Dr. Mengyu Lu
Overview
“She is very knowledgeable and experienced, as well as very client-focused and easy to work with. She is critical to keeping the transaction going, giving very good advice.” - Chambers Global 2021
Dr. Mengyu Lu is a corporate partner in the Firm’s Hong Kong office. Dr. Lu has extensive experience advising on initial public offerings and listings on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (“HKEx”), pre-IPO financings of issuers, mergers and acquisitions, and post-listing compliance matters.
Chambers Global and Chambers Asia-Pacific recognized Dr. Lu as an up-and-coming lawyer for China equity capital markets. IFLR1000 named her as a highly regarded lawyer for Hong Kong capital markets. Mengyu was also listed in China Business Law Journal’s “China’s Elite 100 Lawyers” in 2016-2018 and 2020, and in Asian Legal Business’s “Top 15 Rising Lawyers” in 2017.
Dr. Lu is a native Mandarin speaker and is fluent in English and Cantonese.
Experience
Representative Matters
Dr. Lu has advised on the followings (including matters prior to her rejoining to Kirkland & Ellis):
IPOs
- Healthcare
- Suzhou Basecare Medical Corporate Limited (HKSE: 2170), an innovative platform of genetic testing solutions for assisted reproduction in China, in its $233 million global offering of H-shares and listing on the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited
- Ocumension Therapeutics (HKSE: 1477), in its HK$1.4 billion (approximately US$182.5 million) IPO on the Main Board of HKEx. Ocumension Therapeutics, which started its business in 2017, is an ophthalmic pharmaceutical platform company dedicated to identifying, developing, and commercializing first or best-in-class ophthalmic therapies
- Kangji Medical Holdings Limited (HKSE: 9997) on its HK$3.1 billion (approximately US$404 million) IPO on the Main Board of HKEx as Hong Kong and U.S. legal counsel. Goldman Sachs (Asia) LLC, CLSA Capital Markets Limited and Merrill Lynch Far East Limited acted as joint sponsors for the transaction
- Alphamab Oncology in connection with its US$234 million IPO on the Main Board of HKEx. Alphamab Oncology is a leading clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company in China
- China International Capital Corporation Hong Kong Securities Limited, Merrill Lynch Far East Limited, CMB International Capital Limited, Fosun Hani Securities Limited and Citigroup Global Markets Asia Limited as joint sponsors; China International Capital Corporation Hong Kong Securities Limited, Merrill Lynch (Asia Pacific) Limited, BOCI Asia Limited, UBS AG Hong Kong Branch, CMB International Capital Limited, Fosun Hani Securities Limited and Citigroup Global Markets Asia Limited as the joint global coordinators; and several other underwriters in connection with Shanghai Henlius Biotech, Inc.’s US$397 million IPO and spin-off listing of H-Shares on the Main Board of HKEx. Shanghai Henlius Biotech, Inc. is a leading biopharmaceutical company in China
- China International Capital Corporation Hong Kong Securities Limited as sole sponsor and China International Capital Corporation Hong Kong Securities Limited, J.P. Morgan Securities (Asia Pacific) Limited, Nomura International (Hong Kong) Limited, BOCI Asia Limited, China Renaissance Securities (Hong Kong) Limited, Haitong International Securities Company Limited, Daiwa Capital Markets Hong Kong Limited and First Shanghai Securities Limited as underwriters in connection with Viva Biotech Holdings’ US$195 million IPO on the Main Board of HKEx. Viva Biotech Holdings is a leading open-access and innovation-driven technology platform company
- CanSino Biologics Inc., in connection with its US$161 million IPO and listing of H-Share on the Main Board of HKEx. CanSino Biologics Inc. is a bio-tech leader in research and development, manufacturing and commercialization of vaccine products for human use in China
- Ascletis Pharma, Inc., in connection with its US$457 million IPO on the Main Board of HKEx. Ascletis is the first biotechnology company successfully listed on the HKEx since HKEx’s new rules took effect on April 30, 2018, which opened the door to pre-revenue biotechnology companies
- Consumer & TMT
- Yum China Holdings, Inc. (HKSE: 9987, NYSE: YUMC) in its HK$17 billion (US$2.2 billion) secondary listing on the Main Board of HKEx. Yum China is the largest restaurant company in China with flagship brands including KFC and Pizza Hut, as well as emerging brands such as Little Sheep, Huang Ji Huang, COFFii & JOY, East Dawning, Taco Bell, and Lavazz
- Haidilao International Holding Ltd. in connection with its US$964 million IPO on the Main Board of HKEx. Haidilao International Holding Ltd is a globally leading and fast-growing Chinese cuisine restaurant brand focusing on hot pot cuisine
- The joint sponsors and underwriters in connection with the HK$975 million (US$125.74 million) IPO on the Main Board of HKEx of Strawbear Entertainment Group (HKSE: 2125)
- Joy Spreader Interactive Technology. Ltd (HKSE: 6988) in connection with its IPO on the Main Board of HKEx. The offering raised net proceeds of HK$1.56 billion (approximately US$200 million). Joy Spreader is one of the leading performance-based we-media marketing service providers in China
- BabyTree Group in connection with its US$218 million IPO on the Main Board of HKEx. BabyTree Group is one of the largest and most active M&C-focused community-based platforms in China
- BofA Merrill Lynch, Standard Chartered, Guotai Junan and ICBCI as joint bookrunners in the US$66 million H-share listing of Xiao Nan Guo Restaurants Holdings Limited on the HKEx
- Education
- The sole sponsor and underwriters in connection with the IPO of China Chunlai Education Group Co., Ltd listed on the Main Board of HKEx with a total offering amount of approximately US$80 million. China Chunlai Education Group Co., Ltd. is a leading provider of private higher education in China
- The sole sponsor and underwriters in the US$198 million IPO and listing of China YuHua Education Corporation Limited on the Main Board of HKEx
- Financial Institutions
- The underwriters and joint sponsors in the H-Share IPO and listing of Bank of Jiujiang Co., Ltd., on the HKEx with a total offering amount of approximately US$468 billion (approximately HK$3.7 billion)
- The joint sponsors and underwriters in the H-Share IPO of Guangzhou Rural Commercial Bank Co., Ltd., on the Main Board of HKEx with a total offering amount of approximately US$1 billion (approximately HK$7.8 billion)
- The joint sponsors and underwriters in the US$2.3 billion H-Share listing of China Huarong Asset Management Co., Ltd., on the Main Board of HKEx
- Other Industries
- Rizhao Port Jurong Co., Ltd., in connection with its US$70 million IPO and spin-off listing of H-Shares on the Main Board of HKEx. Rizhao Port Jurong Co., Ltd. is the largest port for grain and woodchip imports in China
- Shandong Gold Mining Co., Ltd., an A-share listed company, in connection with its US$594 million offering and listing of H-Shares on the Main Board of HKEx. Shandong Gold is engaged in the mining and smelting of gold
- China Railway Signal & Communication Corporation Limited in its US$1.4 billion H-share listing on the Main Board of HKEx
- Qinhuangdao Port Co., Ltd. in its US$560 million H-share listing on the Main Board of HKEx
- J.P. Morgan, CITIC Securities, UBS and Goldman Sachs as joint global coordinators in the US$1.78 billion H-share listing of Sinopec Engineering (Group) Co., Ltd. on the Main Board of HKEx
Other Securities Offerings
- CICC, as underwriter’s counsel, in the issuance of US1.9 billion new H-Shares by China Cinda, with a total consideration of approximately RMB5.5 billion (US$800 million)
- Goldman Sachs, China Galaxy International and Nomura as joint global coordinators in the US$3.1 billion H-share placement of China Galaxy Securities Co., Ltd
- China Merchants Securities (HK) Co., the financial adviser, in connection with the H-share issuance of Datang International Power Generation Co., Ltd. Completion of the H-Share Issuance took place on March 19, 2018. The gross proceeds raised from the H-Share Issuance amounted to approximately HK$6.2 billion (approximately US$800 million)
- The seller in connection with the placement of 14,500,000 existing shares of Alphamab Oncology (HKSE: 9966). The total transaction value is approximately HK$239.3 million (US$30 million). Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc acts as the sole placing agent of the transaction
- The sellers in connection with the placement of 47 million existing shares of Haidilao International Holding Ltd. (HKSE: 6862). The total transaction value is approximately HK$1.56 billion
- NVC Lighting Holding Limited in its US$210 million H-share listing on the HKEx
Bonds & Senior Notes Issuance
- Viva Biotech Holdings in its offering of US$180 million guaranteed convertible bonds due 2025 through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Viva Incubator Investment Management Limited, pursuant to Regulation S
- Hilong Holding Limited, a leading integrated oilfield equipment and service provider operating in the PRC and international markets, in an offer to purchase its outstanding 7.25% senior notes due 2020, subject to a maximum acceptance amount and featuring an allocation priority in a concurrent new notes issuance, and the concurrent new issuance of 8.25% senior notes due 2022
Private Equity, M&A & Other Corporate Matters
- Ocumension Therapeutics (HKSE: 1477) in connection with its subscription of shares in EyePoint Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: EYPT). Upon completion of the transaction, Ocumension holds approximately 16.6% of the enlarged total outstanding shares of EyePoint. Ocumension Therapeutics is an ophthalmic pharmaceutical platform company
- Pre-IPO investments of AlphaMab Oncology, Zhaoke Ophthalmology Limited and Microport Cardioflow
- Advaccine in a collaboration and license agreement with INOVIO for COVID-19 DNA vaccine candidate INO-4800. Advaccine is an emerging biotech company with next-generation technology in vaccines, both preventive and therapeutic
- Babytree Group, a leading online parenting services platform in China, on a strategic investment by Alibaba Group
- Xiwang Foodstuffs Co., Ltd., in its US$730 million acquisition of Kerr Investment Holding Corp / Iovate Health Sciences International, Inc
Private Equity, M&A and other corporate matters - CICC, as the sole financial advisor to CGN Mining Company Limited, in relation to CGN Mining’s acquisition of 19.99% equity interest in the TSX-listed Fission Uranium Corp. for CA$82 million (equivalent to approximately HK$450 million)
- CFLD International Holdings Limited (CFLD) in its borrowing of US$100 million from China CITIC Bank International Limited
Prior Experience
Sidley Austin, 2015–2021
Kirkland & Ellis, 2011–2015
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, 2008–2010
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Credentials
Admissions & Qualifications
- New York
- Hong Kong (Solicitor)
Languages
- English
- Mandarin
- Cantonese
Education
- Chinese Academy of Social SciencesPh.D., Economics
- Duke University School of LawLL.M.
- China University of Political Science and LawLL.B.