equity interest in Kuok Oils & Grains Pte Ltd (“KOG”) to Wilmar (effectively a disposal of PPB’s edible oils and trading businesses). Based on the last traded price of Wilmar shares at the time of the offer, the implied consideration for PPB’s interest in PPBOP was approximately MYR 2.2bn and the implied consideration for PPB’s interest in PGEO and KOG was approximately MYR 2.3bn.

 

• Acted for the PPB Group Berhad in the disposal by PPB Group of its sugar business to Felda. Transaction value was MYR 1.5bn comprising sale of a 100% interest in Malayan Sugar Manufacturing Co Bhd,50% interest in Kilang Gula Felda Perlis Sdn Bhd,20% interest in Tradewinds (M) Bhd (listed on Malaysian Stock Exchange) and a sugarcane plantation in Chuping, Perlis.

 

• Acted for the offeror in its voluntary general offer for all the shares of Island & Peninsular Berhad, a company listed on the Main Board of Bursa Malaysia.

 

• Acted for a private equity investor who acquired a stake in the vehicle (now called Malakoff Corporation Bhd) which took over the business and undertakings of Malakoff Bhd pursuant to the privatisation of Malakoff Bhd by MMC Corporation Bhd. The value of the privatisation deal was about MYR 9.3bn.

 

Capital Markets & Listing Exercise

 

We provide advice to originators, issuers, trustees and credit enhancement providers, including advising on capital markets transactions and preparing the relevant documentation for the transaction, the information memorandum and standard legal opinions. Selected transactions consists of the following:

 

• Acted as documentation solicitors in relation to the IPO of the 2nd closed-end fund listed on the Main Board of Bursa Malaysia with an initial fund size of MYR 140m.
• Acted for a UK company which had its primary listing on Bursa Malaysia and a secondary listing on the London Stock Exchange on its discontinuation of its secondary listing and transfer of its business operations to a Malaysian-incorporated company which will be listed on Bursa Malaysia in place of the UK company.
• Acted in the listing of Golden Pharos Berhad, listing of Transocean Holdings Bhd and listing of KPJ Healthcare Bhd.
• Represented Kelang Container Terminal Berhad (the first privatised port operator in Malaysia) in IPO on the KLSE.
• Represented clients in 24 initial public offerings of shares on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange, including:
  • Edaran Otomobil Nasional Berhad (the sales arm of the first Malaysian Car Project);
  • Hong Leong Bank Berhad (a financial institution with commercial banking, finance company and credit and leasing businesses);
  • TA Enterprise Berhad (the holding company of the largest retail stockbroking company in Malaysia);
  • Omega Holdings Berhad (the holding company of 2 stockbroking companies in Malaysia);
  • Inti Universal Holdings Berhad (a group of higher learning institutions in Malaysia).

 

Notable Practitioners

To’ Puan Janet Looi Lai Heng