To further highlight our pedigree as a leading Nigerian law firm, we have set out below, B&I’s pioneering role in certain “first-ever” transactions involving Nigerian companies and the Federal Government of Nigeria:

• First-ever public offer in the Nigerian capital market of a Telecommunication Company (MTN Nigeria) via a digital platform, #PrimaryOffer. The first bond issuance by a Nigerian telecommunications company and the second-largest bond issuance by a corporate entity in the Nigerian capital market.
• First-ever additional Tier 1 Eurobond issuance by a Nigerian bank and the second in Africa (Joint Bookrunners in connection with Access Bank PLC’s update and (ii) the issuance of US$500 million senior unsecured notes, in the international capital market.
• First Global Depositary Receipts (GDR) issued by a Nigerian company (Guaranty Trust Bank). The GDRs are listed on the London Stock Exchange.
• First Global Depositary Receipts by a Nigerian bank to be listed on the Professional Securities Market of the London Stock Exchange (Diamond Bank Plc).
• First technical listing by a Nigerian company of Global Depositary Receipts on the Official List of the United Kingdom Listing Authority (Zenith Bank Plc).
• First merger transaction (United Bank for Africa and Standard Trust Bank) concluded under the 2004/2005 consolidation exercise in the Nigerian banking industry by the Charles Soludo-led Central Bank of Nigeria.
• First restructuring of a Nigerian banking group (First Bank Group) in compliance with Regulation 3 issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria which repealed the Universal Banking Regime.
• First hybrid merger and take-over by way of tender offer between IBTC Chartered Bank Plc and Stanbic Bank Nigeria Limited.
• First Notes Participation Notes issuance in Nigeria (FBN Finance Company B.V. Netherlands).
• First Federal Government of Nigeria’s Eurobond issuance.
• First Global Depositary Notes by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
• First diaspora bond issuance (Federal Government of Nigeria).
• First sub-sovereign debt issuance programme (Lagos State Government).
• First Euro-denominated bond issue by a corporate entity (Nigerian Breweries Plc).
• First Eurobond offering by a Nigerian telecommunications company (Helios Towers Nigeria).
• First tender offer of Eurobonds guaranteed by a Nigerian corporate (Guaranty Trust Bank Plc).
• First “factory within a factory” in Nigeria (Glaxosmithkline Consumer Nigeria Plc’s divestment of its drinks business to Suntory Beverage & Food Nigeria Ltd).
• First Dual Listing by a Nigerian corporate (Oando on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange).
• First successfully completed Independent Power Plant (IPP) since the commencement of the power sector reforms (NNPC/Agip/Conoco Philips JV).
• First registration of a charge on an aircraft on Guernsey’s aircraft registry. Aircraft owned by a Nigerian high net worth individual (HNI) and financed by a leading Nigerian bank.