Jennifer Lee has over 15 years of experience advising foreign and local sponsors, lenders, investors, private equity firms, venture capital firms, borrowers and issuers in banking, structured finance, leveraged finance, project financing and debt capital markets transactions, both conventional and Islamic.
Her experience includes advising, structuring, negotiating and documenting banking transactions, leveraged buy-out transactions, project finance transactions, Islamic finance transactions, debt capital market transactions, asset-backed securitisation transactions, structured notes and other structured finance transactions. Jennifer also advises on equity and debt hybrid transactions (both conventional and Islamic) – involving issuances of bank capital instruments, convertible loans, convertible securities, warrants and redeemable preference shares.
Jennifer started her banking and finance practice in a regional law firm in Malaysia and spent a few years in Singapore as a foreign lawyer, in one of Singapore’s leading law firms. Thereafter, Jennifer continues to expand her banking and finance practice in one of Malaysia’s banking and finance leading firms, where she led multiple award-winning deals throughout the years.
Jennifer’s noteworthy transactions include advising on deals involving the issuance of Basel II and Basel III Tier 1 and Tier 2 securities in Malaysia for various Malaysian and international banks, issuance of retail bonds in Singapore and retail debt securities in Malaysia, perpetual securities in both Singapore and Malaysia and several significant Rule 144A / Regulation S debt issuances, including but not limited to sovereign sukuk issuances by the Government of Malaysia.
She is recognised by IFLR1000 as a Highly Regarded Lawyer and Women Leader, rated by The Legal 500 as a Next Generation Partner and is also ranked by Chambers and Partners.
EXPERIENCE
- Advising Hong Leong Investment Bank Berhad on (i) the multicurrency perpetual notes programme of up to RM 25 billion in nominal value by Hong Leong Financial Group Berhad, (ii) the multicurrency Additional Tier 1 capital securities programme of up to RM 10 billion in nominal value by Hong Leong Bank Berhad and (iii) the multicurrency perpetual subordinated sukuk programme of up to RM 2 billion in nominal value by Hong Leong Islamic Bank Berhad.
- Advising a syndicate of lenders on a term loan facility of up to US$1.25 billion for Pengerang Terminals (Two) Sdn Bhd to fund the project costs of its oil storage terminal in Pengerang, Johor, Malaysia.
- Acting as Malaysian counsel for the arranger, ING Bank N.V., Singapore Branch, in relation to term loan facilities of up to US$80 million granted to a regional leading provider of solar energy to fund the development of solar projects across ASEAN.
- Advising Alliance Investment Bank Berhad on (i) the Additional Tier 1 capital securities programme of up to RM 1 billion in nominal value by Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad and (ii) the subordinated sukuk murabahah programme of up to RM 180 million in nominal value and a perpetual sukuk programme of up to RM 2.5 billion in nominal value by Alliance Islamic Bank Berhad.
- Advising HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad and United Overseas Bank (Malaysia) Bhd on the Tier 2 subordinated medium term notes and senior medium term notes programme of RM 8 billion in nominal value by United Overseas Bank (Malaysia) Bhd.
- Advising CIMB Investment Bank Berhad and Maybank Investment Bank Berhad on the Islamic medium term notes programme of up to RM 10 billion in nominal value and Islamic commercial papers programme of up to RM 2 billion in nominal value, based on Shariah principle of Wakalah Bi Al-Istithmar, by Tenaga Nasional Berhad.
- Advising RHB Investment Bank Berhad and Maybank Investment Bank Berhad on the multicurrency Islamic medium term notes master programme of up to RM 15 billion in nominal value based on the Shariah principle of Wakalah Bi Al-Istithmar by Petroleum Sarawak Exploration & Production Sdn Bhd.
- Acting as Malaysian counsel for Synthomer plc on its issuance of EUR 520 million of fixed rate senior notes due 2027.
- Advising MIDF Investment Bank Berhad on the reNIKOLA ASEAN Green SRI Sukuk Programme of up to RM 390 million in nominal value under the Shariah principle of Murabahah (via Tawarruq arrangement) by reNIKOLA Solar Sdn Bhd to finance development costs of solar photovoltaic power plants in Pahang and Perlis.
- Acted as Malaysian counsel for the arrangers and dealers for the update of US$15 billion multicurrency global medium term note program and the issuance of (1) US$600 million 7-year medium term notes at 2.11% thereunder by PETRONAS Energy Canada Ltd. and (2) US$1.25 billion 10.75-year medium term notes at 2.48% and US$1.75 billion 40-year medium term notes at 3.4% thereunder by PETRONAS Capital Limited, guaranteed by Petroliam Nasional Berhad.
- Acting as Malaysian counsel for principal adviser for update of US$15 billion multicurrency global medium term note program and issue of US$2.25 billion 3.5% medium term notes due 2030, US$2.75 billion 4.55% medium term notes due 2050 and US$1.0 billion 4.8% medium term notes due 2060 thereunder by PETRONAS Capital Limited.
- Acting as Malaysian counsel for Government of Malaysia on its issue of US$800 million 10-year sustainability sukuk and US$500 million 32-year sustainability sukuk via Malaysia Wakala Sukuk Berhad.
- Acting as Malaysian counsel for arrangers and dealers on the issue of US$1 billion global medium term notes in nominal value by MISC Capital Two (Labuan) Limited pursuant to its global medium term note programme of up to US$3 billion in nominal value, guaranteed by MISC Berhad.
- Advising CIMB Investment Bank Berhad and Maybank Investment Bank Berhad on the Islamic medium term notes programme of RM 10 billion in nominal value based on Shariah principle of Wakalah Bi Al-Istithmar by TNB Power Generation Sdn Bhd.
- Acting for the financier, MIDF Amanah Investment Bank Berhad, in relation to (i) term loan facilities of up to RM 150 million and (ii) an Islamic term loan facility of up to RM 20 million, granted to an investment company to fund the acquisition of several large-scale solar (LSS) projects across Malaysia.
- Acting for BNP Paribas in relation to a term loan facility of up to US$170.8 million, granted to a joint venture project company to fund the development, construction, operation and maintenance of a coking plant in Malaysia.
- Advising CIMB Investment Bank Berhad on the renounceable rights issue of 432 million 3-year 3.5% irredeemable convertible unsecured loan stocks by Aeon Credit Service (M) Berhad.
- Advising Hong Leong Investment Bank Berhad on the rights issue of RM 172.47 million redeemable convertible unsecured loan stocks by Hume Cement Industries Berhad.
- Advising RHB Investment Bank Berhad on the renounceable rights issue of up to RM 1 billion in nominal value of 7-year redeemable convertible unsecured Islamic debt securities by Capital A Berhad (formerly known as AirAsia Group Berhad).
- Advising Maybank Investment Bank Berhad on the establishment of the first unlisted real estate investment trust with a global mandate focusing on education, known as “Alpha Real Estate Investment Trust”.
- Advising on a joint venture between Area Industrial Development Holding Sdn Bhd, MIDF Property Berhad and KWEST Sdn Bhd to acquire, hold and develop a real estate property consisting of a single development asset.
- Advising one of the largest fund management companies in Malaysia in connection with its investment in a foreign fund in Luxembourg.
- Advising the lead arranger in connection with the establishment of ASEAN Green Sri Sukuk Programme, involving solar assets.
- Advising as Malaysian counsel to an international bank in connection with the proposed subscription of rights issue in the listed property company in Indonesia.
- Advising a lender in relation to a financing facility granted in connection with the acquisition of shares in a household retailer group.
- Advising CIMB Investment Bank Berhad in relation to the offering of multicurrency Euro medium term notes pursuant to a multicurrency Euro medium term note programme of up to US$1 billion in nominal value under Regulation S of the United States Securities Act 1933 by CIMB Bank Berhad.
- Advising as Malaysian counsel to the lenders in relation to the acquisition of shares in a healthcare group.
MEMBERSHIPS/ DIRECTORSHIPS
- Member, Malaysian Bar
