Since joining Kirkland & Ellis, Yawen was involved in the following selected matters:
- Webull Corporation, a leading digital investment platform, on its business combination with SK Growth Opportunities Corporation (NASDAQ: SKGR), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company
- Certain affiliates of Bain Capital on the US$3.16 billion take-private of Chindata Group Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: CD), a leading carrier-neutral hyperscale data center solution provider in Asia-Pacific emerging markets. This transaction was named “Best Private Equity Deal - China Offshore” by FinanceAsia Achievement Awards 2023, “Deals of the Year 2023” by China Business Law Journal and “Private Equity Deal of the Year” by IFLR Asia-Pacific Awards 2024
- AP Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: APCA), a special purpose acquisition company, on its business combination with JEPLAN, Inc., a global leader in chemically recycled PET technology. The transaction values the combined company at an estimated equity value of approximately US$480 million on a post-money basis. This transaction was named “Best M&A Deal - North Asia” by FinanceAsia Achievement Awards 2023
- L Catterton Asia Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: LCAA), a special purpose acquisition company formed by affiliates of L Catterton, a leading global consumer-focused investment firm, on its business combination with Lotus Technology Inc., a leading global luxury electric vehicle maker that operates under the iconic British brand, Lotus. The combined business is listed under the ticker symbol “LOT”. The transaction values the combined business at a pro forma enterprise value of approximately US$5.4 billion. This transaction was named “Deals of the Year 2023” by China Business Law Journal
- Asia Innovations Group Limited (ASIG), a leading mobile social company across emerging markets, on its proposed business combination with Magnum Opus Acquisition Limited (NYSE: OPA), a special purpose acquisition company. The business combination provides for an equity valuation of US$2.5 billion for the combined company. This transaction was named “Deals of the Year 2022” by China Business Law JournalInc. (NaaS), a leading operation and technology provider serving China’s electric vehicle charging market, pursuant to which NaaS shareholders will exchange all of the issued and outstanding share capital of NaaS for newly issued shares of RISE Education. The combined company has a market capitalization of approximately US$1.77 billion. This transaction was named “Deals of the Year 2022” by China Business Law Journal
- Bain Capital on its leveraged buy-out of VXI Global Solutions, a leading provider of Business Process Outsourcing services to businesses around the world, from the Carlyle Group
- Sequoia China Infrastructure Fund on its investment in GDS Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: GDS; HKSE: 9698), a developer and operator of high-performance data centers in China, through the purchase of $200 million 0.25% convertible senior notes due 2029. Sequoia China Infrastructure Fund and GDS also entered into a strategic cooperation agreement to pursue future collaboration
Prior to joining Kirkland & Ellis, Yawen was involved in the following selected matters:
- First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. in its pending merger of equals with Old National Bancorp.
- UnitedHealth Group Incorporated in its pending acquisition of Change Healthcare Inc.
- China Oceanwide Holdings Group Co., Ltd. in its proposed acquisition of Genworth Financial, Inc. (later abandoned)
- Insight Enterprises, Inc. in its acquisition of formerly NASDAQ-listed PCM, Inc.
