Christopher OSBORNE

Introduction

Christopher Osborne moved to Thailand in 2001 to support the strong demand for cross-border M&A expertise driven by heightened acquisition activity following the Asian Financial Crisis. He has more than two decades of experience working alongside Thai lawyers on cross-border M&A and regulatory matters, providing international solutions to companies entering the Thai market.

His clients include European, American, Asian and Australian companies investing or acquiring assets in Thailand, and Thai companies engaging in cross-border transactions, seeking clear identification of issues and solutions to bridge common law and civil law frameworks. He advises international and Thai companies on the development, sale and acquisition of renewable energy projects across Southeast Asia, and is often sought for the formation of joint ventures to enable entry into sectors with foreign-ownership restrictions.

Chris’ M&A practice covers private M&A, advising institutional and activist investors on Securities and Exchange Commission and Stock Exchange of Thailand reporting requirements and acquisition thresholds, and strategic shareholders on synergistic delayering of listed group structures. His sector expertise for M&A includes manufacturing, TMT, logistics, renewable energy and decarbonisation projects, healthcare and the service sector, for both buy-side and sell-side share and asset sale transaction structures. He has guided overseas law firms and PE funds on the acquisition of Thai law firms.

His applied science background and professional experience in the wine sector provide a unique insight into acquisitions in the agriculture and food and beverage sectors and renewable energy projects utilising agricultural feedstocks.

With a focus on renewables (including transition), Chris’ energy practice has covered more than 1.5GW in onshore wind, solar (photovoltaic, thermal, ground mount utility-scale, and commercial and industrial rooftop), and waste-to-energy projects. His renewable energy offering has a broad reach, from due diligence of early-stage projects, establishment and structuring of special purpose vehicles, advising on engineering, procurement and construction/operations and maintenance, corporate power purchase agreements, equity funding and project finance, to pre- and post-commissioning exits and acquisitions.