Aravind Venugopal is a Partner in the Corporate and Commercial Practice group in the Bengaluru office. Aravind has advised on several large, complex and market leading M&A transactions, including joint ventures, minority and control investments and exits and contentious exits. Aravind has acted on multiple overseas acquisitions as the global lead counsel and has advised listed clients in relation to governance issues and shareholder activism. He has a special focus on financial services and insurance sectors.
Corporate and Commercial
Mergers and Acquisitions
(i) acquisition of a 75% stake in Reliance Nippon Life Mutual Funds from Reliance Capital Limited, including: (i) open offer made under Indian takeover regulations; (ii) finalizing security creation and release arrangement involving RCAP’s creditors
(ii) progressive acquisition of a 49% stake in Reliance Nippon Life Mutual Funds across 3 separate transactions
Siemens AG and Siemens Limited on (i) the carve out of their Indian gas and power business, including the USD 1.14 billion block trade of Siemens Limited’s shares by Siemens AG to Siemens Gas and Power Holdings B.V., and (ii) the Indian aspects of the proposed merger with Alstom SA (one of the largest global deals of that year)
Axis Bank on the acquisition of the Citi Bank’s 100-year-old retail banking business for a consideration of USD 1 billion. This is one of the largest acquisitions in the Indian banking sector.
Aircel Limited and its shareholder, Maxis Communications Berhard on the proposed merger of their wireless telecommunications business with that of Reliance Communications. The merged entity was expected to become the third largest telecom services provider in India by subscriber base.
Toyota Motor Corporation on its strategic and capital alliance with Suzuki Motor Corporation.
(i) acquisition of 100% in Heinz India Private Limited, (Indian subsidiary of Kraft Heinz operating brand portfolio comprising ‘Complan’, ‘Nycil’, ‘Glucon-D’ and ‘Sampriti’ for a consideration of USD 623 million, and
(ii) A USD 340 million preferential allotment to True North, Premji Invest and promoters of Zydus (including Cadila Healthcare Limited) for financing the Heinz acquisition.
Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Limited on (i) acquisition of a controlling stake in Butterfly Gandhimathi Appliances Limited, (ii) open offer aspects of this acquisition, and (iii) acquisition of certain trademarks from the promoters of Butterfly. Aggregate deal value of USD 250 million.
3i Infotech Limited on the sale of its software products business to funds advised by Apax Partners, for a total consideration of USD 136 million. Acted as global lead counsel and coordinated legal support for the client across USA, UK, Kenya, UAE, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Saudi Arabia.
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