- AMJ advises on Falcon and Arabia Insurance’s landmark deal
-
AMJ recently acted as sole counsel at the request of both parties with regard to a complex share-purchase transaction in the insurance sector. The transaction, which completed at the end of March, involved the transfer of the Oman branch assets of Lebanese Arabia Insurance SAL, to Omani insurer, Falcon Insurance SAOC. Contemporaneous with Falcon’s acquisition of Arabia’s Oman branch insurance portfolio, Arabia Insurance acquired a majority share (54.29%) in Falcon.The deal involved a number of ‘firsts‘, namely the:-
- first ever transfer of a life insurance portfolio by court order in accordance with article 39 of Oman’s Insurance Law;
- first ever transfer of business (both life and general insurance) from a foreign insurer’s branch operation to an Omani closed joint stock insurance company requiring approval of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI);
- first ever settlement of a business transfer consideration by the issue of shares to the seller’s wholly-owned subsidiary requiring approval by the MOCI of the business valuation;
- simultaneous acquisition of a majority stake and transfer of insurance portfolio requiring approvals from the MOCI, Capital Market Authority and the court.
AMJ’s team, led by Mansoor Malik, Managing Partner, advised on all aspects of the deal drafting the transaction documents and article 39 application to the court as well as assisting the client to obtain all the regulatory approvals necessary for successful completion.
The team also included corporate transactions partner, Ahmed Hashim, senior associates Nasar Ahmad, Majda Al Riyami and Abdullatif Al Rawahi, and associate Ahmed Al Busaidy.
Dentons Oman branch advised Falcon’s majority shareholder on the sale of its shares to Arabia.