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Toby Grainger

Managing Partner
Head of Corporate and Indonesian Desk, Singapore

Portrait of Toby Grainger

Toby Grainger

Managing Partner
Head of Corporate and Indonesian Desk, Singapore

Contact
CMS Holborn Asia
7 Straits View
Marina One East Tower
#19-01
Singapore 018936
Languages English, Indonesian
Corporate

Toby is the Managing Partner of the Singapore office and also heads the Corporate team and Indonesian desk. He has a long-standing record of advising on financial, corporate and M&A, venture capital and cross-border investment transactions in the Asia-Pacific region.

He advises clients on all aspects of M&A and greenfield projects, investment structuring, fundraising, shareholder and joint venture agreements, ESOPs, other forms of investment instruments and a wide spectrum of operational agreements.

Toby acts for a range of international and regional groups, emerging companies and startups, VCs, financial institutions and individual clients across TMT, healthcare, natural resources, manufacturing and financial services sectors, where, combining with our leading TMT and energy practice teams, we hold market leading industry experience and regulatory knowledge.

Toby is recommended in various legal ranking directories as a leading practitioner, including in Chambers 2021 for Startups and Emerging Companies, Asia Pacific Legal 500 2018 as having extensive Indonesia experience and “excellent business acumen and understanding of clients’ needs”. He is also recognised in Chambers Corporate/M&A in Singapore and Chambers 2016-2018 as an expert based abroad for Indonesia Corporate / M&A and as a leading lawyer for Corporate & Finance in IFLR 2016-2021.
 
Toby is dual qualified in both Australia and New Zealand and is qualified to practice law in New South Wales Australia. He has also practised in Indonesia, China and Australia.

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"Toby Grainger has well-established experience advising startups and emerging companies on a range of matters, from early and late-stage financings to M&A transactions. He is particularly adept at assisting clients from the TMT sector and is notably active on Indonesia-related deals. One client comments: "He is knowledgeable, easy to talk to and matter-of-fact."

Chambers Asia Pacific 2021

"Department head Toby Grainger is an experienced figure in Singapore and Indonesia deals and is playing a key role in developing the group's practice into other parts of the Asia Pacific region."

The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2021

“Leading lawyer for Financial & Corporate Law”

IFLR1000, 2016-2021

“excellent business acumen and understanding of clients’ needs”

Asia Pacific Legal 500, 2018

Toby Grainger is cited as a "very good adviser and a very proactive person" by market sources, who are also impressed by his "efficient and quick" service. He provides corporate advice to clients from a range of industry sectors including mining and manufacturing.

Chambers Asia 2016

Toby Grainger has experience advising an impressive roster of international clients, from sectors such as mining and financial services, on their corporate activities in Indonesia. Clients view him as "a very good adviser and a very proactive person."

Chambers Global 2016

Toby Grainger has a wealth of experience advising international clients on their corporate activities in Indonesia, and interviewees laud him as "a very good adviser and a very proactive person." His sectors of focus include manufacturing, mining and financial services.

Chambers Global 2016

"Toby Grainger has well-established experience advising startups and emerging companies on a range of matters, from early and late-stage financings to M&A transactions. He is particularly adept at assisting clients from the TMT sector and is notably active on Indonesia-related deals. One client comments: "He is knowledgeable, easy to talk to and matter-of-fact."

Chambers Asia Pacific 2021

"Department head Toby Grainger is an experienced figure in Singapore and Indonesia deals and is playing a key role in developing the group's practice into other parts of the Asia Pacific region."

The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2021

“Leading lawyer for Financial & Corporate Law”

IFLR1000, 2016-2021

“excellent business acumen and understanding of clients’ needs”

Asia Pacific Legal 500, 2018

Toby Grainger is cited as a "very good adviser and a very proactive person" by market sources, who are also impressed by his "efficient and quick" service. He provides corporate advice to clients from a range of industry sectors including mining and manufacturing.

Chambers Asia 2016

Toby Grainger has experience advising an impressive roster of international clients, from sectors such as mining and financial services, on their corporate activities in Indonesia. Clients view him as "a very good adviser and a very proactive person."

Chambers Global 2016

Toby Grainger has a wealth of experience advising international clients on their corporate activities in Indonesia, and interviewees laud him as "a very good adviser and a very proactive person." His sectors of focus include manufacturing, mining and financial services.

Chambers Global 2016

Relevant experience

  • NCS on the acquisition of ClayOPS, a data analytics and consultancy services company.
  • ShopBack, a regional e-commerce cash rebates group on various rounds of fundraising, including its Series C, Series D and Series E funding rounds as well as on the acquisition of Hoolah (a regional Buy Now Pay Later group) and Ebates Korea and on its disposal of Seedly.
  • Infrared Capital Partners on the acquisition of Dragages’ interest in Singapore Sports Hub (via a stapled transfer structure).
  • A North American buyer on its proposed acquisition of a pan-Asian payments processing and services business.
  • Dentsu, a global “big six” advertising and marketing agency group, on the acquisition of Dwi Sapta (the largest independent full service advertising agency in Indonesia) and PT Valuklik.
  • DamoGO on the acquisition of an Indonesian B2B supply chain food services business to help suppliers, farmers and restaurants better manage their supply chains and food waste.
  • Nomu Pay in relation to its acquisition of Wirecard’s data warehouse in Singapore.
  • Singtel on the divestment of part of its interest in Storms to ASX listed iCandy.
  • Bridge Resources on their Mongolian acquisitions of metallurgical mining assets from ASX listed TerraCom.
  • A global oilfield equipment and services group on the divestment of its assets involving Singapore and Indonesia.
  • Gojek on the acquisition of the Moka Indonesian SME payments platform, acqui-hire acquisitions and a strategic financial services partnership in Indonesia.
  • European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on the acquisition of a stake in a leading Uzbek food retailer at an investment value of US$40 million.
  • EMPG, a Dubai-based property portal unicorn on its acquisition of Kaidee, Thailand's biggest online market place via a Singapore holding structure.
  • A sovereign wealth fund’s lifesciences accelerator on the spin-off of certain technology assets, fundraising and an investment into a Singapore diagnostics business.
  • Mighty Bear Games (MBG) on their Series Seed funding round led by a consortium of investors. MBG is a start-up specialising in the development of mobile massively online role-playing games and its prominent investors include Rocket Internet’s Global Founders Capital fund. The Series Seed round values MBG at USD 10m.
  • SMRT on its Series A investment into Telepod Pte Ltd, a start-up in the business of the rental of last mile transportation vehicles.
  • One of Korea’s largest pharmaceutical companies on ASEAN regional investments.
  • Indonesia’s largest cellular telecommunications company and its investment banking advisor on the proposed restructuring of its telecommunication towers business worth in excess of USD 1bn.
  • A US technology group on its joint venture with the technology development of the Singapore Government.
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Publications

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Education

  • 2002 – LLB (1 Class Hons), University of Canterbury, New Zealand
  • 2002 – B.Com, University of Canterbury, New Zealand 
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Energy & Climate Change

Toby is the Managing Partner of the Singapore office and also heads the Corporate team and Indonesian desk. Toby has extensive experience in advising on regional corporate transactions and M&A in the natural resources sector. His clients include both miners, traders, downstream producers, logistics businesses and financial investors.

Toby is recommended in various legal ranking directories as a leading practitioner, including in Chambers 2021 for Startups and Emerging Companies, Asia Pacific Legal 500 2018 as having extensive Indonesia experience and “excellent business acumen and understanding of clients’ needs”. He is also recognised in Chambers Corporate/M&A in Singapore and Chambers 2016-2018 as an expert based abroad for Indonesia Corporate / M&A and as a leading lawyer for Corporate & Finance in IFLR 2016-2021.

Toby is dual qualified in both Australia and New Zealand and is qualified to practice law in New South Wales Australia. He has also practised in Indonesia, China and Australia.

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"Department head Toby Grainger is an experienced figure in Singapore and Indonesia deals and is playing a key role in developing the group's practice into other parts of the Asia Pacific region."

Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2021

“Leading lawyer for Financial & Corporate Law”

IFLR1000, 2016-2021

“excellent business acumen and understanding of clients’ needs”

Asia Pacific Legal 500, 2018

Toby Grainger has a wealth of experience advising international clients on their corporate activities in Indonesia, and interviewees laud him as "a very good adviser and a very proactive person." His sectors of focus include manufacturing, mining and financial services.

Chambers Global 2016

Toby Grainger is cited as a "very good adviser and a very proactive person" by market sources, who are also impressed by his "efficient and quick" service. He provides corporate advice to clients from a range of industry sectors including mining and manufacturing.

Chambers Asia 2016

Toby Grainger has experience advising an impressive roster of international clients, from sectors such as mining and financial services, on their corporate activities in Indonesia. Clients view him as "a very good adviser and a very proactive person."

Chambers Global 2016

"Department head Toby Grainger is an experienced figure in Singapore and Indonesia deals and is playing a key role in developing the group's practice into other parts of the Asia Pacific region."

Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2021

“Leading lawyer for Financial & Corporate Law”

IFLR1000, 2016-2021

“excellent business acumen and understanding of clients’ needs”

Asia Pacific Legal 500, 2018

Toby Grainger has a wealth of experience advising international clients on their corporate activities in Indonesia, and interviewees laud him as "a very good adviser and a very proactive person." His sectors of focus include manufacturing, mining and financial services.

Chambers Global 2016

Toby Grainger is cited as a "very good adviser and a very proactive person" by market sources, who are also impressed by his "efficient and quick" service. He provides corporate advice to clients from a range of industry sectors including mining and manufacturing.

Chambers Asia 2016

Toby Grainger has experience advising an impressive roster of international clients, from sectors such as mining and financial services, on their corporate activities in Indonesia. Clients view him as "a very good adviser and a very proactive person."

Chambers Global 2016

Relevant experience

  • Bridge Resources on their Mongolian acquisitions of metallurgical mining assets from ASX listed TerraCom.
  • Powernext, an energy exchange, on the joint venture arrangements and regulatory considerations in respect of the establishment of Spark Commodities in Singapore, a joint venture with Kpler.
  • A Chinese SOE (and one of the world's largest nickel refiners) on the acquisition of two Indonesian nickel producers in Sulawesi and advising on a related bridge financing.
  • North Asian investor, developer and operator in the green-energy industry on its solar joint venture project in Kazakhstan comprising of several corporate and financing components.
  • A Singapore-based mining group with operations in Western Australia and Malaysia on its debt and equity fundraising activities, convertible note rollovers, Malaysia project documentation and other general corporate advice.
  • A vendor group on an investment by a listed company into a mining logistics and transportation company in Indonesia.
  • An Indonesian affiliate of REA on the acquisition of marine infrastructure assets at Kecamatan Kotabangun, Kalimantan, Indonesia.
  • LGI on a potential investment into an Indonesian coal mining company.
  • A Korean MNC on coal funding, financing and security arrangements for two Korean financial institutions to support coal production and trading in Indonesia.
  • A Singapore investor on the acquisition of stakes in several Indonesian anthracite mines.
  • An Australian nickel mining group on a share swap involving an Indonesian nickel refining company.
  • The Indonesian subsidiary of an Australian mineral explorer on its aggregates development agreement.
  • An Indonesian coal miner on its coal offtake agreements with Noble Group.
  • Norwegian marine seismic services provider, Shearwater GeoServices, in its USD 600m cross-border acquisition of the marine seismic acquisition assets and operations of WesternGeco.
  • An Australian listed company on its structuring and investment agreements relating to its Indonesian mining subsidiary in Papua.
  • Advising a global oilfield equipment and services group on the divestment of its assets involving Singapore and Indonesia.
  • Trafigura on a variety of Indonesian coal and minerals trading and prepayment transactions.
  • A Chinese-based metal miner and processing group on its Indonesian off-take agreements.
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Education

  • 2002 – LLB (1st Class Hons), University of Canterbury, New Zealand
  • 2002 – B.Com, University of Canterbury, New Zealand
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TMT - Technology, Media & Telecommunications

Toby is the Managing Partner of the Singapore office and also heads the Corporate team and Indonesian desk. Toby‘s Technology, Media and Telecommunications transactional experience and strength contributes to the firm’s market leading TMT practice in the region.

He advises clients on all aspects of M&A and greenfield projects, investment structuring, VC’s early-stage and startup companies, shareholder and joint venture agreements, ESOPs, other forms of investment instruments and a wide spectrum of operational agreements (including licensing, trading and specialist services agreements). Some of his clients include ShopBack, Sony Pictures, SMRT, Mighty Bear Games, M&C Saatchi and GorillaSpace.

Toby is recommended in various legal ranking directories as a leading practitioner, including in Chambers 2021 for Startups and Emerging Companies, Asia Pacific Legal 500 2018 as having extensive Indonesia experience and “excellent business acumen and understanding of clients’ needs”. He is also recognised in Chambers Corporate/M&A in Singapore and Chambers 2016 - 2018 as an expert based abroad for Indonesia Corporate / M&A and as a leading lawyer for Corporate & Finance in IFLR 2016 - 2021.

Toby is dual qualified in both Australia and New Zealand and is qualified to practice law in New South Wales Australia. He has also practised in Indonesia, China and Australia.

more less

Toby Grainger has well-established experience advising startups and emerging companies on a range of matters, from early and late-stage financings to M&A transactions. He is particularly adept at assisting clients from the TMT sector and is notably active on Indonesia-related deals. One client comments: "He is knowledgeable, easy to talk to and matter-of-fact."

Chambers Asia Pacific, 2021

"Department head Toby Grainger is an experienced figure in Singapore and Indonesia deals and is playing a key role in developing the group's practice into other parts of the Asia Pacific region."

Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2021

“Leading lawyer for Financial & Corporate Law”

IFLR1000, 2016-2021

“excellent business acumen and understanding of clients’ needs”

Asia Pacific Legal 500, 2018

Toby Grainger has a wealth of experience advising international clients on their corporate activities in Indonesia, and interviewees laud him as "a very good adviser and a very proactive person." His sectors of focus include manufacturing, mining and financial services.

Chambers Global 2016

Toby Grainger has experience advising an impressive roster of international clients, from sectors such as mining and financial services, on their corporate activities in Indonesia. Clients view him as "a very good adviser and a very proactive person."

Chambers Global 2016

Toby Grainger is cited as a "very good adviser and a very proactive person" by market sources, who are also impressed by his "efficient and quick" service. He provides corporate advice to clients from a range of industry sectors including mining and manufacturing.

Chambers Asia 2016

Toby Grainger has well-established experience advising startups and emerging companies on a range of matters, from early and late-stage financings to M&A transactions. He is particularly adept at assisting clients from the TMT sector and is notably active on Indonesia-related deals. One client comments: "He is knowledgeable, easy to talk to and matter-of-fact."

Chambers Asia Pacific, 2021

"Department head Toby Grainger is an experienced figure in Singapore and Indonesia deals and is playing a key role in developing the group's practice into other parts of the Asia Pacific region."

Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2021

“Leading lawyer for Financial & Corporate Law”

IFLR1000, 2016-2021

“excellent business acumen and understanding of clients’ needs”

Asia Pacific Legal 500, 2018

Toby Grainger has a wealth of experience advising international clients on their corporate activities in Indonesia, and interviewees laud him as "a very good adviser and a very proactive person." His sectors of focus include manufacturing, mining and financial services.

Chambers Global 2016

Toby Grainger has experience advising an impressive roster of international clients, from sectors such as mining and financial services, on their corporate activities in Indonesia. Clients view him as "a very good adviser and a very proactive person."

Chambers Global 2016

Toby Grainger is cited as a "very good adviser and a very proactive person" by market sources, who are also impressed by his "efficient and quick" service. He provides corporate advice to clients from a range of industry sectors including mining and manufacturing.

Chambers Asia 2016

Relevant experience

  • ShopBack, a regional e-commerce cash rebates group on various rounds of fundraising, including its Series C, Series D and Series E funding rounds as well as on the acquisition of Hoolah (a regional Buy Now Pay Later group) and Ebates Korea and on its disposal of Seedly.
  • NCS on the acquisition of ClayOPS, a data analytics and consultancy services company.
  • A North American buyer on its proposed acquisition of a pan-Asian payments processing and services business.
  • SMRT on its Series A investment into Telepod Pte Ltd, a start-up in the business of the rental of last mile transportation vehicles.
  • Dentsu Aegis Networks on the acquisition of Dwi Sapta (the largest independent full service advertising agency in Indonesia) and PT Valuklik.
  • DamoGO on the acquisition of an Indonesian B2B supply chain food services business to help suppliers, farmers and restaurants better manage their supply chains and food waste.
  • Advising a sovereign wealth fund’s lifesciences accelerator on the spin-off of certain technology assets, fundraising and an investment into a Singapore diagnostics business.
  • Nomu Pay Limited in relation to its potential acquisition of Wirecard’s data warehouse in Singapore.
  • Singtel on the divestment of part of its interest in Storms to ASX listed iCandy.
  • SMRT Momentum Ventures on its Series A investment into Telepod Pte Ltd, a start-up in the business of the rental of last mile transportation vehicles.
  • Epsilon Telecommunications, a Singapore-based telecommunications service provider, on the expansion of its partnership with AMS-IX, an independent internet exchange provider.
  • GorillaSpace, a Singapore-based online marketplace for workspaces on a seed funding round led by Japanese real estate developer Mitsubishi Estate.
  • Indonesia’s largest cellular telecommunications company on the proposed restructuring of its telecommunication towers business.
  • Morgan Stanley on the establishment of a securities brokerage and the acquisition of a seat and share of the Indonesian Stock Exchange.
  • Ampotech, a smart metering enviro-tech company on its seed investment round.
  • Advised SMRT on its Series A investment into Telepod Pte Ltd, a start-up in the business of the rental of last mile transportation vehicles.
  • Advised Oxalis Games on a Singapore collaboration and shareholders agreement for Moonfrost,
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Education

  • 2002 – LLB (1st Class Hons), University of Canterbury, New Zealand
  • 2002 – B.Com, University of Canterbury, New Zealand
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Expertise

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