Wichaya Apiratkasem

Overview

Admitted to practice law in Thailand, Wichaya is an associate in the corporate practice of the firm’s Bangkok office.

She advises both local and global companies on a wide array of corporate and commercial issues.

Her practice encompasses advising on and managing numerous strategic mergers and acquisitions.

Experience

Acted as Thai counsel to UBS Group AG on the merger of UBS AG and Credit Suisse AG and the merger/integration and consolidation of Credit Suisse AG’s local Thai operations, including Credit Suisse Securities (Thailand) Limited, into the local Thai operations of UBS AG, including UBS Securities (Thailand) Limited, including all regulatory approvals required from the Thai Securities and Exchange Commission and the Bank of Thailand to bring about an end to the independent functioning of Credit Suisse AG and Credit Suisse Securities (Thailand) Limited in Thailand and migration of their core businesses, assets and local banking and debt facilities to UBS AG.
Advising Blackstone Inc. in respect of the issue and offer of fund units in Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust through a Thai feeder fund, KKP PRIVATE REIT FUND NOT FOR RETAIL INVESTORS, established in collaboration with Kiatnakin Phatra Public Company Limited, as the licensed fund manager, being one of the leading financial institutions and asset management companies in Thailand, for up to $92 million.
Advised ZF Friedrichshafen AG/ ZF Automotive Safety Systems (Thailand) Co., Ltd. on the transfer of its passive safety systems division to ZF Passive Safety Systems (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
Represented Tencent Holdings Limited and Tencent Music Entertainment (together, the Tencent Group) in the purchase of 80 million shares or the equivalent of 10 percent of the total issued and paid-up ordinary shares of GMM Music Public Company Limited, Thailand’s largest independent music label and a subsidiary of Grammy Public Company Limited, pursuant to which the Tencent Group will compensate for such shares via cash and in-kind consideration in the form of shares in Joox Thailand (Hong Kong) Limited.
Acting as local counsel to Yokohama Rubber on its acquisition of Goodyear’s Off-the-Road (OTR) tire business for $905 million.
Advising JERA, one of the world's largest energy companies dealing in fuels, and Chubu Electric Power International, third among Japan's largest electric utilities, on the disposition of its 49 percent equity interest in Gunkul Chubu Powergen Co. Ltd., a Thai company that owns and operates a portfolio of six solar power projects.
Advised SDIC Mining on the acquisition of a controlling interest in a large potash mine in northern Thailand in Udon Thani Province, with the mining rights granted to Asia Pacific Potash Corporation (“APPC”), a subsidiary of Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited (“ITD”). The stake sale is being run through a competitive bidding managed by APPC.
Advised APICO and AKL on corporate and regulatory matters pertaining to their concessions, contracting arrangements for the potential development of production facilities, and contracting arrangements for managing previously drilled wells.
Represented Intouch Holdings Public Company Limited, a leading telecommunication business company in Thailand, in several transactions involving its acquisition of shares in several start-up companies.
Represented the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) in the preparation of a form of contract for GISTDA’s use in the THEOS-2 project (at the bidding stage).
Represented a lending group consisting of Kasikornbank Public Company Limited and TISCO Bank Public Company Limited on the approximately THB 9,507 million financing of several real-estate development projects.
Represented WHA Group in the restructuring of its entire business group consisting of several energy and utilities project companies, for the total value of approximately THB 7,000 million.
Represented TOA Paint Public Company Limited in its business restructuring prior to its initial public offering.
Represented Siamraj Public Company Limited and WHA Corporation Public Company Limited in their respective initial public offerings.
Represented Krung Thai Asset Management Public Company Limited in its capacity as a REIT trustee for the launch of WHA Business Complex Freehold and Leasehold Real Estate Investment Trust (WHABT), establishing Thailand’s first-ever office building REIT, for the total value of approximately THB 4,000 million.
Represented Thaicom Public Company Limited, a leading telecommunication business company in Thailand, in an asset disposition transaction involving the sale of shares held by its subsidiary, for the total value of THB 1,950.78 million.
Represented Star Gas Co., Ltd. in the sale of its shares to Seven Utilities and Power Public Company Limited (formerly known as Ferrum Public Company Limited), for the total value of THB 550 million.
Acted as a deal counsel representing Nathalin Co., Ltd. (Nathalin) and Sea Oil Public Company Limited (Sea Oil), leading energy business companies in Thailand, in the sale and acquisition of shares, held by Nathalin, in 9 private solar rooftop project companies, to Sea Oil, for the total value of approximately THB 200 million.