Craig Loveless
Partner
Norton Rose Fulbright (Asia) LLP
Related services and key industries
Biography
Craig Loveless is a corporate finance lawyer based in Singapore. He has 13 years of experience in cross-border mergers, acquisitions, disposals, restructurings and joint venture arrangements in Asia.
Craig has worked on numerous high-profile and high-value transactions for multi-national clients such as Government of Singapore Investment Corporation, AXA, Louis Dreyfus Commodities, HSBC, CLSA, Silk Road Fund, Axiata, Mizuho and Fosun. He has been recognized by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific as being "a superb negotiator, and full of devotion and dedication to his work and clients". Chambers & Partners 2017-20 also recognized Craig's "good commercial mind". Craig is ranked by Chambers & Partners 2020 for his M&A work in Asia
Professional experience
Collapse all- Solicitor, qualified in England & Wales
Financial institutions
Advising:
- AXA SA on its acquisition of the Asian businesses (valued at A$9.8bn) in connection with AMP Limited's takeover of AXA Asia Pacific Holdings Limited; this transaction was shortlisted for Asia Legal Business 'SE Asia M&A Deal of the Year'; and on its joint (aborted) bid with National Australia Bank (NAB) for AXA Asia Pacific Holdings Limited (AXA APH), valued at approximately A$13.3bn, which would have resulted in AXA acquiring the Asian businesses of AXA APH for A$9.4bn.
- HSBC on its acquisition of PT Bank Ekonomi Raharja Tbk, one of the 20 largest banks in Indonesia by assets, for a consideration of US$607.5m.
- On the on-going restructuring of a French insurer’s life and general insurance businesses across Asia, involving more than ten jurisdictions and, in many cases, multiple businesses in each jurisdiction. The restructuring is being implemented in various phases, the first (involving the Hong Kong, China and Singapore businesses) having completed at the end of 2011 following receipt of the relevant regulatory approvals.
- A multinational client on the proposed disposal of a wealth management and financial services advisory business, operating in various countries in Asia.
- A multinational client on its bid for Kurnia Insurans (Malaysia) Berhad, a leading general insurer in Malaysia.
- A multinational client on its bid for AmLife Insurance Berhad and AmFamily Takaful Berhad, a leading life insurer in Malaysia.
- A client on its proposed acquisition of RBS’s retail businesses across various Asian jurisdictions.
- A multinational bank on its bid for the corporate and retail business of ING Bank across numerous Asian jurisdictions.
- A Middle East bank on its proposed acquisition of an Indonesian conventional bank and the proposed conversion of that bank into a Sharia compliant one.
- A multinational insurer on the proposed restructuring of its life and non-life businesses in India, which will include the replacement of its existing Indian partner with a new Indian partner, and subsequent merger of the new partner’s non-life business with the multi national insurer’s business.
- AXA SA on the disposal of its 60% equity interest in P.T. Asuransi Winterthur Life Indonesia (WLI), a life insurance joint venture company in Indonesia, to its joint venture partner in WLI (the Wanandi group).
- A Middle Eastern company proposing to introduce a Sharia compliant investment product in Indonesia.
- A client on its bid for UOB Life Assurance Limited.
- A CLSA on its investment into a vehicle financing company in Indonesia.
- A leading international insurance company on a proposed joint venture in Singapore.
- A multinational insurer in respect of its joint venture arrangements in the Philippines.
Real estate
Advising:
- CapitaMalls Asia Limited on its establishment of a US$1bn PRC real estate private equity fund.
- The Asian arm of M+W Group GmbH, a multinational engineering and construction group, on the sale of one of its Singapore incorporated subsidiaries that owned and operated a data centre complex in Singapore for US$140m.
- CapitaLand and Gainfield Holdings Limited (a wholly owned subsidiary of SGX-listed Auric Pacific Group Limited) on the sale of their respective 25% and 6.25% interests in Keisha Limited (which holds a 73% stake in Raffles City Shenzhen) for S$82.5m and S$16.8m, respectively.
- CapitaLand in relation to various matters regarding Raffles City Bahrain Fund.
Telecoms
Advising:
- A regional telecoms company on numerous transactions across Asia including: its proposed acquisition of a mobile operator in Sri Lanka; and its proposed acquisitions of mobile operators in Vietnam and Cambodia.
- Axiata Group Berhad, the largest mobile operator in Malaysia, on a preferential allotment of shares by Indian telecoms company Idea Cellular Limited.
- Sampoerna Strategic, a large Indonesian family owned private equity house, on its acquisition of an Indonesian telecoms operator, subsequently renamed Sampoerna Telekommunicasi Indonesia (STI); and on its proposed structured sale of its investment in STI to Bakrie Telekom.
- On the sale of Insight Infrastructure, an Asia-focused telecom tower company to American Tower Corporation.
Resources, commodities and renewables
Advising:
- The Government of Singapore Investment Corporation on its £100m investment in Greenko Mauritius, a subsidiary of Greenko Group plc, an Indian renewable energy producer listed on the AIM.
- Arch Coal Inc on various matters in Indonesia.
- A sovereign wealth fund on its proposed equity investment into Adani Power.
- BNP Paribas as global co-ordinator on the IPO on the Indonesia Stock Exchange of BW Plantations Tbk, one of the larger palm oil producers listed in Indonesia.
- A Hong Kong-listed company on its proposed acquisition of a large laterite mine in the Philippines.
- Bio-Treat Technology Limited (Bio-Treat), a main-board SGX-listed entity, and the PRC’s leading waste and wastewater treatment company, on its corporate restructuring, including the restructuring of a S$206m convertible bond.
- A clean energy fund on its acquisition of a wind farm in the Philippines; and on a geothermal project in Indonesia.
- Sindicatum Carbon Capital on its renewable energy investments in the Philippines, India and Vietnam.
- Climate Change Capital on its renewable energy investments in the Philippines.
Others
Advising:
- Aimia Inc on the buy-out of its joint venture partner in Indonesia.
- Malaysian Airline System Berhad on its joint venture with GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited for the provision of maintenance, repair and overhaul services at Hyderabad International Airport, India.
- Fortress Investment Group LLC on its joint venture arrangements in Malaysia.
Insights
Statutory Developments in Singapore’s Foreign Direct Investment Regime – commencement of Significant Investments Review Act and publication of initial list of designated entities
Publication | June 28, 2024
Proposed Statutory Developments in Singapore’s Foreign Direct Investment Regime – Significant Investments Review Bill
Publication | February 19, 2024
M&A dealmaking in Asia: What are the challenges and where are the opportunities?
Publication | November 27, 2023