Ola Sanni

Associate, Dubai

Biography

Overview

Ola is an associate in the Firm's Capital Markets practice in Dubai.

Ola advises sovereign entities, corporations and financial institutions on a variety of public and private capital market transactions, including conventional bond and Sukuk issuances, structured finance, liability management and regulatory capital issuances. His transaction experience covers the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asia.

In addition to his transactional expertise, Ola has extensive experience advising clients on complex financial regulatory matters in the UAE (onshore, ADGM, and DIFC) and Saudi Arabia. He regularly advises investment managers, financial institutions and FinTech companies on matters related to financial services regulations, licensing, tokenization, digital assets and payment services.

Bars and Courts
England and Wales
Education
LPC
BPP University
LLB (Hons)
University of Warwick
Languages
English

Experience

His transactional experience includes advising:

  • Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) on listing its US$6 billion triple tranche sukuk offering on the London Stock Exchange.
  • The State of Qatar on its US$12 billion Rule 144A/Reg S bond issuance on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange.
  • Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) on listing its US$12 billion GMTN Programme on the London Stock Exchange.
  • The Federal Republic of Nigeria on listing its US$2.8 billion GMTN Programme on the London Stock Exchange.
  • The Republic of Uzbekistan on listing its inaugural US$1 billion Eurobond on the London Stock Exchange.
  • Arabian Centres Company on its debut offering and tap issuance of Rule 144A/ Reg S US$650 million five-year sukuk as part of the company's US$1.9 billion refinancing package comprising of Islamic bonds and new bank debt.
  • HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank, Citigroup and J.P. Morgan as joint lead managers on the US$500 million green bond issuance by Commercial Bank of Dubai P.S.C. on the Irish Stock Exchange (Euronext Dublin).
  • PKO Bank Hipoteczny on its issuance of €650 million mortgage covered bonds under its €4 billion EMTN Programme on the London Stock Exchange.
  • Kazagro National Management Holding on its tender offer and consent solicitation in respect of the US$1 billion notes issued under its GMTN programme.
  • JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley as bookrunners on the US$330 million issuance of bonds on the International Stock Exchange.
  • Svenska Handelsbanken AB on its issuance of US$500 million AT1 Contingent Convertible Notes under its US$50billion EMTN Programme.
  • Jefferies Bank on listing its US$2 billion EMTN Programme on the Irish Stock Exchange.
  • Goldman Sachs International on an up to US$150 million warehouse securitisation of buy now, pay later receivables originated by Nakhla for Information Technology Systems LLC (Tamara), a leading buy-now-pay-later business in Saudi Arabia.
  • SNB Capital on a US$340 million primary and secondary Series C equity subscription in Tamara.
  • Taaleem Holdings on its AED 750 million initial public offering on the Dubai Financial Market.
  • Moove Africa B.V., a mobility fintech that provides revenue-based vehicle financing to drivers of ride-hailing platforms such as Uber, in connection with its inaugural Sukuk issuance of US$30 million trust certificates.
  • Stargems DMCC, a diamond trading company established in the Dubai Multi Commodity Centre, on a diamond receivables securitisation.

Representative regulatory experience includes advising:

  • An International US founded retail and technology company on the applicable UAE regulatory, payment services and consumer protection framework relevant to its e-commerce and payments business.
  • An international technology company on the establishment of its payments and cryptocurrency trading platform in the UAE and its preparation of a regulatory business plan for submission to the UAE Central Bank.
  • An international multi-asset brokerage company on the regulatory framework relevant for operating payment systems, cryptocurrency brokerages, peer-to-peer lending, commodities and stock trading platforms in the UAE.
  • Intermediaries in the cryptocurrency economy including brokers and exchanges on their payment services and cryptocurrency licensing, incorporation and compliance requirements in the UAE, DIFC and ADGM.
  • An international asset management firm on the establishment of an investment fund in the ADGM.
  • An international investment bank on the financial services regulatory framework in the UAE.
  • Several international organisations and banks on private placement rules across the GCC.