Christopher Baird
Christopher Baird
Biography
Christopher Baird is a seasoned dual-qualified global M&A corporate lawyer based in London, with over sixteen years' experience across a broad range of sectors and geographies, with deep experience in big ticket emerging markets cross-border M&A with specific sector focuses of private equity, telecommunications, energy, financial services, infrastructure (including digital), and mining.
In the last few years Christopher has:
- negotiated transactions across Africa (Burundi, DRC, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Senegal, Rwanda, and Uganda), South America (Brazil), Asia (India, China and Singapore), North America (United States and Canada), and Europe (UK, Luxembourg, and Germany);
- taken a lead role in the c.USD20bn joint venture between the world’s largest and second largest steel producers, Rio Tinto, WCS and the Government of Guinea, the largest infrastructure and mining deal in Africa at the time (2024);
- worked on Actis’ disposal of Lekela Power to Infinity Group, the largest renewable energy deal in Africa at the time (2022/2023) (and winner of several awards including Dealmakers Private Equity deal of the Year, IJInvestor Renewables Acquisition of the Year, Africa, and Middle East and Africa PFI Deal of the Year);
- taken lead role in the formation of a multi-country multi-layered JV between British International Investment (the UK Government's Development Finance Institution), Sumitomo and Vodafone for the bidding, and successful obtaining of, a telecommunications licence in Ethiopia, and the subsequent investment therein by the IFC/World Bank (one of their largest into Africa at the time)(2019 -2023). Winner of several awards including World Bank Partnership Awards Utilities Deal of the Year, IJInvestor Digital Infrastructure Acquisition Deal of the Year, Africa, and Telecom Review Leadership Summit Best ICT Investment in Africa; and
- taken lead roles and worked on award winning transactions, including the largest BEE deal in the ICT sector in the time and nominee for Dealmakers Deal of the Year, two nominees for Dealmakers Private Equity Deal of the Year, and a Dealmakers Deal of the Year
Professional experience
Representative experience
Representative experience
Advised:
Winning Consortium Simandou negotiating the formation a joint venture with Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO), Aluminium Corporation of China, and China Baowu Steel to pursue the c.USD12bn development of a railway and port in Guinea to service the Simandou mines, the largest mining infrastructure deal in Africa at the time, 2024.
TotalEnergies on its acquisition of interests in the 255 MW Bujagali hydropower plant in Uganda, and the 361 MW Mpatamanga hydropower development asset in Malawi and the 206 MW Ruzizi III hydropower development asset on the border of Rwanda, DRC and Burundi, through TotalEnergies acquisition of Scatec’s subsidiary, SN Power, 2024.
Vodacom Group Limited (JSE: VOD) negotiating the International Finance Corporation's c.USD260m investment into Safaricom Ethiopia, one of the largest investments by the World Bank into Africa at the time, 2023. Winner of several awards including Utilities deal of the Year at the World Bank Partnership Awards, and IJInvestor Digital Infrastructure Acquisition Deal of the Year, Africa.
Infinity Group and Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) on their acquisition of Lekela Power from Actis and Mainsteam Renewable Power Africa Holdings, the largest renewable energy deal in Africa at the time, including 2.8 GW of installed and in development renewable energy, 2022. Winner of Dealmakers Private Equity deal of the Year, IJInvestor Renewables Acquisition of the Year, Africa, and Middle East and Africa PFI Deal of the Year.
Kneip Management S.A - on the sale of Luxembourg-based fund data manager Kneip Communication S.A. (Kneip Communication) to German capital markets exchange Deutsche Börse (ETR:DB1), 2022.
Prior to joining Norton Rose Fulbright.
Vodacom Group Limited (JSE: VOD), Vodafone Group plc (LON:VOD), and Safaricom plc (NSE: SCOM) – on the negotiation of a joint venture with Sumitomo Corporation (TYO:8053) and the UK development finance institution, CDC Group Plc, and leading the consortium in their award of a new telecommunications licence (investment value c.>US$8.5bn) in the semi-liberalisation of the Ethiopian telecommunications market, 2021.
Vodacom Group Limited (JSE: VOD) – on the creation of a joint venture with Safaricom plc (NSE: SCOM) in Kenya and South Africa, and acquisition of the M-Pesa brand (c.R750m valuation), and support services capability from Vodafone Group plc (LON:VOD), 2020; on the conclusion of a R2.7bn set of undertakings with the South African Competition Commission following the Data Services Market Inquiry initiated in 2017, 2020; on the ~US$223m acquisition of a minority stake in Vodacom Tanzania plc (DSE:Voda), and unwinding of its Mirambo Limited holding structure, 2019; and on its investment in internet-of-things technology through the acquisition of IoT.nxt and IoT.BV, 2019.
Education
Education
The Law and Economics of Mergers and Acquisitions. London School of Economics, 2024 - ongoing.
Advanced Programme in Private Equity, Gordon Institute of Business Science, 2014.
LLB, Rhodes University, 2007
BA (Philosophy and Law), Rhodes University, 2005
Admissions
Admissions
- Attorney qualified in South Africa 2010
- Solicitor 2022
Languages
Languages
- English
Insights and news
News
