Ajibola Asolo

Ajibola is a member of the Firm's Capital Markets and Mergers & Acquisitions practices. With experience in the regulation of banks, fintech entities, capital market operators, derivatives markets, and financial market infrastructures, he provides advice to clients on debt/equity capital market transactions, mergers and acquisitions, antitrust matters, corporate restructurings, and regulatory compliance, among other things.

CAPITAL MARKETS

• Advised on the issuance of sukuk certificates under a ₦50 billion Programme by Sterling Bank Plc. as solicitor to the trustees
• Advised Niger Delta Exploration & Production Plc on the issuance of a ₦20 billion Programme
• Advised Pan African Towers Limited as solicitor to the issuer on the establishment of a ₦50billion Bonds Issuance Programme and the issuance of ₦10billion Series I Senior Guaranteed Fixed Rate Infrastructure Bonds due 2032 under the Programme

MERGERS, ACQUISITIONS, AND CORPORATE REORGANISATIONS

• Advised a free trade zone entity in connection with the proposed investment into a power distribution company
• Advised a global private equity firm on the minority buyout of a leading insurance company via a Scheme of Arrangement, the subsequent delisting of the company from the securities exchange, and conversion to a private company
• Advising two (2) global insurance groups on the domestic M&A and regulatory framework as it pertains to a combination of their operations 

FINANCIAL REGULATION AND FINANCIAL PRODUCTS

• Advising domestic and international banks and financial institutions on derivative transactions and the negotiation of International Swaps and Derivatives Association ("ISDA") master agreements on an on-going basis
• Most recently advised JP Morgan on the validity and enforceability of the termination and close-out netting provisions of the ISDA master agreement as it concerned a derivatives transaction with a sovereign wealth fund
• Advised Barclays Bank Plc. on numerous derivatives transactions with local counterparties (mostly banks), with a focus on capacity, "netting", insolvency law, and collateral arrangements under the International Swaps and Derivatives Association 2002 Master Agreement vis-à-vis local law

PROJECTS

• Advising Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited in connection with the concession for the management and operation of Kashimbila Hydropower Plant
• Advised Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited in connection with the concession of two hydropower plants, Imboulou and Moukoukoulou, in the Republic of Congo

• Capital markets
• Derivatives and structured products
• Mergers and acquistions
• Financial regulation
• Projects

• Nigeria

• Nigerian Bar Association

• 2021      Ph.D., Financial Regulation, Durham University
• 2010      LL.M., International Commercial Law, University of Birmingham 
• 2008     LL.B. (Hons), University of Wolverhampton