Email yinka.edu@uubo.org

Phone +234 14622307-12; 2774921-2

AddressSt Nicholas House, (10th, 12th & 13th Floors), Catholic Mission Street, Lagos, Nigeria.

Yinka Edu

Partner

Profile

Yinka Edu is a Partner in the firm’s Banking & Finance team, and heads the firm’s Capital Markets team. She has been involved in a range of financial and capital markets transactions, including advising on the first global depositary receipts programme, the first Eurobond issuance by a Nigerian Corporate, and the establishment of the first ETF to be listed in Nigeria.

She regularly advises on the establishment of mutual funds, derivatives transactions and public Merger & Acquisition transactions. She also advises on issues relating to the Nigerian bond market, and on compliance issues in connection with banking and capital market assignments, many of which, being innovative or new to Nigeria, often require skilled liaison with our regulatory authorities. She was a core member of the team that advised several local banks with the 2008 banking consolidation mergers.

Yinka has published articles in Getting the Deal Through – Securities Finance – Nigeria, and in The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Mergers & Acquisitions. She presents papers and conducts seminars at the IBA Conferences on security for bank lending and on capital markets’ issues. She chairs the Capital Markets’ Solicitors Association of Nigeria, and is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law Competition Committee.

Yinka is the only Nigerian lawyer to be ranked Tier 1 in Chambers and Partners for fintech work. She is also ranked by Chambers Global for her expertise in banking & finance and corporate/commercial practice, and is commended for her banking and finance and capital markets work in Who’s Who Legal. She sits on the board of several companies.

Career

2015 to date
Chairman, Capital Markets' Solicitors Association of Nigeria
2013 -2015
Vice Chairman, Capital Markets' Solicitors Association of Nigeria
2012 -2015
Member, Capital Market Rules and Regulatory Committee (CMC)
2011 to date
Member, Committee on Demutualisation
2010 -2013
Secretary, Capital Markets' Solicitors Association of Nigeria
2007 to date
Partner, Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie
2007 -2010
Treasurer, Capital Markets' Solicitors Association of Nigeria
2002 - 2007
Senior Associate, Udo Udoma & Belo- Osagie
1996-2002
Associate, Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie
1994-1996
Legal Executive, Cameron Markby Hewitt (later Cameron McKenna)

Qualifications

1996
BL, Nigerian Law School
1994
Bar Finals, The Inns of Court School of Law
1993
CPE, The College of Law (Store Street)
1992
B.A, Law and Society, University of Exeter

Professional Membership

Capital Markets Association
Bar Association of Commerce, Finance and Industry (BACFI)
Bar of England and Wales
Nigerian Bar Association

Bar Admissions

1996
Nigeria
Share
1994
England & Wales
Share

Recognition

Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie is pleased to announce that our Fintech, Banking & Finance and Capital Markets teams’ partner, Yinka Edu has been ranked in Chambers and Partners Global Guide 2021 for her Banking & Finance, Corporate/Commercial and Capital Markets practice.
For more information about Yinka’s work and the areas of specialisation of our other highly regarded lawyers, please email uubo@uubo.org and visit www.uubo.org.

Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie is delighted that our Yinka Edu is featured in the BusinessDay Legal Business Unit’s December 2020 Special Report celebrating 20 “Outstanding Nigerian Women in Business Law”.
The Special Report is part of a series of reports that BusinessDay is running on outstanding women across ten sectors in Nigeria.

We are proud of UUBO’s historical and continuing commitment to a culture of excellence founded on meritocracy and unequalled gender parity.
To read the publication, click here: https://lnkd.in/eu9jTGy

For more information on our partners, practice area offerings and teams, please email us at uubo@uubo.org and visit www.uubo.org.

Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie is pleased to announce that our Fintech, Banking & Finance and Capital Markets and U-Law teams’ partner, Yinka Edu has been ranked by Chambers and Partners as the only Band 1 FinTech lawyer in Nigeria in the Chambers and Partners FinTech Legal Guide 2021.

Yinka Edu is also recognized by Chambers and Partners for her Banking & Finance and Corporate/Commercial practice.

For more information about Yinka’s work and the areas of specialisation of our other highly regarded lawyers, please email uubo@uubo.org and visit www.uubo.org

Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie is pleased to announce that our Fintech, Banking & Finance and Capital Markets and U-Law teams’ partner, Yinka Edu has been ranked by Chambers and Partners as the only Band 1 FinTech lawyer in Nigeria in the Chambers and Partners FinTech Legal Guide 2020.

Yinka Edu is also recognized by Chambers and Partners for her Banking & Finance and Corporate/Commercial practice.

For more information about Yinka’s work and the areas of specialisation of our other highly regarded lawyers, please email uubo@uubo.org and visit www.uubo.org

Yinka Edu ranked as ”Highly Regarded” IFLR1000 ‘s latest 2020 Nigeria jurisdiction rankings.

Yinka Edu recognized as IFLR1000 Women Leaders in 2020.

UUBO is proud to announce that our Partner, Yinka Edu, has been ranked as “Highly Regarded” in the 30th edition of the IFLR1000 ’s jurisdiction rankings for Nigeria. Yinka has been recognised for her work in Banking and Capital Markets.
To learn more about Yinka’s work at UUBO, please visit uubo.org.

UUBO is proud to announce that our Partner, Yinka Edu, has been ranked as “Highly Regarded” in the 31st edition of the IFLR1000 ’s jurisdiction rankings for Nigeria.
Yinka has been recognised for her work in Banking and Capital Markets.
To learn more about Yinka’s work at UUBO, please visit uubo.org.

Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie congratulates our partner Yinka Edu on her recognition as IFLR1000 Women Leaders in 2021.

The IFLR1000 Women Leaders are recognised as being the best female lawyers working in their various jurisdictions. IFLR1000 Women Leaders have impressive track records and are consistently recommended by clients and peers for the quality of their advice and service.

UUBO is very proud to have Yinka Edu recognised for the fourth consecutive year. To read more about the IFLR1000 Women Leaders, click here IFLR1000 Women Leaders 2021 – Europe, Middle East and Africa | IFLR100

Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie congratulates our partner Yinka Edu on her recognition as IFLR1000 Women Leaders in 2020.

The IFLR1000 Women Leaders are recognised as being the best female lawyers working in their various jurisdictions. IFLR1000 Women Leaders have impressive track records and are consistently recommended by clients and peers for the quality of their advice and service.

UUBO is very proud to have Yinka Edu recognised for the third consecutive year. To read more about the IFLR1000 Women Leaders, click here https://lnkd.in/e6Rd4zy

“Her professionalism, patience and tenacity.” – IFLR1000,2019/2020

“Yinka listens, she is responsive open to new ideas and a good problem solver.” – IFLR1000,2019/2020

“Yinka is very knowledgeable and responsive. She also shows empathy towards clients. Very knowledgeable and has good business acumen with respect to understanding what issues matter from a legal perspective.” – IFLR1000,2019/2020

Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie congratulates our partner Yinka Edu on her recognition as IFLR1000 Women Leaders in 2019.

The IFLR1000 Women Leaders are recognised as being the best female lawyers working in their various jurisdictions. IFLR1000 Women Leaders have impressive track records and are consistently recommended by clients and peers for the quality of their advice and service.

UUBO is very proud to have Yinka Edu recognised for the second consecutive year. To read more about the IFLR1000 Women Leaders, click here Women_Leaders_2019.pdf (iflr.com)

Capital markets group head Yinka Edu is considered “a standout, fantastic lawyer” who is “very creative and very precise.” Interviewees appreciate that she is “able to push the envelope” when handling banking and finance mandates.” – Chambers Global,2019

Yinka Edu is involved with a great deal of capital market and financial transactions, including global depositary receipts, mergers and the establishment of mutual funds. Commentators note that she is “exceptional” and “quite innovative.” – Chambers Global,2019

Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie congratulates our partner Yinka Edu on her recognition as IFLR1000 Women Leaders in 2018.

The IFLR1000 Women Leaders are recognised as being the best female lawyers working in their various jurisdictions. IFLR1000 Women Leaders have impressive track records and are consistently recommended by clients and peers for the quality of their advice and service.

UUBO is very proud to have Yinka Edu recognised. To read more about the IFLR1000 Women Leaders, click here Welcome to IFLR1000 Women Leaders 2018 | IFLR1000

We are pleased that Yinka Edu of our Banking, Finance & Capital Markets, FinTech, and Corporate/M&A teams has been recommended and ranked as a “Leading Individual” for her Banking, Finance & Capital Markets work in The Legal500 Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) 2020 edition rankings research.

The rankings report is available to view here: https://lnkd.in/g5sup-K

Articles

Deals

Banking and Finance

• Advised the International Finance Corporation (“IFC”) on a proposed US$ 50 million facility to a subnational in Nigeria.

• Advised the IFC in connection with a US$5million loan to Tantalizers PLC.

• Advised the IFC in connection with a US$50 million “A” loan and a US$37.5 million convertible “C” loan provided by IFC to First Bank of Nigeria Plc.

• Advised IFC in connection with an N800 million loan to Lapo Micro Finance Bank.

• Advised the IFC in connection with its US$7 million equity and loan investments in Tantalizers PLC.

• Advised the IFC in connection with a convertible loan provided to Diamond Bank Nigeria PLC and assisted with the exercising of its conversion option.

• Advised IFC in connection with a N650 million facility provided to Incorporated Trustees of Grooming people for Better Livelihood Centers.

• Advised the IFC, Standard Bank of South Africa and other lenders in connection with the provision of US$130 million for acquisition financing and US$135 million for project financing in relation to the Eleme Petrochemicals Company.

• Advised the IFC in connection with a US$75 million “A” Loan facility granted to the Obajana Cement company Plc., in connection with the establishment of a 4.4 mtpa Greenfield cement plant at Obajana in Kogi State.

• Advised IFC in connection with a US$10,600,000.00 loan to Primera Food Nigeria Limited.

• Advised a syndicate of lenders (including IFC, Standard Bank of South Africa, Standard Chartered Bank, Investec Asset Management (Pty) Ltd, Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC, Ecobank Nigeria Limited,) in connection with the refinancing of a US$ 600 million loan facility to IHS Nigeria PLC.

• Advised a syndicate of lenders (including Citibank N.A. London, FMO, FirstRand Bank Limited Standard Chartered Bank, etc.) in connection with a US$ 800 million loan facility to INT Towers Limited; • Advised the IFC in connection with a N800 million loan to AB Micro Finance Bank; and

• Led the team that advised on the restructuring of existing facilities and provided Nigerian legal advice in respect of the US$3.2 billion medium term facilities provided to MTN Nigeria Communications Limited (now PLC) by a group of local financial institutions led by Citibank Nigeria Limited; and by a group of international lenders that included, among others, KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China.

Oil and Gas

UUBO is pleased to have advised on the offering of US$650 million in guaranteed senior notes by *Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc* on the London Stock Exchange. The firm acted for Citigroup Global Markets Limited, J.P Morgan Securities Plc, Nedbank Limited, Rand Merchant Bank, Société Générale, The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited, Standard Chartered Bank, Natixis, FCMB Capital Markets Limited, UBA Plc, United Capital Plc and Zenith Bank Plc (as Initial Purchasers)

The transaction is the largest ever oil and gas bond offering by a Nigerian-based issuer in the international capital markets, and was concluded despite the current challenges of the Covid-19 Pandemic.

The UUBO team was led by the firm’s Senior Partner, Dan Agbor and Partners Yinka Edu and Nicholas Okafor, with support from Kunle Durosinmi-Etti (senior associate) as well as Marcus Ovie Ojaruega, Chinomso Odega, Bolaji Odekunle, Supreme Unukegwo and Oluwatobi Akintayo (associates).

Capital Markets

Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie’s Capital Markets team and its Mergers & Acquisitions team have advised on the consolidation of the BUA Group’s sugar, flour, pasta, rice, and oil businesses into BUA Foods PLC, and on the subsequent listing by introduction of the shares of BUA Foods PLC in the consumer goods sector of the Main Board of Nigerian Exchange Limited, with the trading symbol “BUAFoods”, adding, as a result, N720 billion to the market capitalisation of Nigerian Exchange Limited.

The Capital Markets team that advised on the listing was led by Yinka Edu and included Ekundayo Onajobi, Lisa Esamah, Ikenna Edeh, and Dumebi Anike-Nweze.

The M&A team that advised on the consolidation included Yinka Edu, Folake Elias-Adebowale, Amina Ibrahim, Ekundayo Onajobi, Temi Okeowo, Mesuabari Mene-Josiah, Uju Ude and Bond Eke-Okpara. For information about UUBO and our offerings, please visit www.uubo.org or email us at uubo@uubo.org.

Banking and Finance

UUBO advised on MTN Nigeria’s initial public offer – N 478.2 billion equity shelf programme establishment and series 1 offer

UUBO is pleased to have advised on the establishment of a N 478.2 billion equity shelf programme and the Series 1 offer for sale of 575 million shares thereunder, by MTN Nigeria Communications PLC. The firm acted for the Selling Shareholder – MTN International (Mauritius) Limited.

The Series 1 offer was 139.47% oversubscribed and the transaction was the first public offer via a digital platform in Nigeria.

The UUBO team was led by the firm’s Senior Partner, Dan Agbor and Partners Yinka Edu, Nicholas Okafor and Joseph Eimunjeze with support from Kunle Durosinmi-Etti and Ekundayo Onajobi (Senior Associates), as well as Damilola Adedoyin and Chris Oke (Associates).

Oil and Gas

We are delighted to have advised Seplat Energy Plc on this landmark transaction.

The transaction was led by partners Folake Elias-Adebowale, Yinka Edu, Adeola Sunmola and Festus Onyia working with a multi-disciplinary team of associates.

For more information about UUBO’s market leading oil and gas, mergers & acquisitions, financing, capital markets, disputes, employment and other service offerings, please email us at uubo@uubo.org or visit www.uubo.org.

Capital Markets

The UUBO Capital Markets team is pleased to have acted as Solicitor to the Trustee of the Presco PLC NGN50,000,000,000 (fifty billion Naira) Bond Programme establishment and on the issuance of its NGN34,500,000,000 (thirty-four billion, five hundred million Naira) 7 (seven) year Series 1 12.85% Fixed Rate Senior Unsecured Bonds.

The successful issuance marks Presco PLC’s debut in the Nigerian debt capital markets and will allow it to expand its business and product offerings.

The team was led by our Capital Markets team partner, Yinka Edu, and included Ekundayo Onajobi, Lisa Esamah, Damilola Opayinka, Ikenna Edeh, Oluwatobi Akintayo, and Dumebi Anike-Nweze.

Capital Markets

The UUBO Capital Markets team is pleased to have acted as Joint Legal Counsel to MTN Nigeria Communications PLC (“MTN”) in connection with the establishment of its N150,000,000,000 (one hundred and fifty billion Naira) Commercial Paper Issuance Programme (the “Programme”) and the Series 1 and 2 issuances amounting to a total sum of N127,000,000,000 (one hundred and twenty-seven billion Naira) thereunder. The Series 1 issuance was for a tenor of 184 days priced at a yield of 7.50% yield, while the Series 2 issuance was for a tenor of 254 days priced at a yield of 8.50%.

The successful establishment of the Programme and issuances is the largest single Commercial Paper Issuance in Nigeria.

MTN is the leading telecommunications company in Nigeria and the size of the issuance is a representation of the trust in its brand and operations. The Issuance is in line with MTN’s strategy to diversify its financing options, with the proceeds being deployed towards its short-term working capital requirements and general corporate purposes.

The team was led by our Capital Markets team partners, Yinka Edu and Joseph Eimunjeze, and included Ekundayo Onajobi, Lisa Esamah, Damilola Opayinka, Itoro Etim, and Richard Enoch.

Banking and Finance

Lagos State is the chief commercial and financial center of Nigeria, however, the state’s productivity is threatened by an inadequate transportation system to cater to its dense population of over 22 million people, heavy traffic and associated carbon pollution.

Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie is delighted to have advised International Finance Corporation (“IFC”) on its sustainable loan of the Naira equivalent of USD 50 million to the Lagos State Government for financing the development, construction, and rehabilitation of two Quality Bus Corridors totaling 8 kilometers to be implemented by Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority. In line with sustainable development goals, this impact investment aims to provide a sustainable transportation system in the megacity, ease the pressure on road traffic, and drastically reduce carbon emissions. The transaction also marks IFC’s first financing to a sub-national in Nigeria as part of its objective to achieve sustainable growth in developing countries.

The team was led by partners Nicholas Okafor, Yinka Edu, Onyinye Okafor, Joseph Eimunjeze and included Victor Samuel, Pamela Onah, Chisom Okolie and Maryam Salami.

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