Osama Audi

Services

Mainstream Corporate

Sectors

“I help investors and businesses execute complex, strategic transactions across M&A, private equity, venture capital and investment funds. I work with sovereign wealth funds, financial sponsors, family offices, multinationals, and technology and growth companies at different stages of their development. My approach is grounded in commercial understanding and a strong commitment to execution. I look beyond the immediate legal questions to understand what matters most to the client, address potential obstacles early and provide practical advice that supports clear decision-making and successful outcomes.”

Overview

Osama focuses on M&A, private equity, venture capital and investment funds matters. Recognized for his commercial-oriented approach to transactions and his work ethic, he represents sovereign wealth funds, private equity and venture capital funds, public and private technology and growth companies, family offices and multinationals. Osama is admitted to the New York Bar and has worked in New York, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Osama advises clients on M&A and private equity transactions in the Middle East, Africa and South and Southeast Asia in sectors such as energy (with a focus on renewable energy) and infrastructure, oil & gas, technology and e-commerce, consumer goods and retail, healthcare and life-sciences, education, financial services, logistics and transport and real estate, hospitality and leisure.

In addition, Osama regularly advises on transactions relating to technology and growth companies at all stages of their development and is recognized by Chambers Global 2024 for his Venture Capital & Emerging Companies work.

Osama received his JD from the Pennsylvania State University which he attended on a full-academic Dean’s Scholarship.

Experience

Aldar Properties, the leading Abu Dhabi-based property developer on: (i) the acquisition of FAB Properties; (ii) its joint venture with Mubadala to purchase and develop plots on Al Maryah Island; (iii) its joint venture with Mubadala to purchase Grade A office tower, Al Maryah Tower, for AED 450 million; (iv) the merger of Aldar Estates with Eltizam Estates which was jointly owned by IHC and ADNEC Group; and (v) numerous other matters.
Advised Montfort Trading on the acquisition and acquisition financing of Uniper Energy’s oil refinery, bunkering and trading business located in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates. The transaction was the first disposal by Uniper as part of the mandate by the European Commission to recapitalize the company.
Advised Ripples Capital Limited (d/b/a Kitopi) the world’s leading cloud kitchen company on (i) the USD 415 million Series C venture capital round led by SoftBank, the largest ever venture financing round in the Middle East and the first investment by SoftBank in a Middle-East based startup. Investors in the round included ADQ, and Chimera Capital; (ii) the acquisition of AWJ Investments, a fast-growing food and beverage company based in Dubai which operates leading regional brands Operation Falafel, Catch 22, Awani, SushiDo and others; (iii) the acquisition of Rock House Sliders; (iv) the acquisition of Right Bite; (v) the acquisition of Chin Chin; and (vi) numerous other matters.
Advised Saudi-listed Tanmiah Food Company on its strategic partnership with US-listed Tyson Foods, Inc. pursuant to which Tyson Foods acquired a 60% equity stake in Supreme Foods Processing Company, and a 15% equity stake in Agriculture Development Company, both wholly-owned subsidiaries of Tanmiah.
Advised the shareholder of Innovative Care Company, the owner of the New You Medical Centre and on-sight pharmacy, on the sale of a 51% equity stake to Arabian International Healthcare Holding Co. (Tibbiyah). The transaction was structured through the ADGM.
Advised the shareholders of Al Faris Food Group on the sale of a substantial majority of their food & beverage manufacturing and distribution business in Saudi Arabia to Gulf Japan Food Fund.
Advised Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) on: (i) a joint venture with EDF International for energy efficiency projects across the MENA region, (ii) the sale of Masdar City Cooling Company to the National Central Cooling Company (Tabreed), (iii) the acquisition of an interest in Al Dhafra PV2, the largest solar PV project in the world. The transaction won MENA Solar Deal of the Year, Project Finance International 2020, and (iv) the sale of an interest in Dumat Al Jandal wind power project, the first utility scale wind project in Saudi Arabia under Vision2030. The transaction won PFI Renewable Deal of the Year 2019.
Advised Baker Hughes on the USD 550 million acquisition of a 5% interest in ADNOC Drilling, the subsidiary of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and the suite of commercial framework agreements in relation to the sale of products and services by BHGE to ADNOC Drilling. The transaction won the "MENA M&A Deal of the Year" award at the 2019 IJGlobal awards.
Advised Anadarko Petroleum (thereafter Occidental Petroleum and Total after their acquisition of, respectively, Anadarko Petroleum and several LNG assets including the Rovuma Basin project) on the joint venture and related shareholder and financing arrangements with six consortium partners for the USD 20 billion Rovuma Basin LNG project in Mozambique.
Advised GFH Financial Group BSC on its acquisition of a significant majority interest in three Saudi Arabian companies which own a total of four American curriculum K through 12 schools.
_{*including experience from previous firm}

Recognition

Osama is ranked by Chambers Global 2024 as a leading individual for Corporate/M&A: Abu Dhabi based. Chambers Global 2024 identifies Osama as “an exceptionally bright, measured and effective M&A counsel” and further adds "he is responsive and commercially savvy".

Moreover, from 2018 to the most recent rankings, Osama has been and continues to be recognized by Legal500 and IFLR for his M&A, private equity and venture capital work. Most recently as a "Leading Individual" by Legal500 and "Highly Regarded" by IFLR. He is also recognized by Legal500 for his work in the oil & gas and real estate sectors and by IFLR for his work in the food & beverage sector.

Education, Qualifications and Languages

Pennsylvania State University (Juris Doctor) (2005)

Pennsylvania State University (Bachelor of Arts) (2001)

State Admissions:
United States (New York)

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