Albar & Partners

The firm: Albar & Partners can trace its origins back to 1981. Today, Albar & Partners is an award-winning law firm based in Kuala Lumpur comprising over 40 fee-earners with a dedicated support team of nearly 100. With comprehensive understanding of the financial markets and its wealth of experience, Albar & Partners is one of Malaysia’s leading law firms in banking and finance with a strong emphasis on capital markets, as well as corporate and commercial law. The firm’s reputation has been forged over the years by offering innovative and value-added solutions to clients, grounded in clarity, insight and win-win partnerships.

There are a set of values which underpin our objectives, corporate culture and the way we work at Albar & Partners:-

• Leading Expertise. Delivered in Excellence.
• Powered by Passion. Driven by Solutions.
• Wealth of Experience

Areas of practice
Banking and finance: The award-winning banking and finance practice group offers a multitude of legal services for various transactions including corporate and syndicated lending, asset and share financing, acquisition and leveraged finance, mezzanine and structured finance, real estate and REIT finance, derivatives, interest and currency swap, cross-border and offshore lending.

The largest practice in the firm, Albar & Partners represents and advises both local and international financial institutions, state-owned entities, multi-national and government – linked corporations, public listed companies and conglomerates. The partners and associates have the requisite skills and depth of knowledge to advise on and structure transactions which are customised to clients’ needs coupled with a practical approach to balance between the parties’ objectives.

Capital markets: Albar & Partners brings the necessary expertise to meet the continuously evolving and diverse funding requirements of corporations in Malaysia. The debt capital markets team commands vast experience in areas such as Sukuk, commercial papers, medium term notes, asset-backed securities and convertible and exchangeable securities whereas the equity capital markets team handles all aspects of domestic and cross-border transactions including IPOs, rights offering and private placements. Clients include advisers, agents, trustees, investors and issuers ranging from various industry sectors.

Corporate and commercial: Albar & Partners provides advice on company and securities transactions dedicated towards serving the clients’ interests and goals in business. The firm acts in domestic and cross-border acquisition and divestments, corporate finance, M&A, take-overs and reverse take overs, joint ventures, privatisations, corporate restructuring and scheme of arrangements, foreign direct investment advice including formation and structuring of corporate entities. Industry sectors canvassed include projects and infrastructure, securities regulations, ICT, defence and security, Government and Public Policy, energy, oil and gas and utilities hospitality and leisure.

Islamic finance: A pioneer in Islamic finance, Albar & Partners played a pivotal role in Malaysia’s first ever Islamic securitisation programme under the Shariah principle of Musyarakah arising out of a tri-partite Istisna’ contract. In addition, we take great pride in being involved in the world’s first ever Islamic principle-based plantation real estate investment trust. Drawing on the firm’s vast knowledge of the philosophy and application of Shariah principles, we are instrumental in advising and structuring numerous innovative Islamic financing transactions.

Litigation: The firm’s litigation and ADR practice features lawyers who specialise in resolving disputes for various clients such as major local banks, financial institutions, insurance corporations, government linked companies and other conglomerates in Malaysia.

We participate in the full spectrum of dispute resolution and litigation mechanisms, ranging from negotiation, mediation, arbitration and conflict resolution to vigorous courtroom strategy, interlocutory applications, trials and appellate proceedings. The firm’s dedicated legal team provides counsel on a broad spectrum of legal issues including banking litigation, debt recovery, execution and enforcement proceedings, commercial litigation, construction disputes and arbitration, insolvency advice pertaining to liquidation, winding up, bankruptcy, special administrator, restructuring and appointment of receivers and managers.

Project finance: The dynamic practice is experienced in advising in project financing for various industry sectors such as construction, education, energy and power, healthcare, infrastructure, leisure, oil and gas, plantation and property development projects. Often involved at the very initial stages of negotiations, Albar & Partners plays an important role in the structuring process by helping clients to assess and contain risks to ensure adequate protection of interests.

Recent accolades: Islamic Finance Firm of the Year, Debt Market Deal of the Year and Real estate Deal of the Year: ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2019

Acknowledged as an Outstanding Firm in Banking and finance, Banking and financial services and Capital Markets by Asialaw Profiles (2020).

Ranked as a Top Tier Firm in Banking & Finance and Capital Markets by IFLR1000 (2020). 

Recognised as a Top Ranked Firm in Banking & Finance, Debt Capital Markets and Equity Capital Markets by Chambers Asia Pacific (2019).

4 times winner of the Projects Energy & Infrastructure Law Firm of the Year Award at the ALB Malaysia Law Awards.

Recent transactions:  Advised the issuer in the public offering of shares by Leong Hup International Bhd in conjunction with its listing on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia in one of the largest IPOs in Malaysia for 2019.

Advised the principal advisers, joint lead arrangers and managers in the structured covered Sukuk Murabahah facility of up to RM2.295bn by MBSB Bank Berhad (Debt Market Deal of the Year: ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2019).

Advised the vendor, Syarikat Pengeluar Air Selangor Holdings Berhad in the RM2.55bn disposal of its entire equity interest and redeemable unsecured loan stocks of its subsidiary, Syarkat Pengeluar Air Selangor Sdn Bhd to Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd.

Advised the mandated lead arrangers and book-runners in a cross-border financing for a real estate development in Central Boulevard, Singapore by Novel Vortex Limited, a subsidiary of Malaysian property giant, IOI Property Group Berhad: (Real Estate Deal of the Year: ALB Malaysia Law Awards 2019).

Advised the purchaser, Malakoff Gulf Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Malakoff International Limited which in turn is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Malakoff Corporation Berhad in the US$70m proposed acquisition of the entire equity interest in Desaru Investment Limited from Khazanah Nasional Berhad.

Advised the principal advisers and joint lead arrangers in the RM1bn unrated medium-term note programme established by Tradewinds Hotels & Resorts Sdn Bhd, one of Malaysia’s largest hotel owners.

Advised Perangsang Dinamik Sdn Bhd in the RM311.25m cross-border acquisition of entire issued share capital of Toyoplas Manufacturing Malaysia Sdn Bhd from Toyoplas Consolidated Limited.

Advised the issuer in the perpetual Islamic notes programme of RM2bn based on the Shariah principle of Musharakah established by UMW Holdings Berhad (Musharakah Deal of the Year: IFN Law Awards 2018).

Advised Malaysia Building Society (MBSB) in its merger with Asian Finance Bank (AFB), in which MBSB acquired 100% equity interest in AFB in a RM2.2bn deal creating the second largest stand-alone Islamic bank in Malaysia (Equity & IPO Deal of the Year award: IFN Law Awards 2018).

Advised the issuer in the RM2bn Sukuk Programme for Senior and Subordinated Sukuk Murabahah established by Danajamin Nasional Berhad, Malaysia’s first financial guarantee insurer (Commodity Murabahah/Tawarruq Deal of the Year: IFN Law Awards 2017).