Michael Kontos joined the firm in 1992 and is the Managing Partner. Initially concentrating on property law and conveyancing, Michael’s expertise now lies principally in the fields of corporate and project finance, energy, capital markets and M&A. However, he still acts in the more complex real estate transactions.

Michael’s M&A work includes cross-border transactions in East and Central Africa. He is recognised as a leading lawyer by Chambers Global, IFLR 1000 and Legal 500 EMEA.

Michael is fluent in English and Greek and proficient in French.

Notable recent transactions include:-

Corporate Finance & Capital Markets

• Acting for Housing Finance Company Kenya Limited in the issue of its Shs.10bn listed bond.
• Acting for Kenya Commercial Bank Limited in its Shs.5.5bn rights issue and its cross listed in the USE and the Dar-es-Salaam Stock Exchange.
• Acting for CfC Stanbic Bank Limited in the issue of its Shs.5n listed bond.
• Acting for Airtel Kenya Limited (formerly Celtel Kenya Limited) in its syndicated term loan facility of Shs.6bn
• Acting for the lenders in the LMA-style syndicated lending of USD 45 million to the Menengai Group.
• Acting for TPS (K) Limited in the issue of its Shs.1bn private placement note.
• Acting for IFC in its USD 50 million to Kenya Power & Lighting Company.
• Acting for CfC Insurance Holdings Limited in its listing by way of introduction on the NSE.
• Acting for Kenya Commercial Bank Limited in its KES 5.5 billion rights issue and subsequent cross-listing on the Dar-es-Salaam Stock Exchange and the Uganda Securities Exchange.
• Acting for CfC Stanbic Holdings Limited in its public rights issue of KES4 billion.

M&A, Privatisation

• Acting for Fina Bank Limited and its shareholders in the US$100m sale and subscription of of 70% equity of the Bank to Guaranty Trust Bank plc of Nigeria.
• Acting for The Standard Bank Group in the acquisition of CfC Bank Limited (now CfC Stanbic Bank Limited).
• Acting for I&M Bank Limited in the acquisition of CF Union Bank Limited (now I&M (T) Limited).
• Acting for I&M Bank Limited, DEG and Proparco in the acquisition of Banque Commerciale Rwandaise, Rwanda.
• Acting for Fairview Hotel Limited and its shareholders in the sale of 50% to Citi Lodge Hotels Limited, South Africa.
• Acting for the vendor in the sale of West Kenya Sugar Company Limited.
• Acting for the vendor in the sale of Sukari Industries Limited.
• Acting for Standard Bank Group Limited in the sale of its insurance subsidiaries in Kenya to Liberty Holdings Limited and the latter’s listing by way of introduction on the Nairobi Stock Exchange.
• Acting for the Government of Kenya in the privatisation of Kenya Wine Agencies Limited.

Project Finance/Energy

• Acting for OPIC in the USD310m project financing to Orpower 4, Inc (Olkaria Geothermal).
• Acting for IFC, ABSA, AfdB in the USD84m project financing of USD 84 million to Thika Power Limited.
• Acting for IFC, CfC Stanbic Bank Limited, Standard Bank Group in the USD65m project financing to Gulf Power Limited.
• Acting for CfC Stanbic Bank Limited, Standard Bank Group and CIC in the USD110m project financing to Triumph Power Limited.
• Acting for a consortium of lenders in the USD120m project financing to Kwale International Sugar Company Limited.