Adnan Sundra & Low > Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia > Firm Profile

Adnan Sundra & Low
Level 25, Menara Etiqa
No. 3, Jalan Bangsar Utama 1
59000
Malaysia

Malaysia > Banking and finance Tier 1

Adnan Sundra & Low boasts a full-service banking and finance practice and showcases a demonstrable track record advising on corporate and finance matters across the spectrum. Acting for an extensive range of domestic and international financial institutions and listed companies, the firm regularly handles complex corporate structure work, acquisition finance matters, debt restructuring, and loan syndication. In addition to its regular involvement in syndicated financing, bilateral loans, and project financing, the team has recently extended its scope of work to include handling green and sustainability-linked financing. Adrian Chee is renowned for his M&A work, while Deepak Sadasivan is recognised for his expertise in capital markets and Islamic finance transactions.  Edward NG Foo Yuen, Gan Kok Ling, Putri Norlisa Najib, Kim Lim, and Hairolnisah Hamdan draw from their collective experience to further strengthen the department. All named individuals collectively lead the department.

Practice head(s):

Deepak Sadasivan; Adrian Chee; Edward Ng Foo Yuen; Gan Kok Ling; Putri Norlisa Najib; Kim Lim; Hairolnisah Hamdan

Other key lawyers:

Jennifer Lee

Key clients

AmInvestment Bank Berhad

Hong Leong Investment Bank Berhad

Maybank Investment Bank Berhad

Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Berhad

BNP Paribas

CIMB Investment Bank Berhad

Citigroup Global Markets Limited

DBS Bank Ltd

Government of Malaysia

Groupe Solmax Inc

Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited

JP Morgan

Malayan Banking Berhad

Malaysia Wakala Sukuk Berhad

Maybank Islamic Berhad

Merrill Lynch (Singapore) Pte Ltd

MIDF Amanah Investment Bank Berhad

MUFG Securities Asia Limited

OCBC Al-Amin Bank Berhad

OCBC Bank (Malaysia) Berhad

RHB Investment Bank Berhad

United Overseas Bank (Malaysia) Berhad

Citigroup Global Markets Singapore Pte Ltd

MUFG Securities Asia Limited Singapore Branch

Standard Chartered Bank (Singapore) Limited

Affin Hwang Investment Bank Berhad

HSBC Amanah Malaysia Berhad

EdgePoint Malaysia Holdings Sdn Bhd

Work highlights

  • Advised AmInvestment Bank Berhad, CIMB Investment Bank Berhad and Hong Leong Investment Bank Berhad on the Senior sustainable and responsible investment Sukuk  Murabahah programme of up to RM5.5bn in nominal value based on the Shariah principle of Murabahah (via Tawarruq arrangement) (“Sustainability Sukuk Murabahah Programme”) established by Amanat Lebuhraya Rakyat Berhad.
  • Advised CIMB Bank Investment Bank Berhad and Maybank Investment Bank Berhad on TNB Power Generation Sdn. Bhd.’s first issuance of RM1.5bn sustainability Islamic medium term notes under an Islamic medium term notes programme of up to RM10bn in nominal value.
  • Advised Maybank Investment Bank Berhad and Affin Hwang Investment Bank Berhad on a Sukuk Wakalah programme of up to RM3.5bn in nominal value based on the Shariah principle of Wakalah Bi Al-Istithmar by Johor Corporation.

Malaysia > Capital markets Tier 1

Adnan Sundra & Low’s well-established capital markets offering includes advising local and international multinationals, government agencies, and financiers, on conventional corporate structures in addition to its strong Islamic finance specialism. The firm has demonstrable experience in handling structured finance matters, and standout work includes working on major Islamic exchangeable bonds issuances and perpetual Sukuks. Adrian Chee Meng Yang is an expert in the M&A field, while Deepak Sadavisan is renowned for his involvement in project finance work, and Edward NG Foo Yuen focuses on debt capital markets transactions and corporate bonds. Gan Kok Ling, Putri Norlisa Najib, Jerry Tiew Wei Hsiang, Jennifer Lee Tze-Hui, Kim Lim, Hairolnisah Hamdan, Wong Chin Chin, Murni Zuyati Zukifli Aziz, Tracy Ng Tsu Ynn, and Justin Chua, bolster the team’s strength with their collective experience. All named individuals lead the firm’s practice.

Practice head(s):

Deepak Sadasivan; Adrian Chee Meng Yang; Edward Ng Foo Yuen; Gan Kok Ling; Putri Norlisa Najib; Jerry Tiew Wei Hsiang; Jennifer Lee Tze-Hui; Kim Lim; Hairolnisah Hamdan; Wong Chin Chin; Murni Zuyati Zulkifli Aziz; Tracy Ng Ysu Ynn; Justin Chua Ee Ghee

Key clients

AmInvestment Bank Berhad

Hong Leong Investment Bank Berhad

Maybank Investment Bank Berhad

Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Berhad

BNP Paribas

CIMB Investment Bank Berhad

Citigroup Global Markets Limited

DBS Bank Ltd

Government of Malaysia

Groupe Solmax Inc

Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited

JP Morgan

Malayan Banking Berhad

Malaysia Wakala Sukuk Berhad

Maybank Islamic Berhad

Merrill Lynch (Singapore) Pte Ltd

MIDF Amanah Investment Bank Berhad

MUFG Securities Asia Limited

OCBC Al-Amin Bank Berhad

OCBC Bank (Malaysia) Berhad

RHB Investment Bank Berhad

United Overseas Bank (Malaysia) Berhad

Citigroup Global Markets Singapore Pte. Ltd

MUFG Securities Asia Limited Singapore Branch

Standard Chartered Bank (Singapore) Limited

Affin Hwang Investment Bank Berhad

HSBC Amanah Malaysia Berhad

EdgePoint Malaysia Holdings Sdn Bhd

Work highlights

  • Advised AmInvestment Bank Berhad, CIMB Investment Bank Berhad and Hong Leong Investment Bank Berhad on the Senior sustainable and responsible investment Sukuk Murabahah programme of up to RM5.5bn in nominal value.
  • Advised CIMB Bank Investment Bank Berhad and Maybank Investment Bank Berhad on TNB Power Generation Sdn. Bhd.’s first issuance of RM1.5bn sustainability Islamic medium termnotes under an Islamic medium term notes programme of up to RM10bn in nominal value.
  • Advised Maybank Investment Bank Berhad and Affin Hwang Investment Bank Berhad on a Sukuk Wakalah programme of up to RM3.5bn in nominal value based on the Shariah principle of Wakalah Bi Al-Istithmar by Johor Corporation.

Malaysia > Islamic finance Tier 1

Adnan Sundra & Low’s leading Islamic finance practice offers its know-how to a variety of local and international clients, including offshore funds, financial institutions, developers and government agencies. The firm has demonstrable experience in negotiating and documenting complex Islamic financial structures and is particularly skilled at advising on Islamic exchangeable bonds issuances, where recent standout work includes handling the world’s first perpetual Sukuk. The team is collectively led by the following practitioners: expert Adrian Chee Meng Yang, who focuses on sustainability-linked Islamic finance, specialist Deepak Sadasivan who handles Islamic stapled securities transactions, Edward NG Foo Yuen, Gan Kok Ling, Putri Norlisa Najib, Kim Lim, and Hairolnisah Hamdan.

Practice head(s):

Deepak Sadasivan; Adrian Chee Meng Yang; Edward NG Foo Yuen; Gan Kok Ling; Putri Norlisa Najib; Kim Lim; Hairolnisah Hamdan

Key clients

AmInvestment Bank Berhad

Hong Leong Investment Bank Berhad

Maybank Investment Bank Berhad

Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Berhad

BNP Paribas

CIMB Investment Bank Berhad

Citigroup Global Markets Limited

DBS Bank Ltd

Government of Malaysia

Groupe Solmax Inc

HongKong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited

JP Morgan

Malayan Banking Berhad

Malaysia Wakala Sukuk Berhad

Maybank Islamic Berhad

Merrill Lynch (Singapore) Pte Ltd

MIDF Amanah Investment Bank Berhad

MUFG Securities Asia Limited

OCBC Al-Amin Bank Berhad

OCBC Bank (Malaysia) Berhad

RHB Investment Bank Berhad

United Overseas Bank (Malaysia) Berhad

Citigroup Global Markets Singapore Pte. Ltd

MUFG Securities Asia Limited Singapore Branch

Standard Chartered Bank (Singapore) Limited

Affin Hwang Investment Bank Berhad

HSBC Amanah Malaysia Berhad

EdgePoint Malaysia Holdings Sdn Bhd

Work highlights

  • Advised AmInvestment Bank Berhad, CIMB Investment Bank Berhad and Hong Leong Investment Bank Berhad on the senior sustainable and responsible investment Sukuk Murabahah programme of up to RM 5.5bn in nominal value based on the Shariah principle of Murabahah.
  • Advised CIMB Investment Bank Berhad and Maybank Investment Bank Berhad on TNB Power Generation Sdn Bhd’s first issuance of RM1.5bn sustainability Islamic medium term notes programme, under an Islamic medium term notes programme of up to RM10bn in nominal value.
  • Advised Maybank Investment Bank Berhad and Affin Hwang Investment Bank Berhad on a Sukuk Wakalah programme of up to RM3.5bn in nominal value based on the Shariah principle of Wakalah Bi Al-Istithmar by Johor Corporation.

Malaysia > Corporate and M&A Tier 3

Adnan Sundra & Low's practice has a number of specialist practitioners at its helm, including Wong Chin Chin, How Tze Yen, Tracy Ng Tsu Ynn, Justin Chua, and Jacyn Phuah Lee Zhin. The team has experience advising on the structural and regulatory aspects of high-value transactions, with notable expertise in the telecoms, technology, consumer goods, financial services, retail and manufacturing sectors. Key areas of expertise include M&A and IPOs, with additional experience in handling Islamic finance-related matters.

Practice head(s):

Wong Chin Chin; How Tze Yen; Tracy Ng Tsu Ynn; Justin Chua Ee Ghee; Jacyn Phuah Lee Zhin

Key clients

Axiata Group Berhad

Farm Fresh Berhad

Work highlights

  • Advised on the IPO of up to 743.18 ordinary shares in Farm Fresh Berhad.
  • Advised Axiata Group Berhad on the merger of the telco operations of Celcom Axiata Berhad and Digi.com Berhad.

Malaysia > Projects and energy Tier 3

The team at Adnan Sundra & Low has Adrian Chair and Khem Thadani at its helm. The practice’s workload includes advising its clients on energy, infrastructure and construction projects, and the banking and finance arena is a particular area of focus, advising on the high-value loan facilities and financing arrangements required in order for significant and often cross-border projects to commence. Ng Jo-Leen is another key name to note amidst the cohort.

Practice head(s):

Adrian Chair; Khem Thadani

Other key lawyers:

Hairolnisah Hamdan; Constance Low Yit Chen; Kewinder Singh Malhi; Ng Jo-Leen; Jasprit Kaur; Vishnzu Ragupathi

Work highlights

  • Advised AmInvestment Bank Berhad, CIMB Investment Bank Berhad and Hong Leong Investment Bank Berhad on a Senior sustainable and responsible investment Sukuk Murabahah programme of up to RM5.5bn based on the Shariah principle of Murabaha.
  • Advised joint lead arrangers for TNB Power Generation Sdn. Bhd.’s first issuance of RM1.5bn sustainability Islamic medium term notes under an Islamic medium term notes programme of up to RM10bn in nominal value.
  • Acting as counsel for Farm Fresh Berhad regarding the IPO of up to 743m ordinary shares.

 The firm: ADNAN SUNDRA & LOW was established in August 1975 and has been consistently ranked as a leading law firm in Malaysia with a reputation for delivering quality and effective legal services and solutions.

Main areas of practice
Banking and finance, capital markets, Islamic finance: Our team has advised on local and cross-border banking and finance transactions, inclusive of acquisition finance, corporate finance, project finance, debt restructuring, and the following market­-pioneering transactions:

  • the world’s first, and Malaysia’s largest, exchangeable sukuk
  • the world’s first perpetual sukuk
  • the world’s first Green SRI sukuk
  • Malaysia’s first Islamic stapled securities transac­tion
  • Malaysia’s first municipal bonds
  • project financing of the first independent power utility in Malaysia and the first coal-fired independent power plant in Malaysia, also the biggest in Southeast Asia
  • many significant Malaysian IPOs including Malaysia’s largest IPOs in 2015 and 2017, Asia’s largest IPO in 2012 and Southeast Asia’s largest IPOs in 2009 and 2010.

Corporate M&A: Our team is able to advise on a full range of corporate advisory issues, and our track record includes advis­ing on:

  • establishment of the first Shariah compli­ant unlisted real estate investment trust (REIT), which is also the first education REIT in Malaysia
  • the joint venture between Malaysia’s largest petroleum company and a Saudi-Arabian petroleum company in relation to a US$7bn investment in a refinery and petrochemical integrated development project in Malaysia
  • the acquisition of the first deepwater semi-submersible floating production system in the Asia Pacific region
  • a global agribusiness and food company’s US$1bn acquisition of a majority interest in a specialty fats/edible oils producer from a leading Malaysian plantation group
  • a merger between hyper­market operators creating the third-largest hypermarket operator in Malaysia
  • a number of mergers between Malaysian banking and financial institutions
  • corporate debt restructuring schemes under section 176 of the Malaysian Companies Act 1965 and 2016

Dispute resolution: Our team has represented most major Malay­sian financial institutions and is experienced in handling a broad range of complex banking, contractual, commercial, employment, restructuring and insolvency matters in Malaysian courts and arbitration tribunals in Malaysia and worldwide. Our notable work includes:

  • acting for Malaysia’s largest bank in obtaining vesting orders effecting the ownership transfer of non-performing loans, part of the first ever sale of non-performing loans in Malaysia via open auction
  • acting for the applicant in the issuance of the first ever High Court order preventing a party or its nominees from using a restraining order under section 176(10) (A) of the Companies Act 1965 to delay the rights of a lender or security holder
  • acting for the security trustee in a foreclosure action resulting in the first ever decision of an Malaysian appellate court affirming a chargee’s right to exclude a structure (where individual titles have not been issued) from foreclosure of the master title
  • obtaining an order for the appointment of a receiver and manager over a missing person’s estate

Real estate: Our real estate practice is premised on ensuring that clients benefit commercially from real estate opportunities and we had advised a number of specialist real estate transactions including:

  • the joint development of over 110 acres of land, which include the construction and sale of residential units, retail units, hotels, service apartments, office towers, commercial shops and offices
  • the sale and transfer of iconic na­tional landmark structures in Kuala Lumpur between the holding company and its group real estate investment trust
  • complex land issues in the listings of significant listed property development companies and palm-oil plantation companies, involving some 350,000 hectares of land held under more than 1,200 titles
  • the sale and purchase of a five-star international hotel and hotel business in Kuala Lumpur

Projects energy and infrastructure: Our projects energy and infrastructure team has advised on some of the largest and most sophisticated projects which include the following:

  • the proposed Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail Project
  • a foreign joint venture on the Ipoh-Rawang Double Track Rail electrification project
  • the development and financing of a 50MW solar photovoltaic plant in Malaysia
  • the divestment of the the largest multi fuel integrated power generating facility (2,420MW), with a transaction value of MYR4.2bn
  • the delivery of electrical energy and telecommunications from a hydroelectric dam in Sarawak to Peninsular Malaysia by submarine power cables
  • the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit Project
  • a 2,400MW hydroelectric dam in Sarawak
  • a 2,100 MW Coal-Fired Power Plant
  • the North-South Highway in Peninsular Malaysia. We have also advised on projects located in Australia, Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia and Central Asia

Recent awards and accolades

  • Malaysian Law Firm Of The Year – Asian Legal Business Malaysia Law Awards 2016
  • West Malaysia Law Firm Of The Year – ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2017, 2018
  • National Law Firm Of The Year – International Financial Law Review Asia Awards, 2007, 2014
  • Islamic Finance Law Firm Of The Year – ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2016, 2017, 2018
  • Banking and Financial Services Law Firm of the Year – ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018
  • Islamic Finance News (IFN) Law Awards 2018 – ESG, Green, SRI Law Firm of the Year
  • IFN Deals of the Year Awards 2017 – Commodity Murabahah Deal of the Year 2017, Equity Deal Of The Year 2017, Structured Finance Deal Of The Year and Project & Infrastructure Deal Of The Year

www.asl.com.my
Tel: 603 2070 0466
Fax: 603 2078 3382
Managing partner: Deepak Sadasivan
Number of partners: 26
Number of consultants: 3
Number of lawyers: 63

Department Name Email Telephone
Banking and finance Rodney D'Cruz rodney.dcruz@asl.com.my
Capital markets
Islamic finance
Corporate M&A
Dispute resolution
Real estate
Projects Energy & Infrastructure
Number of lawyers : 63
Bahasa Malaysia
English

ADNAN SUNDRA & LOW 

www.asl.com.my

tel: 603 2070 0466 fax: 603 2078 3382

Managing Partner(s): Deepak Sadasivan

Number of partners: 26 Number of Consultants: 3 Number of Lawyers: 63

 Firm overview:

ADNAN SUNDRA & LOW was established in August 1975 and has been consistently ranked as a leading law firm in Malaysia with a reputation for delivering quality and effective legal services and solutions.

Main Areas Of Practice:-

Banking & Finance, Capital Markets, Islamic Finance

Our team has advised on local and cross-border banking and finance transactions, inclusive of acquisition finance, corporate finance, project finance, debt restructuring, and the following market­-pioneering transactions:

  • the world’s first, and Malaysia’s largest, exchangeable Sukuk;
  • the world’s first perpetual sukuk ;
  • the world’s first Green SRI sukuk;
  • Malaysia’s first Islamic stapled securities transac­tion;
  • Malaysia’s first municipal bonds;
  • project financing of the first independent power utility in Malaysia and the first coal-fired independent power plant in Malaysia, also the biggest in Southeast Asia; and
  • many significant Malaysian IPOs including Malaysia’s largest IPOs in 2015 and 2017, Asia’s largest IPO in 2012 and Southeast Asia’s largest IPOs in 2009 and 2010.

Corporate M&A

Our team is able to advise on a full range of corporate advisory issues, and our track record includes advis­ing on :

  • establishment of the first Shariah compli­ant unlisted real estate investment trust (REIT), which is also the first education REIT in Malaysia;
  • the joint venture between Malaysia’s largest petroleum company and a Saudi-Arabian petroleum company in relation to a USD7 billion investment in a refinery and petrochemical integrated development project in Malaysia;
  • the acquisition of the first deepwater semi-submersible floating production system in the Asia Pacific region;
  • a global agribusiness and food company’s USD1 billion acquisition of a majority interest in a specialty fats/edible oils producer from a leading Malaysian plantation group;
  • a merger between hyper­market operators creating the third-largest hypermarket operator in Malaysia;
  • a number of mergers between Malaysian banking and financial institutions; and
  • corporate debt restructuring schemes under section 176 of the Malaysian Companies Act 1965 and 2016.

Dispute Resolution

Our team has represented most major Malay­sian financial institutions and is experienced in handling a broad range of complex banking, contractual, commercial, employment, restructuring and insolvency matters in Malaysian courts and arbitration tribunals in Malaysia and worldwide. Our notable work includes:

  • acting for Malaysia’s largest bank in obtaining vesting orders effecting the ownership transfer of non-performing loans, part of the first ever sale of non-performing loans in Malaysia via open auction;
  • acting for the applicant in the issuance of the first ever High Court order preventing a party or its nominees from using a restraining order under section 176(10) (A) of the Companies Act 1965 to delay the rights of a lender or security holder;
  • acting for the security trustee in a foreclosure action resulting in the first ever decision of an Malaysian appellate court affirming a chargee’s right to exclude a structure (where individual titles have not been issued) from foreclosure of the master title; and
  • obtaining an order for the appointment of a receiver and manager over a missing person’s estate.

Real Estate

Our real estate practice is premised on ensuring that clients benefit commercially from real estate opportunities and we had advised a number of specialist real estate transactions including:

  • the joint development of over 110 acres of land, which include the construction and sale of residential units, retail units, hotels, service apartments, office towers, commercial shops and offices;
  • the sale and transfer of iconic na­tional landmark structures in Kuala Lumpur between the holding company and its group real estate investment trust;
  • complex land issues in the listings of significant listed property development companies and palm-oil plantation companies, involving some 350,000 hectares of land held under more than 1,200 titles; and
  • the sale and purchase of a five-star international hotel and hotel business in Kuala Lumpur.

Projects Energy & Infrastructure 

Our projects energy and infrastructure team has advised on some of the largest and most sophisticated projects which include the following:

  • the proposed Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail Project;
  • a foreign joint venture on the Ipoh-Rawang Double Track Rail electrification project;
  • the development and financing of a 50MW solar photovoltaic plant in Malaysia;
  • the divestment of the the largest multi fuel integrated power generating facility (2,420MW), with a transaction value of MYR4.2 billion;
  • the delivery of electrical energy and telecommunications from a hydroelectric dam in Sarawak to Peninsular Malaysia by submarine power cables;
  • the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit Project;
  • a 2,400MW hydroelectric dam in Sarawak;
  • a 2,100 MW Coal-Fired Power Plant;
  • the North-South Highway in Peninsular Malaysia;We have also advised on projects located in Australia, Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia and Central Asia.

Recent Awards & Accolades

  • Malaysian Law Firm Of The Year – Asian Legal Business Malaysia Law Awards 2016;
  • West Malaysia Law Firm Of The Year – ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2017, 2018;
  • National Law Firm Of The Year – International Financial Law Review Asia Awards, 2007, 2014;
  • Islamic Finance Law Firm Of The Year – ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2016, 2017, 2018;
  • Banking and Financial Services Law Firm of the Year – ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018;
  • Islamic Finance News (IFN) Law Awards 2018 – ESG, Green, SRI Law Firm of the Year; and
  • IFN Deals of the Year Awards 2017 – Commodity Murabahah Deal of the Year 2017, Equity Deal Of The Year 2017, Structured Finance Deal Of The Year and Project & Infrastructure Deal Of The Year.

Joint Press Statement – 3rd September 2018

Messrs Adnan Sundra & Low (“ASL”) and Messrs Khem Thadani (“KT”) are delighted to jointly announce the merger of both law firms with effect from 1 October 2018. This is the second merger announcement this August 2018 in relation to ASL, following the joint media statement dated 8 August 2018 announcing the merger between ASL and boutique law firm Messrs Putri Norlisa Chair.


Adnan Sundra & Low and Putri Norlisa Chair announce the merger