Latham provided counsel on 13 top China deals

Latham & Watkins has been acknowledged by China Business Law Journal for its involvement in 13 of the magazine’s prestigious 2024 Deals of the Year. These selections were carefully made from a pool of submissions made by both Chinese and international legal firms. The chosen deals were assessed based on various criteria such as transaction scale, industry influence, innovative structuring, legal precedents, and societal impact.

Among the outstanding transactions that Latham played a pivotal role in, the firm took part in various engagements across different sectors:

In the realm of Mergers & Acquisitions:

– LG Display’s CNY10.8 billion Divestment of its LCD Division: Latham provided counsel to LG Display during the sale of its LCD business in China to TCL China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co.
– Amphenol’s Acquisition of CommScope’s Mobile Networks Units for US$2.1 billion: Latham represented Amphenol, a worldwide provider of interconnect solutions, in this significant transaction.

In the domain of Private Equity & Venture Capital:

– Investment in McDonald’s China by Trustar Capital: Latham assisted Trustar Capital, the private equity arm of CITIC Capital, in managing various deals linked to the acquisition of the fast-food chain’s operations in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. This resulted in Trustar and CITIC holding a 52% share of equity in the entities involved.
– GDS International’s Series B Financing Round of US$1 billion: Through its representation of Coatue Management, Latham facilitated this substantial investment, enabling GDS to further enhance its data center capabilities throughout China and Southeast Asia.

Regarding Capital Markets undertakings:

– RoboSense’s HK$985 million Initial Public Offering: Latham provided legal advice to the joint sponsors and underwriters in RoboSense Technology’s IPO, which marked the company as the first LiDAR firm to be listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
– WeRide’s US$440 million IPO: Latham advised the underwriters during the initial public offering of WeRide, a Chinese autonomous vehicle company shed on the Nasdaq Stock Market alongside private placements.
– Amer Sports’ US$1.37 billion IPO: Latham’s cross-border team of attorneys worked with underwriters on Amer Sports’ IPO on the New York Stock Exchange.
– Alibaba’s US$5 billion Convertible Senior Notes Offering: Latham supported underwriters in Alibaba’s issuance of convertible senior notes.
– JD.com’s US$440 million Senior Notes Offering: Latham was involved in JD.com’s senior notes offering, which included upsizing and pricing strategies.

In the scope of Liquidation, Bankruptcy, and Restructuring:

– Babel Finance’s Debt Restructuring: Latham offered guidance to Babel Finance on restructuring its cryptocurrency lending operations post the 2022 crypto market turbulence.
– Yuzhou Group’s Debt Restructuring: Latham supported the bank syndicate relating to Yuzhou Group Holdings Company’s restructuring following Hong Kong laws.
– Zhongliang Holdings’ Debt Restructuring: Latham offered counsel to an offshore bondholder ad hoc committee in Zhongliang Holdings Group’s restructuring – a notable Chinese real estate restructuring achievement post-2021.

For Dispute Resolution:

– Parakou Shipping Pte Ltd v. Jinhui Shipping and Transportation Ltd: Latham represented individuals from the Liu family, owners of Parakou Shipping, in a convoluted cross-border matter in Hong Kong. This representation eventually led to a favorable resolution after intense arbitration and litigation stretching over multiple years.

Overall, Latham & Watkins’ involvement in diverse and complex transactions across multiple sectors showcases their extensive expertise and ability to navigate various legal challenges successfully. This recognition by China Business Law Journal highlights the firm’s commitment to excellence and their significant contributions to the legal landscape.