Sean Zhang

Since joining Kirkland & Ellis, Sean’s representative matters include:

• Advised FountainVest on its acquisition of Ziwi, a New Zealand-based ultra-premium pet food manufacturer and global exporter;
• 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 proposed take-private of 51job, Inc. (NASDAQ: JOBS) at a valuation of appropriately US$5.7 billion; and
• 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.

Prior to joining Kirkland & Ellis, Sean’s representative matters include:

• A syndicate of international banks in the onshore/offshore financing of a Shanghai commercial property managed by an international leading real estate fund manager;
• A syndicate of international banks in the onshore/offshore financing of a hotel portfolio listed in Hong Kong Stock Exchange as REITs;
• A syndicate of international banks in the onshore/offshore financing of a warehousing property managed by an international leading real estate fund manager;
• A Tier-1 PRC real estate developer in the onshore/offshore financing of a Shanghai commercial property;
• A Tier-1 PRC real estate developer in the formation of a USD fund focusing on PRC domestic residential property development; and
• An investment platform in the mezzanine investment in the commercial property portfolio managed by a leading PRC real estate fund manager.

September 2012–August 2018, Allen & Overy LLP, Shanghai Office

September 2018–November 2019, Paul Hastings LLP, Shanghai Office