Nicholas Norris

Nicholas has advised on a number of significant M&A transactions, including the following:

2018

• GLP, a leading global provider of logistics facilities and technology solutions with over US$50 billion in AUM, on its entry into a strategic partnership with IndoSpace, a leading industrial real estate platform in India, as well as on certain co-investments including in IndoSpace Core, a joint venture between IndoSpace and CPPIB focused on acquiring and developing modern logistics facilities in India.

• UBS AG, as financial adviser, in connection with the proposed US$671 million unsolicited conditional voluntary general offer by RE Strategic Investments Pte. Ltd., an entity associated with PAG Real Estate, to acquire all the units of Spring REIT.

• Malaysian sovereign fund in its investment in the US$14 billion Series C equity financing of Ant Financial. This transaction was named Best China Deal and Best Financing (early stage to pre-IPO) by FinanceAsia Achievement Awards 2018 and Private Equity Deal of the Year by The Asia Legal Awards 2019.

• Canada Pension Plan Investment Board in its investment as a cornerstone investor in the US$1.1 billion initial public offering and listing of Ping An Healthcare and Technology Company (also known as Ping An Good Doctor), on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

2017

• A consortium comprising FountainVest Partners and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan on its investment partnership with the Pure Group, Asia’s leading premium lifestyle brand that includes Pure Yoga, Pure Fitness, Pure Apparel and nood food.

• Midea International Corporation Company Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Midea Group Co., Ltd. (000333.SZ), in its privatisation of Welling Holding Limited (HKSE: 382).

• A consortium comprising Hillhouse Capital Management, HOPU Investment Management, Global Logistic Properties Limited (GLP) founder Ming Mei’s SMG, Bank of China Group Investment and China Vanke Co. or their affiliated entities in its US$11.6 billion acquisition of GLP (SGX: MC0). GLP is Asia’s leading warehouse operator with a multibillion-dollar portfolio of assets spread across China, Japan, Brazil and the United States. The transaction is the largest private equity-backed takeover in Asia (ex-Japan) to date. This transaction was named Deal of the Year and Best Leveraged Finance Deal by FinanceAsia Achievement Awards 2017, Best Cross-border M&A Deal by FinanceAsia China Awards 2018 and M&A Deal of the Year: Southeast Asia by The Asia Legal Awards 2018.

• UBS AG, as financial adviser, in connection with the proposed US$6.3 billion pre-conditional voluntary general offer by COSCO Shipping Holdings Co., Ltd and Shanghai International Port (Group) Co., Ltd to acquire all the shares of Orient Overseas (International) Limited.

• Alerian, the market leading provider of Master Limited Partnership and energy infrastructure indices and market intelligence based in Dallas, Texas, in its proposed US$740 million sale to the global alternative investment management firm ZZ Capital International which is listed on the Growth Enterprise Market of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKSE: 8295), which constitutes an extreme very substantial acquisition for ZZ Capital International.

• Bank of America Merrill Lynch, as financial adviser, in the US$6.8 billion privatization of Belle International Holdings Limited by way of a scheme of arrangement by a consortium led by Hillhouse Capital and comprising CDH and certain management. This is the largest ever sponsor led privatisation of a Hong Kong listed company.

• CWT Limited (SGX: C14) and its controlling shareholders on the S$1.4 billion pre conditional voluntary general offer by a wholly owned subsidiary of HNA Holding Group Co. Limited (HKSE: 521) of CWT Limited which also constitutes an extreme very substantial acquisition for HNA Holding Group Co. Limited.

• Ally Bridge Group, as a joint offeror with a consortium established by an affiliate of the target company’s controlling shareholder and GL Capital Group, in its proposed HK$2.34 billion (US$300 million) privatisation offer for the H shares of Shandong Luoxin Pharmaceutical Group (HKSE: 8058) by way of a voluntary conditional cash offer.

• Bain Capital in connection with its acquisition of a majority stake in Daymon Worldwide Inc., a global leader of retail services including private brand development to strategic & branding, sourcing & logistics, retail merchandising services and consumer experience marketing.

2016

• COFCO Coca-Cola Beverages Limited, a subsidiary of Hong Kong-listed China Foods Limited (HKSE: 506) and a subsidiary of state-owned COFCO Corporation, in its acquisition of equity interests in the bottling operations from The Coca-Cola Company and Swire Beverages Holdings Limited, and in its sale through auction of its equity interests in the bottling operations in China.

• Oceanwide Holdings International Financial Development in its HK$1.1 billion acquisition of a controlling stake in Quam Limited (HKSE: 952) and the related HK$1.1 billion mandatory offer for the remaining shares, warrants and options of Quam Limited.

• J.P. Morgan, as financial adviser, in connection with CVC Capital Partners-led funds’ US$1.1 billion proposed privatisation of Nirvana Asia Ltd (HKSE: 1438) by way of a scheme of arrangement.

• Ascendent Capital Partners, in connection with the HK$549 million acquisition of shares and subsequent HK$790 million conditional mandatory cash general offer by Araco Investment Limited for China Automation Group Limited.

• Emerald Plantation Holdings Limited, in its sale of the entire issued share capital of Emerald Plantation Group Limited, which holds a substantial portion of assets and subsidiaries of Sino-Forest Corporation (following the implementation of the CCAA Plan of Compromise and Reorganization on 30 January 2013 as approved by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on 10 December 2012), to New Plantations Limited for a consideration of about US$230 million.

• China Oceanwide Holdings Limited (HKSE: 715) in its HK$4.57 billion rights issue.

• Malaysian sovereign fund, in its investment in Alibaba’s logistics affiliate, Cainiao.

• Bain Capital, in its acquisition of a controlling interest in Asia Pacific Medical Group, a leading private hospital group in the PRC which provides a range of primary care and specialty services through a portfolio of hospitals and clinics in the PRC and other parts of Southeast Asia.

• Malaysian sovereign fund (as lead investor) in its investment in a US$160 million Series B fundraising of WeLab, operator of Wolaidai, one of China’s largest mobile lending platforms and WeLend.hk, Hong Kong’s online lending platform.

2015

• China Grand Automotive Services Co. Limited (SSE: 600297), in its US$1.5 billion partial offer for Baoxin Auto Group Limited (HKSE: 1293).

• Bank of America Merrill Lynch, as financial adviser, in Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings Limited’s HK$98.67 billion proposed merger with Power Assets Holdings Limited by way of a scheme of arrangement.

• China Oceanwide Holdings Limited  (HKSE: 715), in its pending US$252 million acquisition of: (1) a 100% stake in a property development project in the downtown area of Los Angeles; and (2) a 60% stake in a power plant project in Medan Industrial Area, North Sumatra, Indonesia from associates of its indirect controlling shareholder, China Oceanwide Holdings Group Co., Ltd, constituting major and connected transactions under the Hong Kong Listing Rules.

• China Hi-Tech Holding Company Limited, in its HK$2,169.6 million (US$279.9 million) proposed voluntary conditional offer for the H shares of Jingwei Textile Machinery Company Limited, a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. This is the first takeover of a company listed on both the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

• The ad hoc Steering Committee of bondholders of Kaisa Holdings, in relation to Kaisa's outstanding US$2.6 billion of defaulted bonds.

• Novel Sunrise Investments Limited in its acquisition of shares in SouthGobi Resources Ltd through a subscription and purchase of shares.

2014

• Bank of America Merrill Lynch, as financial adviser, in CSR Corporation Limited's US$26 billion (HK$203 billion) merger with China CNR Corporation Limited. This transaction was named “2015 M&A Deal of the Year” by China Law and Practice and China Business Law Journal.

• Pokka Corporation (Singapore), in its sale of Pokka Corporation (HK) and Pokka Coffee (Macau) to Million Rank Limited, which is 65% owned by Hong Kong-listed Xiao Nan Guo Restaurants Holdings (HKSE: 3666) and 35% owned by Ms. Pauline Wong, the managing director of Pokka HK.

• CITIC Securities International Company Limited, in connection with its investment in China Huarong Asset Management Co. Ltd, one of China's four asset management companies founded to resolve non-performing loans of China's state-owned banks.  The investment was part of a RMB 14.54 billion (US$2.35 billion) pre-IPO placement by China Huarong to strategic investors.

• The Henley Group, in its sale to St. James's Place Wealth Management Group, a UK listed FTSE 100 company.

• China Food Packaging Incorporation Limited, a Hong Kong incorporated company with operations in the PRC that was listed on the Korean Stock Exchange in its KRW9.48 billion privatization by way of a scheme of arrangement.

• Bank of America Merrill Lynch and JP Morgan, as financial advisers, in Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp Ltd’s voluntary conditional cash offer of up to HK$38.712 billion (US$5 billion) for all the issued shares of Wing Hang Bank Ltd. This was the biggest takeover of a Hong Kong bank since 2001. This transaction was named “2015 M&A Deal of the Year” by the Asian Legal Business.

• Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan,in its US$175 million pre-IPO acquisition of a minority interest in a Chinese healthcare company through a subscription and purchase of shares.

• TPV Technology Limited (Hong Kong),in its acquisition of the remaining 30% stake in TP Vision, the television joint venture with Koninklijke Philips N.V. (formerly Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.) (the Netherlands).

• 21st Century Fox, in its sale of a 49.9% stake in Star China TV to its joint venture partner, China Media Capital.

2013

• J.P. Morgan, as financial adviser, in connection with SCA Group Holding B.V.'s US$1.1 billion (HK$8.8 billion) voluntary conditional cash offer for shares of Vinda International Holdings.  SCA Group Holdings B.V., a subsidiary of Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget SCA, is based in the Netherlands and designs, produces and supplies packing products as well as personal care products.

• Green Dragon Gas Ltd, an independent upstream gas company involved in coalbed methane production in China listed on AIM of the London Stock Exchange in a US$142 million transaction comprising a US$77 million PIPE investment in secured bonds and warrants by Mandolin Capital Pte. Ltd., an international business group, together with a concurrent sale of its interests in certain wholesale gas distribution businesses in Beijing, Anhui and Henan Provinces, China to Mandolin Capital for US$65 million.

• CICC, as financial adviser, in Wanda Commercial Properties (Hong Kong) Co., Limited (a subsidiary of Dalian Wanda Group Co., Ltd)'s US$117 million (HK$913 million) proposed purchase of a controlling interest in, and possible unconditional mandatory cash offer for shares of, Hengli Commercial Properties (Group) Limited.

• Belmont Hong Kong Ltd. (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Beijing Wangfujing International Commercial Development Co., Ltd), in its US$654 million (HK$5,099 million) proposed acquisition of a 39.53% interest in, and possible conditional mandatory cash offer for all the remaining issued shares of, PCD Stores (Group) Limited.

2012

• Trisonic International Limited, in its US$264 million (HK$2,062 million) proposed privatization of China Vanadium Titano-Magnetite Mining Company Limited by way of a scheme of arrangement.

• Standard Chartered Bank, as financial adviser, in Famous Commercial Limited's (a subsidiary of the Gemdale Corporation) US$384 million (HK$2,997.9 million) proposed purchase of a controlling interest in, and possible unconditional mandatory cash offer for shares of, Frasers Property (China) Limited.

• NCGA Holdings Limited, in its US$305 million acquisition by Baoxin Auto Group, a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

• Citigroup, as financial adviser, in China National Pharmaceutical Group Corporation's HK$600 million possible pre-conditional voluntary conditional cash offer for Winteam Pharmaceutical Group.

• CITIC Securities Co., Limited (China), in its proposed purchase from Crédit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank of CLSA B.V., an Asian equity brokerage, for US$1,252 million. This deal was selected as "2012 M&A Deal of the Year (Outbound)" by China Business Law Journal and the "Best FIG Deal for 2013 by FinanceAsia.

• Standard Chartered Bank, as financial adviser, in Wing Tai Properties Limited's HK$1,486.2 million voluntary unconditional cash offer for a subsidiary of Winsor Properties Holdings Limited in connection with the HK$ 1,459 million purchase and mandatory cash offer made by a subsidiary of China Vanke Co., Ltd. for Winsor Properties Holding Limited.

• Citigroup, as financial adviser, in Perfect Lead Investments' (a subsidiary of Li & Fung (1937)) US$340 million (HK$2,652 million) voluntary conditional cash offer for Hang Ten Group Holdings.

• TPV Technology Limited (Hong Kong), in its acquisition of a 70 percent interest in a joint venture which owns and controls the entire television business of Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (the Netherlands) in Europe and certain South American countries.

2011

• Citigroup, as financial adviser, in China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) and ENN Energy Holdings' US$2,140 million (HK$16,699 million) unsolicited pre-conditional joint voluntary cash offer for China Gas Holdings.

• True Innovations, in its sale of a private furniture business to Li & Fung.

Prior to joining Kirkland & Ellis, Nicholas had a leading role on the following matters:

2011

• CITIC Securities Co., Limited (China), in its proposed purchase from Crédit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank of a 19.9% equity interest in the Asian and European equity brokerage business of CLSA B.V. and Crédit Agricole Cheuvreux for US$374 million.

• Goldman Sachs, as financial adviser, in Yum! Brands' US$584 million (HK$4,557 million) privatization of Little Sheep Group by way of a scheme of arrangement.

• Bank of America Merrill Lynch, as financial adviser, in Shui On Company's HK$660.58 million partial offer for Shui On Construction and Materials.

• Standard Chartered Bank, as financial adviser, in Fosun International's HK$2,606.18 million privatization of Shanghai Forte Land Co. by way of a voluntary cash offer.

• Sun Materials Technology Co., in its US$150 million sale of 50.1 percent interest in its solar grade polycrystalline silicon manufacturing business to Mascotte Holdings, a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

2010

• Goldman Sachs and ICBC International Capital, as joint financial advisers, in ICBC's US$1.388 billion (HK$10.828 billion) privatization of ICBC (Asia) by way of a scheme of arrangement.

• JP Morgan, as financial adviser, in Li & Fung's approximately US$562 million (HK$4.383 billion) privatization of Integrated Distribution Services Group by way of a scheme of arrangement.

• News Corporation, in its sale to China Media Capital of a controlling stake in News Corporation's Chinese language television channels business and Chinese language movie library, including a reorganization of the businesses for the purposes of forming the resulting joint venture (deal value US$140 million).

• Ctrip.com, in its US$88 million acquisition of a 90 percent interest in the shares of the holding company through which Wing On Travel (Holdings) Limited operates its travel business in Hong Kong, China and elsewhere.

• TPV Technology Limited, in a HK$1.2 billion share subscription by Mitsui & Co., Ltd. of Japan and the subsequent HK$11 billion mandatory general offer in cash by Mitsui and China Electronics Corporation, China's largest manufacturer of electronic products and TPV's largest shareholder, for the remaining shares in TPV not already owned by CEC and Mitsui. This deal was selected as "M&A Deal of the Year" by Asia Legal Business for 2010.

2009

• Meadville Holdings Limited, in the proposed sale of its PCB business to TTM Technologies, a company listed on NASDAQ, for US$521 million and the sale of its laminate business to its controlling shareholder for US$359 million.

• Citigroup, as financial adviser, in Standard Cosmos' HK$2.5 billion takeover of Natural Beauty Bio-Technology.

• J.P. Morgan Securities (Asia Pacific) Limited, as financial adviser, in China Overseas Land & Investment Limited's US$337.7 million voluntary unconditional cash offer for Shell Electric Mfg. (Holdings) Company Limited.

• Delta Networks, in its HK$938 million privatization by Delta Electronic by way of a scheme of arrangement.

2008

• Pacific Century Regional Developments Limited, as the joint offeror with China Netcom, in their HK$15.9 billion (US$2.1 billion) cash offer to privatize PCCW Limited by way of a scheme of arrangement.

• Nomura Holdings, Inc. (Japan), in its acquisition of the Asia-Pacific operations of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. This deal was selected as a "Deal of the Year" by Asian-Counsel magazine for 2008 and "Restructuring Deal of the Year" for 2008 by IFLR.

• The Coca-Cola Company, in its proposed US$2.5 billion takeover of China Huiyuan Juice Group Limited. This deal was selected as a "Deal of the Year" by Asian-Counsel magazine for 2008.

• JP Morgan, as financial adviser, in China Unicom Limited's HK$656.3 billion (US$84.1 billion) merger with China Netcom Corporation Limited.

• Citigroup, as financial adviser, in PCCW Limited's HK$2.64 billion uncompleted privatization of Pacific Century Premium Developments.

• Swiss Re, one of the world's leading reinsurance services firms, in its approximately US$79 million acquisition of a 25 percent stake in Vinare (Vietnam Reinsurance Corporation). This deal was chosen as "The Best Vietnam Deal" by FinanceAsia in their Awards for Achievement 2008.

2007

• JP Morgan, as financial adviser, in Kerry Media Limited's HK$2.37 billion takeover of SCMP Group.

• Mission Hills, in its HK$1.2 billion takeover of Hsin Chong Construction.

• Macau Investments Holdings, in its US$200 million acquisition of an 86 percent interest in a real estate company in Macau.

• American Standard, in the disposal of its Hong Kong-listed subsidiary, A-S China Plumbing Products, as part of the US$1.8 billion disposal of its global kitchen and bath business.

• Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V., in the sale of its mobile phone business to China Electronics Corporation.

• Citigroup, as financial adviser, in Star Cruises' US$1 billion disposal of a 50 percent interest in NCL Corporation.

2006

• Several investors in the leveraged management buyout of Asia Aluminum Holdings Limited, through a scheme of arrangement (deal value US$454 million).

• Asia Financial Holdings Limited, in connection with the sale by auction of Asia Commercial Bank Limited to JCG Holdings Limited for US$580 million.

• Pacific Century Group Holdings Limited, in connection with the uncompleted 24 percent acquisition by TPG-Axon Partners, LP and Newbridge Capital Asia IV, LP of Pacific Century Regional Developments Limited, a company listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange, through a scheme of arrangement (valued at US$140 million).

2005 and before

• PCCW Limited, in its landmark US$35.9 billion merger with Cable & Wireless HKT Limited.

• PCCW Limited, in its US$9 billion strategic alliance with Telstra Corporation Limited that included the formation of a global IP backbone joint venture, REACH Ltd.

• PCCW Limited, in the placement of new shares, representing a 20 percent interest, to China Network Communications Group Corporation for US$1 billion.

• TPV Technology Limited, in the acquisition of part of the PC monitor and flat-screen television business of Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. for US$350 million.

• ABN AMRO Asia Corporate Finance Limited and NM Rothschild & Sons (HK) Limited, financial advisers to China Eagle Group Co. Limited, in the HK$8.3 billion acquisition of a 65 percent interest in GOME Appliance Co. Limited.

• PCCW Limited, in the sale of its 40 percent stake (valued at approximately US$614 million) in CSL, one of Hong Kong's leading telephone operators, and the issue to Telstra of a US$190 million mandatory convertible note due June 2005.

• Guangdong Investment Limited, in the purchase of the Dongshen Water Supply Project, which provides 75 percent of the water consumed in Hong Kong, for a consideration of US$2.5 billion, as part of the restructuring of Guangdong Enterprises (Holdings) Limited and its subsidiaries.

Private equity transactions on which Nicholas has advised include:

• Ascendent Capital Partners, in connection with the HK$549 million acquisition of shares and subsequent HK$790 million conditional mandatory cash general offer by Araco Investment Limited for China Automation Group Limited.

• Malaysian sovereign fund, in its investment in Alibaba’s logistics affiliate, Cainiao.

• Bain Capital, in its acquisition of a controlling interest in Asia Pacific Medical Group, a leading private hospital group in the PRC which provides a range of primary care and specialty services through a portfolio of hospitals and clinics in the PRC and other parts of Southeast Asia.

• Malaysian sovereign fund (as lead investor) in its investment in a US$160 million Series B fundraising of WeLab, operator of Wolaidai, one of China’s largest mobile lending platforms and WeLend.hk, Hong Kong’s online lending platform.

• Carlyle Asia, in its US$94 million investment in Microport Scientific Corporation through a subscription of convertible bonds and an acquisition of secondary shares.

• Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, in its US$175 million pre-IPO acquisition of a minority interest in a Chinese healthcare company through a subscription and purchase of shares.

• Bain Capital in various placement and derivative transactions in respect of Hong Kong listed shares including its divestments of interests in Sunac China Holdings Limited (HK$1,250 million), Greatview Aseptic Packaging Company Limited (HK$1,800 million), GOME Electrical Appliances Holding Limited (HK$1,007 million) and Sinomedia Holding Limited (HK$450 million) and related compliance issues.

• CITIC Capital China Access Fund Limited, in its subscription of HK$232,800,000 3.5% convertible bonds due 2015 from China Tianyi Holdings Limited, a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

• CITIC Capital China Access Fund Limited, in its subscription of HK$233 million 3.5% convertible bonds due 2014 from Hilong Holding Limited, a company listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.

• Carlyle Group in its PIPE acquisition of a strategic minority interest in China Fishery Group Limited, which is the world’s largest industrial fishing company and listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange through a subscription of shares and warrants for a total cumulative consideration of US$190 million.

• Wumart Stores, Inc. (China), an operator of retail stores, in the approximately US$213 million strategic investment by TPG Capital, Inc., Hony Capital (China) and Legend Holdings, Limited (China) through a subscription of new H-shares and unlisted domestic shares.

• Bain Capital, in its investment of up to US$432 million in GOME Electrical Appliances Holding through the subscription of RMB denominated US$ settled 5% convertible bonds due 2016 and the underwriting of an open offer of new shares. The transaction was named the “Best Deal” for 2009 in the Country Awards – North Asia by The Asset magazine.

• Citigroup, as financial adviser, in CVC’s HK$2.4 billion proposed privatization of Natural Beauty Bio-Technology.

• Galaxy Entertainment Group Limited (Hong Kong), an owner and operator of casinos, hotels and entertainment facilities in Macau, in the US$840 million sale of a 20 percent stake to Permira Advisers Limited, a private equity firm in the United Kingdom.

• Titan Petrochemicals Group Limited, in a US$175 million investment by Warburg Pincus LLC, a private equity firm, through which Warburg acquired an approximately 22 percent stake in Titan Petrochemicals and a 49.9 percent stake in a subsidiary of Titan which operates oil and chemical storage facilities in China.

• Tommy Hilfiger Corporation/Apax Partners Private Equity, in the sale of its global sourcing operations to Li & Fung Limited, a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, for US$248 million.

• Warburg Pincus LLC, in its acquisition of US$250 million zero coupon convertible bonds due 2013 issued by Chunghwa Pictures Tubes, Ltd. (Taiwan).

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom

• Partner, 2005–2011; Co-head of Corporate in Asia (ex - Japan)

Simmons & Simmons

• Partner, 1995–2005; Head of Corporate in Asia (ex - Japan)