James Mythen
Partner - ASEAN
Singapore
James Mythen
Partner - ASEAN
Singapore
Contact Details
James’ practice is focused on public and private M&A, joint ventures and private equity transactions across the ASEAN region. He advises across a variety of sectors, but has developed extensive experience in advising on transactions involving regulated industries such as banking and insurance, aviation and transport, telecommunications, infrastructure and leisure. He regularly advises corporates, financial institutions, private equity and sovereign wealth funds.
James is particularly valued by clients for his extensive cross-border experience, having worked in London, Beijing, Hong Kong and Singapore, and regularly advises clients on transactions involving Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar and Vietnam. Highly regarded by his clients, James is often cited in directories as an outstanding lawyer.
Expertise
Practices
Sectors
Qualifications
Professional
Admitted as solicitor, Hong Kong, 2012
Admitted as solicitor, England and Wales, 2006
Academic
Postgraduate Diploma in law and Diploma in Legal Practice, BPP Law School, London, 2004
MPhil (Historical Studies) - Distinction, Cambridge University, 2001
BA (History) - First Class Honors, London School of Economics, 2000
Related articles
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Publications: 09 December 2022
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Experience highlights
Advising Khazanah and Malaysia Airlines on the USD1.6bn global restructuring of Malaysia Airlines.
Advising Dai-ichi Life on the USD337m acquisition of a 40% interest in and joint venture with Panin Life, a leading Indonesian insurance business.
Advising Qatar Investment Authority on its USD600m serviced residence joint venture with The Ascott Limited, the world’s largest international serviced residence owner-operator, for the purpose of investing in serviced residences and rental housing properties in the Asia Pacific and Europe.
Advising FWD Group, the pan-Asian insurance business of Pacific Century Group, on its USD290m acquisition of PT Commonwealth Life, the Indonesian life insurer, from Commonwealth Bank of Australia and its local partners. As part of the transaction, CBA’s Indonesian banking subsidiary, PT Commonwealth Bank has entered into an exclusive 15 year bancassurance arrangement with PT Commonwealth Life to sell its life insurance products.
Expertise
Practices
Sectors
Qualifications
Professional
Admitted as solicitor, Hong Kong, 2012
Admitted as solicitor, England and Wales, 2006
Academic
Postgraduate Diploma in law and Diploma in Legal Practice, BPP Law School, London, 2004
MPhil (Historical Studies) - Distinction, Cambridge University, 2001
BA (History) - First Class Honors, London School of Economics, 2000
Other noteworthy experience
Advising:
- a Middle Eastern sovereign wealth fund on its joint venture and co-investment into a USD300m real estate fund managed by CapitaLand.
- a sovereign investment fund on its investment into, and strategic partnership with, a cinema operator in Indonesia.
- a sovereign wealth fund on its co-investment with Emerging Capital Partners, the pan-African private equity house, to acquire a 30% interest in a series of bulk cargo handling businesses in Kenya.
- a sovereign wealth fund on their investment into, and strategic partnership with, a leading Vietnamese bank.
Other deals:
- Central Group, a Thai conglomerate, on its USD1.1bn acquisition of the Big C Vietnam supermarket chain.
- EMR Capital and Farallon Capital in relation to the USD775m acquisition, and related senior and mezzanine financing, of a 95% interest in PT Agincourt Resources (PTAR) from G-Resources. PTAR owns and operates the Martabe Gold Mine in Indonesia.
- VinaCapital Vietnam Opportunity Fund Limited on its USD104m disposal of an interest in a Vietnamese hotel.
- SATS, a Singapore listed company, on its USD94m acquisition of a 41.65% stake in PT Cardig Aero Services (CAS), a leading provider of airport gateway services and food solutions in Indonesia.
- A leading PE House on their acquisition of a QSR brand business, and the associated franchising arrangements, with Yum! Brands in Turkey.
- Manulife on a long-term strategic bancassurance partnership arrangement in Vietnam with TechComBank.
- Hiscox Ltd on its acquisition of Direct Asia, an online insurance business operating in Singapore, Hong Kong and Thailand, from the Whittington Group.
- Khazanah on their acquisition of a 90% stake in a leading Turkish general and health insurance group from Abraaj.
- Bank Permata on their vehicle finance joint venture with the Astra Group in Indonesia.
- A global telecommunications services provider on the acquisition of a one-third stake and joint venture in 701Search with Singapore Press Holdings and Schibsted.
- CDC Group, the UK development finance institution, on its investment in Frontiir, a Singapore-incorporated company operating a digital information and communications technology business in Myanmar.
- QBE Insurance Group on the disposal of 100% of its shares in PT QBE General Insurance Indonesia to Great Eastern Holdings for USD28, and on the disposal of its insurance operation in the Philippines.
Recognition
Really impressed, praising James for being "very dedicated" and "very responsive"
Chambers 2019
Considered to be a "fantastic" lawyer by market sources
Chambers 2017
