Peng Yu

Partner Mergers & Acquisitions Private Equity

Kirkland & Ellis

peng.yu@kirkland.com

Practices

Overview

Peng Yu is a partner in the Hong Kong office of Kirkland & Ellis. He focuses his practice exclusively on private equity matters and mergers and acquisitions.

Mr. Yu has extensive experience in advising global and regional private equity and corporate clients on a wide range of strategically important transactions, including buyouts, take-privates, PIPEs, growth capital investments, divestitures, joint ventures and other cross-border transactions, particularly those with a China nexus. These transactions span sectors as diverse as technology, education, health care/life sciences, consumer products, industrials, infrastructure and real estate.

Mr. Yu has been recognized by multiple reputable legal publications such as Chambers Asia, IFLR 1000 and The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific for his private equity and M&A work, and China Law & Practice named him “TMT Lawyer of the Year” in 2018. Clients also cite the quality of Mr. Yu’s counsel, as well as his ability to leverage his bilingual capabilities and experience working with different cultures to guide clients through multijurisdictional issues arising in cross-border transactions. As one client notes, Mr. Yu is “commercial, solution-oriented and very hands-on.”

Experience

Since joining Kirkland & Ellis, Peng’s representative matters have included:

Baring Private Equity Asia in its US$1 billion take-private acquisition of Ginko International
Nexus Point Capital in its leveraged acquisition of Honour Lane Shipping Ltd.

Prior to joining Kirkland & Ellis, Peng’s representative matters have included:

Alibaba in its:
- US$1.15 billion investment in Farfetch (in conjunction with Richemont)
- US$1.38 billion PIPE investment in ZTO Express
- US$1.4 billion take-private of iKang Healthcare
- PIPE investment in, and related joint venture with, Dufry AG
- Joint venture with Marriott
- Strategic partnership with Richemont and joint venture with YOOX Net-A-Porter Group
- Various acquisitions and investments across technology and consumer sectors

Bain Capital in its:
- Acquisition of World Wide Packaging
- Acquisition of a China-based packaging business
- Auction sale of Gymboree Play & Music business

Baring Private Equity Asia in its acquisition, alongside Bright Food Group, and subsequent US$1.8 billion auction sale, of UK-based Weetabix Food Company
MBK Partners in its acquisition, and subsequent auction sale, of Apex Logistics. This transaction was named “Private Equity Deal of the Year” by Asia Legal Awards 2022
TPG
- in its joint venture and hotel acquisition project with Huazhu Hotels Group (previously known as China Lodging Group)
- take-private of ShangPharma
- various investments in China-based businesses in consumer, education and technology sectors

China Resources Capital in its investments in health care and infrastructure sectors
DST Global in its various investments in technology and consumer sectors across Asia
Didi Chuxing in its fundraising for its autonomous drive business
NetEase in its fundraising for its cloud music business and various other investments and acquisitions

Ropes & Gray LLP

Thought Leadership

Publications

Quoted, “2019 in Asia: China shapes the region,” Private Equity International (January 3, 2019)

Quoted, “Hillhouse’s $10.6B Fund Showcases Budding Asia PE Market,” Law360 (September 19, 2018)

Recognition

“Rising Star Partner”, M&A – Hong Kong, IFLR1000 (2023)

“Rising Star Partner”, Private Equity – Hong Kong, IFLR1000 (2023)

“Leading Lawyer”, Private Equity - China, Chambers Greater China (2022)

“Leading Lawyer”, Private Equity - China, Chambers Asia-Pacific (2019-2022)

“Rising Star”, IFLR1000 (2017-2022)

“IFLR Asia Future Leaders”, IFLR (2021)

“The A-List of China’s Top 100 Lawyers”, China Business Law Journal (2020)

“TMT Lawyer of the Year”, China Law & Practice Awards (2018)

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

2015, Hong Kong, Solicitor
2008, New York

Languages

English
Mandarin

Education

Columbia Law SchoolLL.M.
James Kent Scholar
University of International Business and EconomicsLL.M. (Hons)
University of International Business and EconomicsLL.B. (Hons)