Biography
Stephanie Phua is a partner in the Corporate, Commercial & Securities Practice Group of Wong & Partners. She is an experienced partner in the areas of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and private equity, and has authored various publications including Chambers’ Private Equity Practice Guide for Malaysia in 2023 and The Legal 500 Country Comparative Guide for Malaysia in Private Equity.
Stephanie is an accomplished practitioner, having won the Dealmaker of the Year by Asian Legal Business Malaysia Law Awards in 2021 and being shortlisted for Young Lawyer of the Year award by Asian Legal Business Malaysia Law Awards in 2016. She is also acknowledged by the reputable legal directories, holding rankings in both Chambers Asia Pacific and Legal 500 Asia Pacific for Corporate/M&A.
Stephanie is a strong advocate of corporate law in Malaysia. She has been invited to present and moderate events on Malaysian company and corporate legislation including conferences organised by the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM), the Malaysian Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (MAISCA) and the American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM).
Practice Focus
Stephanie's main area of focus is on mergers and acquisitions, take-overs, private equity investments, and corporate reorganisations. She has undertaken numerous inbound and cross-border transactions in various industries and has represented a large number of leading foreign and domestic multinationals, global and regional PE/VC firms, and prominent Malaysian household brands. Her experience spans all aspects of documentation, negotiation, due diligence and regulatory compliance.
In addition, Stephanie is a key partner in the private equity and reorganisation practices of the Baker McKenzie member firms across China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, where she helps to develop and implement growth strategies in these practice areas. Stephanie had also worked previously in the Sydney office of Baker McKenzie.
Representative Legal Matters
- Advised Prestigion Education Sdn Bhd (formerly known as Two Horses Capital Sdn Bhd)(Prestigion Education) in connection with its MYR 540.5 million acquisition of 80% of Paramount Education Sdn Bhd, Paramount Education (Klang) Sdn Bhd and Sri KDU Sdn Bhd from Paramount Corporation Berhad. Prestigion Education is helmed by Tunku Ali Redhauddin Tuanku Muhriz and TPG Capital Asia (TPG Capital)'s, managing partner Ganen Sarvnanthan. TPG Capital will also participate in the investment by providing financing, strategic and operational support to Prestigion Education. This transaction was recognised as the Best Malaysia Deal by The Edge in 2020.
- Advised Softbank Corp (Softbank) in its USD 60 million (RM 250 million) investment in Axiata Digital Advertising Sdn. Bhd.(ADA), Axiata Group Bhd's digital marketing subsidiary. Softbank acquired a 23.07% stake in ADA as part of the investment. ADA has presence across 9 markets in Southeast Asia and South Asia.
- Acted for Navis Capital Partners (Navis) on its acquisition of a controlling stake and subsequent investment into Hernan Corporation Sdn. Bhd. (Hernan) to build an integrated durian platform. Hernan is Malaysia's largest and leading exporter of Malaysian durians – from frozen durians to delectable durian treats.
- Advised KV Asia on its divestment of the entirety of its stake in TF-Value Mart to the Intermediate Capital Group. The exit marks the culmination of one of KV Asia's most successful investments to date.
- Advised Nestle (Malaysia) Berhad in connection with its MYR 155.3 million disposal of its chilled dairy and manufacturing business, through its subsidiaries Nestle Products Sdn Bhd and Nestle Manufacturing (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, to Lactalis Trading Malaysia Sdn Bhd and Lactalis Manufacturing Malaysia Sdn Bhd.
- Advised IHH Healthcare Berhad (IHH) on (i) the disposal of the entire issued ordinary share capital of IMU Health Sdn Bhd by IHH to Inbound Education Holdings Sdn Bhd, a consortium between TPG, Hong Leong and EPF; (ii) the restructuring of IMU Education Sdn Bhd to transfer of a hospital to IMU Omega Sdn Bhd (IMU Omega); and (iii) the disposal of the entire issued share capital of IMU Omega to Columbia Asia Sdn Bhd.
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Malaysian Bar
- Kuala Lumpur Bar
Admissions
Malaysia (2007)
Education
University of Malaya (2006)