China
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and affiliates
(“Skadden”) has provided superior client service to businesses
operating in China for more than 20 years.
We opened our Hong Kong* office in 1989, followed by Beijing in
1991 and Shanghai in 2008. With approximately 60 lawyers in our
three offices, we represent global clients and Chinese companies
in cross-border M&A transactions, international capital-raising
activities, private equity, banking, energy and infrastructure projects,
international arbitration and litigation, and real estate and investment finance. Our lawyers practice U.S., Hong Kong, Japanese and
English law, and we were the among the first major U.S. firms to
establish a Hong Kong law practice.
We represent Chinese parties raising capital, acquiring businesses or
assets, or trading in international markets.
Since 2000, our lawyers
have advised on more than 50 Nasdaq and NYSE IPOs by Chinabased private companies. Skadden also is at the forefront of advising
non-Chinese parties worldwide making direct investments or establishing joint venture or wholly owned business operations in China.
The firm repeatedly has been recognized for its leadership in
the region, including being ranked as a “Tier 1” firm for Corporate/M&A in China and Hong Kong in Asian Legal Business’
Corporate/M&A Rankings 2014, the only U.S. firm to achieve this
accolade three years in a row, and named “Client Service Firm of
the Year” for the Asia Pacific region by Chambers Asia 2012, as
well as the 2011 “Hong Kong International Law Firm of the Year”
by Chambers.
Skadden ranked first in M&A by dollar value of
announced deals in China according to 2013 year-end rankings from
Bloomberg. The Asia-Pacific Legal 500 2011 called Skadden the
“first port of call for deals in China,” saying that “partners are excellent in their fields – consistently responsive and thorough.”
Mergers and Acquisitions
We have a strong cross-border mergers and acquisitions practice
that has worked on a number of high-profile deals. The firm
has advised:
-- on the the US$688 million going private transaction of 7 Days
Group Holdings Limited, a hotel chain operator in China, in
which Skadden represented a buyer consortium;
-- on the US$890 million going-private acquisition of AsiaInfoLinkage, Inc., a telecommunications software and solutions
company based in China, in which Skadden represented a
subset of the consortium buyer group;
-- AutoNavi Holdings Limited, a China-based developer of navigation software, in a US$1.6 billion offer from Alibaba Group
Holding Limited to buy the 72 percent of the company it doesn’t
already own;
-- China National Bluestar (Group) Corporation, a chemical manufacturer, in its US$2 billion acquisition of Elkem AS, a Norwaybased company that is engaged in silicon, carbon and foundry
products, and solar energy.
This was recognized as a 2011
“Deal of the Year” by China Business Law Journal;
-- China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec), as U.S.
counsel, in its US$2.5 billion acquisition of a 55 percent stake
in Sonangol Sinopec International Limited (Cayman Islands),
an oil and gas explorer and producer. This transaction was
named “Energy and Natural Resources Deal of the Year”
at the 2011 China Law and Practice Awards;
*Our Hong Kong office operates as Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.
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-- China Three Gorges Corporation in its acquisition of the 21.35
percent stake in Energias de Portugal S.A. (EDP) for €2.69 billion
(approximately US$3.5 billion). This transaction was recognized
as a 2012 “Deal of the Year” by China Business Law Journal;
-- China XD Electric Co., Ltd. in its joint venture with the digital
energy business of General Electric Company to deliver a full
line of electric transmission and distribution and grid automation
services.
As part of the joint venture GE will acquire a 15 percent
equity stake in XD Electric;
-- CITIC Securities Co., Limited (China), in its purchase from Crédit
Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank of a 19.9 percent equity
interest in the Asian and European equity brokerage business
of CLSA Limited and Crédit Agricole Cheuvreux for US$374
million. This transaction was named the 2013 “Best FIG Deal” by
FinanceAsia;
-- on the US$3.7 billion going-private transaction for Focus Media
Holding Limited, a leading media company that operates China’s
largest lifestyle targeted interactive digital media network, in
which Skadden represented the Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer of Focus Media, and his affiliates. This transaction was the largest-ever delisting of a New York-listed Chinese
company, and was named “Private Equity Deal of the Year” at the
2014 IFLR Asia Awards;
-- on the US$750 million going-private management buyout of
Harbin Electric, Inc., a manufacturer of electric motors based in
China, in which Skadden represented the management sponsors.
This transaction was selected as a “Deal of the Year” by China
Business Law Journal for 2011, and as one of Asian-MENA Counsel magazine’s “Deals of the Year” for 2011;
-- The Hershey Company in the US$584 million acquisition by its
subsidiary, Hershey Netherlands B.V., of an 80 percent stake in
Shanghai Golden Monkey Food Joint Stock Co., Ltd.
(China);
-- Hony Capital, a China-based private equity fund, as part of a buyer
consortium in the proposed US$2.8 billion management-led going
private acquisition of Giant Interactive Group, Inc., one of China’s
leading online game developers and operators;
-- Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated in the sale of its 34 percent
stake in China International Capital Corporation Limited to TPG
Capital, Inc.; Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., L.P.; Government
of Singapore Investment Corporation; and The Great Eastern Life
Assurance Company Limited;
-- Stanley Black & Decker, a provider of hand tools, power tools
and accessories, and electronic security solutions, in its US$850
million acquisition of Infastech (Hong Kong), a manufacturer of
mechanical fasteners;
-- Yahoo! Inc. in its approximately US$7.1 billion sale of a 20
percent stake in Alibaba Group Holding Limited (Hong Kong).
This transaction was named 2012 “Take Private Deal of the Year”
by China Business Law Journal and “Technology, Media & Telecoms Deal of the Year” at the ALB China Law Awards.
The Daily
Journal also named this transaction one of the top 10 California
M&A deals by value announced in 2012; and
-- Youku Inc. in its US$1.1 billion merger, via a stock swap, with
Tudou Holdings Limited. Both parties are online video websites
based in China This transaction was named 2012 “M&A Deal of
the Year” at the China Law & Practice Awards, 2012 “M&A Deal
of the Year - Inbound and Domestic” by China Business Law Journal and “M&A Deal of the Year-2012” at the 2013 IFLR
Asia Awards.
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Corporate Finance
Our China capital markets group is a powerhouse in high-yield
and IPO work, representing high-profile issuers in the region as
well as major financial institutions. We have played a primary role
in the IPOs of a “who’s who” of Chinese Internet and technology
companies, including Dangdang (China’s Amazon), Renren (social
networking) and Youku.com (China’s YouTube). Representative
matters include:
-- E-Commerce China Dangdang Inc., an online retailer of books
and general merchandise, in its US$272 million initial public
offering of American Depositary Shares and listing on the News
York Stock Exchange;
Equity
-- Fast Retailing Co., Ltd., a clothing retailer based in Japan, in its
listing of Hong Kong Depositary Receipts. This is the first listing
filed and completed since the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong
Limited and the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong
Kong issued revised regulations for the listing of overseas companies in September 2013;
-- 21Vianet Group Inc.
(China), an Internet and data center service
provider, in its US$224 million initial public offering of American
Depositary Shares and listing on Nasdaq;
-- Renren Inc., a social networking website in China, in its US$743
million initial public offering of American Depositary Shares and
listing on the New York Stock Exchange; and
-- AutoNavi Holdings Limited (China), a developer of navigation
software, in its US$124 million initial public offering of American
Depositary Shares, which were listed on Nasdaq;
-- Youku.com Inc. (China), an online video content provider, in its
US$202 million initial public offering of American Depositary
Shares and listing on the New York Stock Exchange.
-- BNP Paribas Securities (Asia) Limited as sole sponsor and sole
global coordinator on the HK$698.8 million (US$90 million)
global offering and listing of shares on the Hong Kong Stock
Exchange of China Metal Resources Utilization Limited (CMRU),
a copper recycler and producer of downstream copper products
based in China. This is the first re-listing of a previously U.S.listed Chinese company;
-- CITIC Dameng Holdings Limited (Hong Kong), a manganese
mining company, in its spin-off from CITIC Resources Holdings
Limited via a US$265 million initial public offering of shares
listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange;
-- Citi and Macquarie (as U.S.
and Hong Kong counsel) as joint
global coordinators in the US$438 million offering of shares
by SouthGobi Energy Resources Ltd. (Canada), a coal mining
company. The offering included a Rule144A component in
the United States.
This was the first listing in Hong Kong by a
company incorporated in British Columbia;
-- Citi, CICC and HSBC as joint sponsors and joint global coordinators in the HK$4.36 billion (US$562 million) initial public
offering and listing of H shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange
and the concurrent Rule 144A/Regulation S offering of shares of
Qinhuangdao Port Co., Ltd., an operator and manager of ports
in China;
Debt
-- Baidu, Inc. on its US$1.5 billion SEC-registered notes offering.
The offering consisted of US$750 million of 2.25% notes due
2017 and US$750 million of 3.5% notes due 2022. This transaction was the first investment grade SEC-registered debt offering
by a private company out of China into the U.S.;
-- BOCI Asia Limited, Nomura International plc and The Royal
Bank of Scotland plc as underwriters in a US$200 million offering of 13.5% high-yield notes due 2015 by Yuzhou Properties
Company Limited, a major China-based real estate developer
whose shares are listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange;
-- China Automation Group Limited in its US$200 million offering
of 7.750% senior notes due April 20, 2016.
UBS AG, Hong Kong
Branch served as the sole bookrunner and lead manager. The notes
offering was made under Regulation S;
-- Deutsche Bank AG, Citicorp International, Merrill Lynch International and the Royal Bank of Scotland as joint bookrunners in
a RMB 2.3 billion (approximately US$355.6 million) offering
of RMB denominated 3.75% bonds due 2013 by Melco Crown
Entertainment Limited. The bonds, which were offered in reliance
on Regulation S, were accepted for trading on the Singapore
Stock Exchange;
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-- the joint lead managers in the offering of US$900 million principal amount of 11.125% high-yield notes due 2018, in a US$550
million Rule 144A/Regulation S high-yield offering of 11.25%
senior notes due 2017 and in a US$400 million Regulation S highyield offering of 10.50% senior notes due 2015, and in a US$750
million Rule 144A/Regulation S high-yield offering of 7.5%
senior notes due 2023, each issued by Country Garden Holdings
Company Limited (a real estate property developer in China);
-- Hidili Industry International Development Limited, a coal mining
company in China, in its US$400 million Rule 144A/Regulation S
high-yield offering of 8.625% senior notes due 2015;
-- the underwriters in a US$200 million Rule 144A high-yield
offering of 13.75% senior notes due 2015, a US$152 million
Regulation S high-yield offering of Renminbi denominated U.S.
dollar-settled 11.5% senior notes due 2014 and a US$250 million
Regulation S high-yield offering of 11.25% senior notes due 2018,
each issued by Powerlong Real Estate Holdings Limited (a real
estate developer in China); and
-- Sinopec Corp. as the guarantor, and Sinopec Capital (2013)
Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sinopec, as the issuer, in a
US$3.5 billion Rule 144A/Regulation S offering of senior unsecured notes. The notes were issued under four tranches: US$750
million 1.250% notes due 2016, US$1 billion 1.875% notes
due 2018, US$1.25 billion 3.125% notes due 2023 and US$500
million 4.250% notes due 2043.
Energy and Infrastructure Projects
Skadden’s Asia Energy and Infrastructure Projects practice focuses
on the development and financing of infrastructure and capital
intensive projects including petrochemical and power facilities,
renewable energy projects, bridges, roads, railroads, refineries, and
oil and gas operations. Our attorneys have more than 20 years of
experience advising on projects and energy-related transactions in
China, including:
-- China Huaneng Group in its acquisition of a 50 percent stake in
InterGen N.V from GMR Infrastructure Limited (India);
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-- Shanghai SECCO Petrochemical Company Limited in its US$1.8
billion financing for the Shanghai Ethylene Cracker Complex
(SECCO);
-- Wynn Resorts, Ltd.
in a US$2.3 billion dual-currency secured
credit facility. The borrowings were used to refinance Wynn
Macau’s existing indebtedness and will fund the design, development and construction of Wynn Macau’s new casino resort in
the Cotai area of Macau. Skadden also represented Wynn Resorts
in a 2007 US$700 million project finance transaction for Wynn
Macau’s hotel-casino-resort project, which was then the largest
international bank financing and first limited recourse financing in
Macau; and
-- Vivendi Universal Entertainment LLP in its approximately
US$875 million joint venture through Universal Parks & Resorts
along with two partners in China to construct a Universal Studios
theme park in Shanghai, China.
International Arbitration and Litigation
Skadden’s International Arbitration and Litigation Group in Asia-Pacific provides the full range of international dispute resolution
services across the region.
The team in Asia is particularly experienced in litigation and arbitration cases involving different systems
of national law, as well as private and public international law.
Members of the group are qualified in a number of jurisdictions and
have handled cases under the auspices of HKIAC, SIAC, ICC, LCIA
and CIETAC as well as ICSID and UNCITRAL claims. The team
also handles both regulatory and cross-border investigations and has
a specialist FCPA team focused on Hong Kong and China.
Some of our work has included:
-- an HKIAC arbitration involving a claim in excess of US$200
million over an investment in a Chinese enterprise;
-- an ICC arbitration in Hong Kong against a number of oil majors
in relation to multimillion-dollar disputes arising in respect of an
energy supply contract;
-- a Chinese export corporation in the arbitration of contract claims
against a U.S. metal importer;
-- ARCO China Incorporated, China National Offshore Oil Corporation and KUFPEC (China) Incorporated in their successful gas-pricing arbitration in London against Castle Peak PowerCompany Ltd.;
-- CNOOC Limited (China) and Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Export
Corporation in an UNCITRAL arbitration relating to delivery
obligations under a take-or-pay gas sales contract;
-- a defendant concerning an alleged breach of a license agreement
in the High Court of Hong Kong;
-- China Petroleum and Chemical Corp.
(Sinopec) relating to issues
arising out of its NYSE-traded entity;
-- China National Offshore Oil Company, KUFPEC (China) Inc.
and BP China, Inc. in the expert determinations of economically
recoverable reserves, in an UNCITRAL arbitration relating to their
delivery obligations under a take-or-pay gas sales contract and in
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an UNCITRAL arbitration relating to the meaning of the force
majeure provision of a take-or-pay gas sales contract;
-- China Sunergy Limited in a securities class action in the Southern
District of New York;
-- JA Solar Limited in a securities class action in the Southern
District of New York; and
-- a private equity firm in a dispute concerning an investment in a
Chinese joint venture in the High Court of Hong Kong.
International Competition
The international competition practice represents clients on a full
range of competition law issues raised in multinational M&A and
other transactions. Such issues arise in outbound Chinese investment around the world as well as foreign investment in Chinese
entities (including the creation of joint ventures between Chinese
and foreign companies). The international competition practice also
represents clients across multiple jurisdictions with anticompetitive
conduct issues relating to cartels and potential abuses of dominance,
and has broad experience in designing and auditing global competition compliance programs.
Selected China real estate transactions on which the firm has
advised, or is advising, include:
-- Asuka DBJ Partners, in US$500 million-plus of nonrecourse,
mezzanine and bridge financings for an office and retail property
in Beijing;
-- Deutsche Bank in a US$50 million development financing for a
property in Shanghai;
-- ING Real Estate Investment Management in a US$100 millionplus nonrecourse onshore and offshore financing of a logistics
facility in Shanghai;
-- China Investment Corporation in establishing a co-investment
platform for investments in overseas real estate;
-- a Japan private equity fund in its acquisition of a US$50
million-plus equity interest in a China real estate development
company; and
-- a Japan real estate company in its US$35 million disposition of an
investment in a PRC developer.
Languages
English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Shanghainese, Hindi, Punjabi,
Urdu and Thai.
Real Estate and Investment Finance
In China, the real estate and investment finance team operates across
the firm’s Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai offices. Our team of
real estate attorneys has advised clients on real estate-related transactions throughout the region, including representing private capital
in the structuring, acquisition, financing and disposition of real
estate interests and in fund formation.
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