Sean Zhang

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

• Advised KKR-backed EQuest Education Group on its debt financing for its acquisition of a controlling stake in Khoi Nguyen Education Group (KNE), an education services provider operating international and bilingual schools in Vietnam
• Advised Blackstone Real Estate Partners in connection with the leveraged financing for its proposed acquisition of majority stake in Soho China 
• Advised Blackstone Real Estate Partners in connection with the refinancing of various portfolio investments in the PRC 
• Advised KKR in connection with the leveraged financing for its acquisition of Quanyi Pharmacy
• Advised FountainVest on its acquisition of Ziwi, a New Zealand-based ultra-premium pet food manufacturer and global exporter.
• Advised Hillhouse Investment on its structured investment in Sinocera Group in the PRC 
• 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 and “TMT Deal of the Year” by Asia Legal Awards 2022.
• 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 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) at a valuation of approximately US$4.6 billion with debt financing of US$1.1 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 "2022 Private Equity Deal of the Year" by IFLR

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.
• 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