Chong Yi, based in Singapore, is the Head of Maritime Finance at Mishcon de Reya.
With over a decade of experience in maritime finance, Chong Yi regularly advises state-owned enterprises, international financial institutions, private equity funds, ship leasing companies and transportation conglomerates on transactional maritime and aviation matters and has worked on some of Asia's largest project vessel (LNG, FPSO, FSO, FSRU and semi-submersible rigs) and conventional vessel (containerships, bulk carriers and tankers) fleet financings. He has also acted for a variety of stakeholders on Asia's largest headline debt restructuring and enforcement projects in the transportation sector over the past decade (including but not limited to Hanjin Shipping, Berlian Laju Tanker, Ocean Tankers, Seadrill, Ezion Holdings Limited, Avianca and Asiana). Chong Yi is qualified in England and Wales and Singapore.
Chong Yi is ranked as a Recommended Lawyer for Asset Finance by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2024.
Key Experience
- Advised Yinson Production Offshore Pte. Ltd. on its successful closing of a five-year corporate facility loan of up to US$500 million, including accordion – Marine Money's Offshore East Deal of the Year 2023.
- Advised a Malaysian shipping conglomerate on a bespoke non-recourse US$1 billion facility for the financing of a high specification Semi-FPS unit
- Advised a Malaysian shipping conglomerate on a series of three non-recourse facility agreements from a syndicate of banks aggregating US$450 million in loan value, in relation three LNG carriers
- Acted as financier’s counsel on a $600 million lease financing transaction between four subsidiaries of a leading government-linked Chinese leasing company (as owner) and a global shipping conglomerate in relation to the acquisition of four 24,000 TEU containerships
- Acted as borrower’s counsel on the refinancing of a $700 million conventional facility agreement into a Murabahah facility, between a syndicate of leading international banks and a Malaysian shipping conglomerate, in connection with the financing of a Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading unit
- Acted as financier’s counsel on a EUR500 million sale and leaseback financing transaction between various subsidiaries of a Norwegian-based passenger cruise (as charterers) and various subsidiaries of a leading government-linked Chinese leasing company (as owners), in relation to the acquisition of two passenger cruises ships
- Advised a leading Chinese leasing company in respect of a JPY 20 Billion Samurai loan coupled with a cross currency swap, from a leading Japanese bank (AFJ China Awards 2018 – Winner of Innovative Deal of the Year)
- Advised a leading US-based aircraft lessor on a portfolio purchase of 22 Aircraft (leased to various Asian, Middle Eastern and US-based airlines) from CMIG
- Advised a joint venture entity on the conditional sale purchase agreement of a fleet of five narrowbody aircraft from ALC
- Advised a leading Chinese leasing company on the refinancing of six Airbus A320 aircraft and one Boeing 737-800 aircraft under a USD200 million term loan
- Advised a Korean airline on the restructuring of its debt and leasing obligations under all of its existing 170 debt agreements, operating leases, finance leases and bond agreements
- Advised a syndicate of leading international shipping banks, in respect of enforcement options under a US$500 million facilities agreement with a listed Asian shipping conglomerate
Career History
Partner, Mishcon de Reya LLP
Counsel, Mishcon de Reya LLP
Partner, RHTLaw Asia LLP
Legal Counsel, Ezion Holdings Limited
Associate, Milbank LLP
Senior Associate, Clifford Chance LLP
Senior Associate, Allen & Gledhill LLP
National University of Singapore, Bachelor of Laws
National University of Singapore, Bachelor of Business Administration