ABOUT SUGIDHA NITHI CONSULTING
Sugidha Nithi is a business consultant with over 15 years of experience as a corporate and litigation lawyer and 10 years of experience as General Counsel on a project-financed infrastructure project.
Her vast legal and strategic consulting experience are detailed below.
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INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT FINANCING
General Legal Counsel - Tolaram Corporation Pte Ltd
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Sugidha Nithi headed the legal team in completing the planning, structuring and financing for the development of an infrastructure project: the Lekki Port Project in Lagos, Nigeria.
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The Lekki Port Project was awarded the PFI Award for Infrastructure Deal of the Year – Africa (2019)
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She worked with multidisciplinary teams of engineers, financial experts, project managers, insurance advisors and environment specialists and led numerous teams of external lawyers (in UK, Nigeria, China and BVI) in the development of the first private greenfield deep-sea port in Nigeria.
In her role as General Counsel for Tolaram on this Infrastructure Project, Sugidha Nithi:
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Was a core member of the Sponsor’s negotiating team, involved in complex negotiations across several layers of documents and involving multiple stakeholders (government, institutional and private) with diverse interests and needs.
Explored and crafted novel solutions that tied the Project seamlessly together through the numerous project documents (including concession agreements, sub-lease agreements, shareholders agreements, EPC contracts & the suite of financing documents with the lender, China Development Bank).
Oversaw and executed major outcomes which underpinned the success of the Project including the successful due diligence exercises by lenders, the restructuring of the project vehicle, identifying and obtaining all permits and licences required for the implementation of the project, and negotiation, finalisation and execution of all project agreements.
Obtained ground-breaking Nigerian government support for the Project, in the form of:
A Guarantee from the Federal Ministry of Finance (the first issued in a decade) to support Nigerian Port Authority’s financial obligations under the Concession Agreement in the event of termination
Infrastructure commitments from the Lagos State Government for connectivity of Lekki Port to the hinterland
Marine services commitment from the Nigerian Ports Authority for the operation of Lekki Port
Identified the need for a nuanced approach with each stakeholder and successfully collaborated with all the following parties to achieve outcomes that united all parties’ interests:
Nigerian government
CHEC and CHEC’s advisors
CMAT and CMAT’s advisors
CDB and CDB’s advisors
Sponsor’s advisors
Numerous prospective international and Nigerian banks (including DFIs) and their advisors from 2012-2017
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Click here to read Sugidha Nithi’s Curriculum Vitae.
COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS
Tolaram Group
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In addition to the Lekki Port Project, Sugidha Nithi also handled several other matters for Tolaram group:
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Successfully concluded the Joint Venture with Arla Foods Holding A/S in Nigeria (including the J-V Agreement, distribution agreements, marks licence agreement, and sublease agreement) for the production and distribution of milk products in Africa
Negotiated and finalised a suite of Distribution Agreements for the Joint Venture with the Salim group of Indonesia for distribution of Indomie noodles in Africa
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Partner at M/s Tan Rajah & Cheah
Sugidha Nithi practised as a commercial lawyer for 15 years at Tan Rajah & Cheah.
Negotiated and advised on deal structure and terms of various commercial deals and drafted and finalised agreements.
Click here to read Sugidha Nithi’s Curriculum Vitae.
DEBT RESTRUCTURING
Partner at M/s Tan Rajah & Cheah
Sugidha Nithi acted for a large multinational group with companies in diverse businesses and based in numerous countries across Africa, Europe and Asia whose holding company in Hong Kong was put into liquidation in 2001.
In 2005, she achieved the successful restructuring of the group, with the holding company being granted a stay of the winding-up.
The case set legal precedent in Hong Kong for successfully staying a winding-up after 4 years.
Click here to read Sugidha Nithi’s Curriculum Vitae.
RISK MANAGEMENT & DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Sugidha Nithi has 15 years of experience as an effective and successful litigator - succeeding in 90% of the cases she helmed that went to court.
She has conducted trials and appeals before the High Court and Court of Appeal of Singapore, including:
Leading and conducting several High Court trials with teams of legal assistants (including a 3-week trial with more than 20 witnesses).
Leading and arguing appeals before the Court of Appeal.
She helmed several cases that set legal precedents in multiple legal fields and in various legal jurisdictions.
Click here to read Sugidha Nithi’s Curriculum Vitae.