Ásgeir Á. Ragnarsson

Practice area
  • Banking and Finance
  • Capital Markets
  • Commercial and Company Law
  • Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Bankruptcy and Insolvency
Education
  • Admitted in New York 1999
  • University of Miami, LL.M., 1998
  • Admitted in Iceland 1994
  • University of Copenhagen
  • University of Iceland Cand. jur., 1993
LANGUAGES
Icelandic English
Recent cases
Bridge financing by BNP Paribas Fortis SA/NV to Marel hf.

BBA//Fjeldco advised BNP Paribas Fortis SA/NV on EUR 150M bridge financing to Marel hf. (leading global provider of food processing equipment and one of the largest listed companies in Iceland), in relation to the company’s acquisition of Wenger Manufacturing LLC (a global leader in processing solutions focused on pet food, plant-based proteins and aqua feed), which is an investment into new and attractive growth markets for Marel hf.

Financial restructuring of a project finance facilities agreement relating to PCC BakkiSilicon hf.

BBA//Fjeldco provided legal advice to  KfW-IPEX BANK GmbH (Specialist financier for the German and European export industry and project finance) in the financial restructuring of (up to) USD 194M project finance facilities agreement relating to PCC BakkiSilicon hf., a state of the art silicon metal plant in Iceland that is 100% operated with renewable energy (hydro- and geothermal power), providing silicon metal to the chemical industry and in the production of high-strength aluminium alloys for the automotive industry. The restructuring involved inter alia that the creditors of PCC BakkiSilicon hf. converted part of their loans into equity subject to new funds from PCC BakkiSilicon hf. being injected. Apart from being a large complex and international financial restructuring, KfW IPEX Bank GmbH will convert part of its senior debt into an Icelandic law non-call perpetual subordinated securities (hybrid bond) which has not been done in Iceland before to the best of our knowledge.

BBA//Fjeldco provided legal advice to DineOut in relation to SaltPays´s investment in the company

The software company DineOut recently secured funding from SaltPay with SaltPay becoming a shareholder in the company. The company offers restaurant and food ordering systems, checkout systems, website creations and automatic payments with QR codes. DineOut is planning to use the funding to strengthen its position in Iceland and expand its services outside of Iceland.

BBA//Fjeldco attorneys Ásgeir Á. Ragnarsson,Sigvaldi Fannar Jónsson, Brynjar Freyr Garðarsson og Ragnar Snær Kærnested provided DineOut with legal advice in relation to Salt Pay’s investment in DineOut.

BBA//Fjeldco acted as a legal advisor of Arion Bank and DNB Bank ASA in relation to a EUR 65 million financing of Arnarlax ehf.

BBA//Fjeldco provided Arion Bank and DNB Bank ASA  legal advice in relation to providing a EUR 65 million term and revolving credit facilities to Arnarlax ehf. Arnarlax ehf. is one of the leading Icelandic fish farming company and owned by Icelandic Salmon AS listed on the Oslo stock exchange.

BBA//Fjeldco acted as a legal advisor to the pharmaceutical chain Lyfjaval ehf. in relation to the acquisition of its entire share capital by Lyfsalinn ehf.

BBA//Fjeldco acted as the legal advisor to the pharmaceutical company Lyfjaval ehf. during the acquisition of its entire share capital by Lyfsalinn ehf. a company partly owned by Skeljungur hf. registered on the main market of Nasdaq Iceland. The value of the transaction amounted to ISK 1,500,000,000.

Takeover bid of all shares, issued by Skeljungur hf.

BBA//Fjeldco gave advice to the structure and timing of the takeover bid, granted advice with regards to regulatory and competition matters, as well advising to the capital structure of Strengur hf. (Bidco). Furthermore BBA//Fjeldco held negotiations and covered documentation with financing parties.

Financing to Marel

BBA//Fjeldco acted as the Icelandic legal adviser to ABN AMRO, BNP  Paribas, Danske Bank, HSBC, ING Bank, RaboBank and UniCredit in relation to a  EUR 700 million sustainability-linked syndicated credit facility to Marel hf.

 Marel hf. (NASDAQ: MAREL; AEX: MAREL) is a leading global provider  of advanced food processing equipment, systems, software and services to the  poultry, meat and fish industries.

 Marel is by far the largest listed company in Iceland. This  financing gives Marel increased operational and strategic flexibility and  supports the company’s long term strategy. The margin incentive structure  linked to Marel performance relating to the environment, gender equality and  health and safety.

Legal adviser in relation to BREXIT and other financial regulatory matters

BBA//Fjeldco acted as Legal Adviser to Morgan Stanley, CitiBank,  Lloyds Banking Group, HSBC, RW Baird NASDAQ, Shanghai International Exchange  and others in relation to BREXIT and other financial regulatory matters.

Legal adviser to Japan Bank for International Cooperation

BBA//Fjeldco provided legal advice to Japan Bank for International  Cooperation’s (JBIC) New Energy and Power Finance Department in relation to a  JBIC buyer’s credit to HS Orka (Icelandic Borrower). The credit was  guaranteed by Landsbankinn and the transaction valued at USD 10 million.

Legal adviser to Lucinity group

BBA//Fjeldcoprovided legal advice to the start-up company, Lucinity Group ehf., in relationto two rounds of financing amounting to USD 8.1 million as well all corporatematters relating thereto. Lucinity Group ehf. specializes in the development ofartificial intelligence solutions in the field of anti-money laundering. Thesolution empowers its clientele, ranging from digital microbanks to tier 1 USbanks, to detect unusual behavior and transactions improving review efficiency.

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