Stephanie Phua

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.

• Acted for Affinity Equity Partners via Comprehensive Care Sdn. Bhd., the holding company of Island Hospital Sdn. Bhd. ("Target Company"), in connection with the disposal of the Target Company via a competitive auction process. The Target Company was ultimately sold to IHH Healthcare Berhad for approximately MYR 3.9 billion, with an enterprise value of MYR 4.2 billion. The Target Company operates Island Hospital, a leading and award-winning hospital in Penang.
• Acted as lead counsel to Quadria Capital and its co-investors in the privatisation of Apex Healthcare Berhad, via Pharmora Investment Holdings Pte. Ltd.. Valued at approximately MYR 1.9 billion, this transaction is notable as the largest healthcare take-private transaction ever in Malaysia, alongside being the largest healthcare take-private and pharmaceutical transaction in Southeast Asia over the past five years.
• Acted as lead counsel for Affinity Equity Partners in connection with its MYR 1.86 billion majority acquisition of a world-class manufacturer of value-added seafood products, with its products exported to four continents spanning across Asia Pacific, Middle East, South Africa, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
• Acted as lead counsel for Navis Capital Partners, a Southeast Asia-focused private equity fund on the disposal of their entire shareholding in The Food Purveyor (“TFP”) and its subsidiaries to CP Group’s Lotuss for MYR 1.66 billion. TFP operates the country's leading premium supermarket and grocery retail businesses, managing 50 stores across West Malaysia under well-known brands in the ultra-premium and premium grocery segments such as Village Grocer, The Food Merchant, BSC Find Foods, Pasaraya OTK and Ben's Independent Grocer.
• Acted for TPG Capital, a leading global private equity firm on the disposal of XCL Education, its Southeast Asian education platform via a competitive sale process for USD 1.3 billion to KKR. XCL Education is a leading regional K 12 education platform operating a diversified portfolio of campuses across Southeast Asia, with schools in Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and Vietnam.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

• Malaysian Bar
• Kuala Lumpur Bar

• Sydney