Linklaters advised FWD Group (FWD) on its investment of a significant minority stake in PT Asuransi BRI Life (BRI Life), the life insurance arm of PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (BRI). As part of the strategic partnership, BRI Life has entered into a long-term life insurance distribution agreement with BRI.

Linklaters’ involvement in the transaction consolidates the firm’s long-standing experience of advising insurance companies, investment banks and other financial institutions in the sector. The team was led by Linklaters’ corporate partners Matthew Middleditch and Sophie Mathur, alongside Widyawan & Partners’ senior foreign legal advisor, Karen Phang, with support from managing associates Johanna Leung and Tengku Almira Adlinisa.

Linklaters’ Chairman of Global Corporate Practice Matthew Middleditch, commented:

“Linklaters has worked on the development of some of the most important transactions in the corporate/M&A space in the region. This transaction involved close collaboration between our Jakarta, Singapore and Hong Kong teams. We are honoured to have had the opportunity to support FWD on this strategic investment.”

Widyawan & Partners’ senior foreign legal advisor Karen Phang, commented:

“Widyawan & Partners has long-standing experience advising Indonesian and multinational corporations on their strategic cross-border transactions, and a market-leading track record in M&A transactions involving financial institutions. We are pleased to have supported FWD on this transformational partnership.”