Chris Baird

Partner

About

Chris Baird has a wealth of experience in M&A and private equity in a broad range of sectors, including agribusiness, consumer goods, energy & power, financial services, media and technology. Chris Baird's work sees him advising clients on cornerstone M&A and private equity transactions across Europe and Africa. Chris Baird is a leading member of our energy sector initiative and heads up DLA Piper's London desk for African M&A and private equity.

Areas of FocusEnergy and Natural Resources Financial Services Media, Sport and Entertainment Corporate Mergers and Acquisitions Private Equity Technology

Professional QualificationsAttorney registered with the Law Society of the Northern Provinces

EXPERIENCE

Access Bank on the separate acquisitions of the bank subsidiaries and retail banking operation of Standard Chartered Bank in five African countries – Angola, Cameroon, The Gambia, Sierra Leone and Tanzania.
Shell on its acquisition of Daystar Power, Shell’s first power sector acquisition in Africa. Daystar Power operates in Southern and West Africa and provides solar power and battery solutions to business and industry
Liberty Mutual Insurance Europe SE on its acquisition of the business and assets (including employees) of House of Guarantees (HOGS), a leading Norwegian guarantee provider.
Cinerius Financial Partners AG, an asset management services provider based in Switzerland, on new equity arrangements and advice for management in respect of the disposal of a majority stake in the company to private equity firm IK Partners.
Adenia Partners, a pan African private equity firm, on its acquisition of a controlling stake in Kanu Equipment, a specialist in the supply of quality mining, earthmoving, agriculture, construction and road construction equipment with distribution centres across the African continent.
Phatisa, a leading African development and PE fund manager, on the sale of a controlling shareholding in Meridian Group, a fertilizer and agricultural commodities company operating in Mauritius and Southeast Africa.
Norfund on its acquisition of a 30 per cent stake in Globeleq Africa, an operating power company focused on developing energy projects across sub-Saharan Africa.
Cellulant Corporation on its Series C equity capital raising from The Rise Fund, its first African deal.
James Finlay, part of the Swire Group, on its sale to Sun Capital of Finlays Horticulture and Finlays Holdings, leading producers of fresh cut flowers and produce with operations, inter alia, in Kenya, South Africa and Tanzania.
FMO on its investment in JCM Power, a Canadian based renewable energy independent power producer developing and operating renewable energy projects in Africa, Latin America and South Asia and its disposal of a minority equity interest in Access Holdings AG, AB Bank Rwanda and AB Bank Zambia.