Alex Mathini
Partner | Nairobi
Contact
T: +254 20 503 1600
E: alex.mathini@bowmanslaw.com
Overview
Alex Mathini is a partner in our Nairobi office in the Corporate department and heads the Nairobi Tax practice.
Alex’s practice mainly focuses on mergers and acquisitions, tax law, corporate and commercial law, private equity transactions and the setting up of funds.
Experience
Alex has advised:
- AfricInvest Fund III in their investment in, and acquisition of a minority stake, in Silafrica Plastics and Packaging and the Silafrica Plastics group of companies.
- KQ on its turnaround strategy and capital optimization programme.
- JP Sa Couto,S.A., one of the world’s largest manufacturers and providers of educational computing devices in its public procurement tender submitted jointly with Moi University, one of Kenya’s largest public universities, to the ICT Authority of Kenya for the Digital Literacy Programme.
- General Plastics Limited on the USD 14.2 million investment by a fund managed by Phatisa Fund Managers Limited.
- M Holdings Limited, owned by various shareholders of Bank M Tanzania, in the acquisition of a controlling stake in Oriental Commercial Bank Limited.
- In the acquisition of a minority interest by Swiss Re In Apollo Investments Limited, the holding company of Apollo Life & APA Insurance which conduct general and life insurance business in Kenya and East Africa.
- Kansai Plascon Africa Ltd (KPAL), a top global paint manufacturer and a subsidiary of Kansai Paint Co., Ltd (Kansai Paint)) in relation to its proposed acquisition of 100% of Sadolin Paints’ operations in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zanzibar and Burundi (Sadolin Paints).
- Plum LLP on the acquisition of 23.34% of the total issued shares of Britam Holdings Limited from the Government of Mauritius.
- Resolution Group Limited on the further additional investment by LeapFrog Financial Inclusion Fund II, LP in Resolution Insurance Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary, by way of a convertible loan of KES 1 billion.
- Fidelity Commercial Bank and the shareholders of Fidelity Commercial Bank in its acquisition by SBM Africa Holdings, a member of the SBM Group.
Tax
- Jumo Kenya on completion of template on the potential VAT and income tax consequences to Experience Hosts offering Experiences via the Airbnb platform in Kenya.
- Project Oil – Advised on the tax implications of the various consolidation methods and steps for consolidation of the client’s business.
- Airbnb on completion of template on the potential VAT and income tax consequences to Experience Hosts offering Experiences via the Airbnb platform in Kenya.
- On the application for ruling from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) on the market price of shares in Transunion LLC, a USA company, considered to be offered to the Kenyan employees as part of the ESPP.
- Clients in engaging with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and providing litigation support/ court representation to clients in disputes with the KRA.
- Cross border tax advice – advice on Kenyan taxes applicable to cross border transactions, the Kenyan Double Tax Treaty network and structuring, particularly with regards to holding company jurisdictions.
- Ad hoc tax advice – responding to specific tax queries raised by clients on various tax matters such as completion of tax questionnaires and email queries.
Awards
- Chambers and Partners ranked Alex in Band 4 for three consecutive years (2021-2023) in the Corporate/Commercial category and as Up and Coming for four consecutive years (2017 to 2020) and in Band 2 for two consecutive years in the Tax category (2022-2023). He was also noted in the Spotlight Table for Tax for three consecutive years (2019 to 2021).
- IFLR100’s Financial and Corporate Guide rated Alex as Highly Regarded for his work in Private Equity, M&A and Tax for four consecutive years (2020 to 2023) and previously, as a Rising Star in the same category for two consecutive years (2018 and 2019).
‘He is super sharp.’ – Chambers and Partners, 2024
‘He provides timely and well thought-out legal solutions.’ – Chambers and Partners, 2024
‘Alex Mathini demonstrates an excellent understanding of commercial problems that need legal guidance.’ – Chambers and Partners, 2024
AREA OF EXPERTISE
Qualifications
- LLB from the University of Nairobi.
- Postgraduate Diploma from the Kenya School of Law.
- Certified Public Secretary and a Certified Public Accountant.
INSIGHTS
Kenya: The Finance Bill 2024
Kenya: The Affordable Housing Act, 2024
Kenya: Grant income is not chargeable to tax
Kenya: Tax Appeals Tribunal elaborates on rules for determining management and control of foreign companies
Kenya: No legal basis for the deduction and payment of the housing levy for January 2024 following the Court of Appeal’s ruling
Kenya: The Draft Income Tax (Donation and Charitable Organisation Exemption) Rules, 2023
Kenya: Affordable Housing Bill
Kenya: Development by the KRA of an alternative to the Electronic Tax Invoices Management System for SMEs
Kenya: National Assembly adopts and approves the report of its Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning on the Draft National Tax Policy
Kenya: The Draft Tax Procedures (Electronic Tax Invoice) Regulations, 2023
Kenya: Proposed amendments to the Special Economic Zones Act
Africa: Tax and currency controls in infrastructure-build projects
Kenya: The Medium-Term Revenue Strategy
Kenya: The Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning publishes new draft Transfer Pricing Rules
Kenya: Proposed Public Procurement Capacity Building Levy Order
Kenya: Tax Amnesty under the Finance Act 2023
Kenya: Key changes proposed under the Finance Act, 2023
Kenya: Key changes proposed under the Finance Bill 2023
Kenya: Cabinet of Kenya approves the Multilateral Instrument
East Africa: IP Quarterly Newsletter – Q1 2023
Kenya: Tax waivers issued via gazette notice are unconstitutional
Kenya: High Court upholds imposition of VAT on exported services
Kenya: High Court rules that the National Treasury Cabinet Secretary cannot abandon taxes without KRA recommendation
Kenya: The Draft Kenya-China Double Tax Agreement
Kenya: Inflation Adjustment on Excise Duty Rates
Kenya: The High Court reviews its earlier judgment and rules that the VAT Regulations, 2017 are valid and have force of law
Kenya: Taxpayers can still benefit from the Voluntary Tax Disclosure Programme currently in its second year
Kenya: The Finance Act, 2022
Kenya: The High Court upholds that tithes, offerings, and donations to churches and not-for-profit organizations are not subject to tax
Kenya: Court clarifies the withholding tax liability on payers for period between June 2016 to November 2019
Kenya: Status of the Kenya Netherlands Double Tax Treaty
Brochures
Overview
Alex Mathini is a partner in our Nairobi office in the Corporate department and heads the Nairobi Tax practice.
Alex’s practice mainly focuses on mergers and acquisitions, tax law, corporate and commercial law, private equity transactions and the setting up of funds.
Experience
Alex has advised:
- AfricInvest Fund III in their investment in, and acquisition of a minority stake, in Silafrica Plastics and Packaging and the Silafrica Plastics group of companies.
- KQ on its turnaround strategy and capital optimization programme.
- JP Sa Couto,S.A., one of the world’s largest manufacturers and providers of educational computing devices in its public procurement tender submitted jointly with Moi University, one of Kenya’s largest public universities, to the ICT Authority of Kenya for the Digital Literacy Programme.
- General Plastics Limited on the USD 14.2 million investment by a fund managed by Phatisa Fund Managers Limited.
- M Holdings Limited, owned by various shareholders of Bank M Tanzania, in the acquisition of a controlling stake in Oriental Commercial Bank Limited.
- In the acquisition of a minority interest by Swiss Re In Apollo Investments Limited, the holding company of Apollo Life & APA Insurance which conduct general and life insurance business in Kenya and East Africa.
- Kansai Plascon Africa Ltd (KPAL), a top global paint manufacturer and a subsidiary of Kansai Paint Co., Ltd (Kansai Paint)) in relation to its proposed acquisition of 100% of Sadolin Paints’ operations in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zanzibar and Burundi (Sadolin Paints).
- Plum LLP on the acquisition of 23.34% of the total issued shares of Britam Holdings Limited from the Government of Mauritius.
- Resolution Group Limited on the further additional investment by LeapFrog Financial Inclusion Fund II, LP in Resolution Insurance Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary, by way of a convertible loan of KES 1 billion.
- Fidelity Commercial Bank and the shareholders of Fidelity Commercial Bank in its acquisition by SBM Africa Holdings, a member of the SBM Group.
Tax
- Jumo Kenya on completion of template on the potential VAT and income tax consequences to Experience Hosts offering Experiences via the Airbnb platform in Kenya.
- Project Oil – Advised on the tax implications of the various consolidation methods and steps for consolidation of the client’s business.
- Airbnb on completion of template on the potential VAT and income tax consequences to Experience Hosts offering Experiences via the Airbnb platform in Kenya.
- On the application for ruling from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) on the market price of shares in Transunion LLC, a USA company, considered to be offered to the Kenyan employees as part of the ESPP.
- Clients in engaging with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and providing litigation support/ court representation to clients in disputes with the KRA.
- Cross border tax advice – advice on Kenyan taxes applicable to cross border transactions, the Kenyan Double Tax Treaty network and structuring, particularly with regards to holding company jurisdictions.
- Ad hoc tax advice – responding to specific tax queries raised by clients on various tax matters such as completion of tax questionnaires and email queries.
Awards
- Chambers and Partners ranked Alex in Band 4 for three consecutive years (2021-2023) in the Corporate/Commercial category and as Up and Coming for four consecutive years (2017 to 2020) and in Band 2 for two consecutive years in the Tax category (2022-2023). He was also noted in the Spotlight Table for Tax for three consecutive years (2019 to 2021).
- IFLR100’s Financial and Corporate Guide rated Alex as Highly Regarded for his work in Private Equity, M&A and Tax for four consecutive years (2020 to 2023) and previously, as a Rising Star in the same category for two consecutive years (2018 and 2019).
‘He is super sharp.’ – Chambers and Partners, 2024
‘He provides timely and well thought-out legal solutions.’ – Chambers and Partners, 2024
‘Alex Mathini demonstrates an excellent understanding of commercial problems that need legal guidance.’ – Chambers and Partners, 2024
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