Min Lu is a Registered Foreign Lawyer based in the Hong Kong office of Kirkland & Ellis, focusing her practice on public and private companies, as well as private equity firms, in a variety of cross-border transactions, including, mergers and acquisitions (inbound and outbound), leveraged buyouts, take-privates and joint ventures.
Experience
Representative Matters
Since joining Kirkland & Ellis, Min has represented clients in the following selected transactions:
Represented Near Intelligence Holdings, Inc., a global SaaS leader in privacy-led data intelligence on people, places and products, on its business combination with KludeIn I Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: INKA), a special purpose acquisition company
Represented TH International Limited (Tims China), the exclusive master franchise of Tim Hortons coffee shops for Restaurant Brands International Inc. (TSX: QSR) (NYSE: QSR) in China, on a convertible note financing by a leading global asset manager. Tims China is pursuing a business combination with Silver Crest Acquisition Corporation (NASDAQ: SLCR).
Represented a consortium of investors, comprising Centurium Capital, PW Medtech Group Limited (HKSE: 1358), CITIC Capital, Hillhouse Capital, Temasek and Marc Chan, in the take-private of China Biologic Products Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBPO), a leading fully integrated plasma-based biopharmaceutical company in China, at a valuation of approximately US$4.6 billion. This transaction was named "Pharmaceuticals, Medical and Biotech M&A Deal of the Year" by Mergermarket China M&A Awards 2021,"2021 Deals of the Year" by China Business Law Journal, “M&A Deal of the Year” by China Law & Practice Awards 2021 and “Private Equity Deal of the Year” by IFLR Asia-Pacific Awards 2022.
Represented Bullish, a technology company focused on developing financial services for the digital assets sector, on its definitive agreement to go public on the New York Stock Exchange through a merger with Far Peak Acquisition Corporation (NYSE: FPAC), a special purpose acquisition company, for approximately US$9 billion.
Advised as International co-counsel for an investor consortium, comprising Warburg Pincus Asia LLC, General Atlantic Singapore Fund Pte. Ltd., Ocean Link Partners Limited, and Mr. Jinbo Yao, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of 58.com, in the take-private of 58.com Inc. (NYSE: WUBA), China’s largest online classifieds marketplace, at a valuation of approximately US$8.7 billion. This transaction was named Finance Deal of the Year: Acquisitions by The Asia Legal Awards 2021 and “Finance Deal of the Year” by China Law & Practice Awards 2021.
Advised as an international co-counsel and sole debt financing counsel for an investor consortium, comprising DCP Capital Partners II, L.P., Ocean Link Partners Limited, and Mr. Rick Yan, the Chief Executive Officer of 51job, in the take-private of 51job, Inc. (NASDAQ: JOBS) at a valuation of appropriately US$4.3 billion. This transaction was named “2021 Deals of the Year” by China Business Law Journal.
Representing Hammer Capital as a member of an investor consortium (the other member being Tencent Holdings (HKSE: 700)) in a proposed going private transaction to acquire Bitauto Holdings Limited (NYSE: BITA), as well as the investor consortium in the consequential mandatory general offer for the shares of Yixin Group Limited (HKSE: 2858) pursuant to the chain principle under the Hong Kong Takeovers Code.
Prior to joining Kirkland & Ellis, Min represented clients in the following selected transactions:
A leading food delivery business operating on the transfer of all of the issued shares to an affiliate of the largest e-commerce company in China for US$9.5 billion.
One of the world largest communications group in its GBP 39 million sale of 100% equity interest of its subsidiary in China.
Buyer consortium led by a Greater China healthcare-focused investment management group in its US$ 607 million acquisition of a NASDAQ-listed pharmaceutical corporation.
A Chinese state-owned oil and gas enterprise in its US$3.25 billion senior notes offering.
A multinational communications and information technology company in setting up a joint venture with a Chinese industrial investment company.
A Singapore sovereign wealth fund in its US$50 million investment in a Chinese electronics company.
A global alternative investments firm, in its equity financing for the US$1.1 billion acquisition of an American-based global marketing information services company.
A Shanghai Stock Exchange-listed company in its US$263 million acquisition of majority stake in a leading tech-focused e-retailer in North America.
A Shanghai Stock Exchange-listed company in its US$300 million acquisition of a British video game developer and publisher.
A Chinese online dating service company in its US$250 million acquisition of a NASDAQ-listed company.
A China-based fund, as equity sponsor, in the privatization of a NASDAQ-listed company, which is principally engaged in design, manufacture, and distribution of cast resin transformers.
The Special Committee of a NASDAQ-listed company, which is principally engaged in multi-channel retail business in China, in its going-private transaction.
Seller consortium consisting of multiple private equity funds in the RMB10 billion disposition of the shares in an economy hotel chain.
A Singapore sovereign wealth fund in its US$4.8 million investment in a Hong Kong-based investment holding company principally engaged in the manufacture and sales of medical products.
The Special Committee of a NASDAQ-listed company, which is a global mobile app and platform development firm, in its going-private transaction.
A leading provider of private educational services in China, invested by one of the leading private equity investors in Asia Pacific, in its recapitalization.
Multiple underwriters in the US$315 million SEC-registered follow-on primary/secondary equity offering of one of the largest manufacturers of plasma products in China.
One of the leading private equity investors in Asia Pacific, as equity sponsor in the privatization of a developer of natural gas distribution systems in China.