Jacqueline Zheng
Overview
Jacqueline is ‘one of the best deal makers in the market.’” - Chambers Greater China 2023
Jacqueline has extensive experience advising private equity sponsors, strategic investors and credit funds on complex cross-border acquisition financing, back leverage, margin loans, structured financing, direct lending and special situations transactions across the Asia Pacific region. She has been named as a “Highly Regarded Lawyer” in Banking by IFLR1000 2023 and a “Leading Individual” in Banking & Finance by Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2020-2023. Jacqueline is also recognized as a “Leading Lawyer” in Chambers Greater China 2023, with praises “for her expertise in acquisition financing and structured financing deals” and is “sought after by private equity sponsors and has a steady stream of high-profile clients”.
Experience
Representative Matters
Since joining Kirkland her experience has included advising:
- 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
- Bain Capital Private Equity in connection with its acquisition of significant equity investment in EcoCeres, an innovative biorefinery company with leading R&D capabilities
- Bain Capital Private Equity in connection with its acquisition of ChinData, the combination of ChinData with Bain Capital’s existing Bridge Data Centres platform and NASDAQ IPO (NASDAQ: CD) of ChinData Group
- Bain Capital Private Equity in connection with its significant minority investment in Maxford Group
- Bain Capital Private Equity on its leveraged buy-out of VXI Global Solutions, a leading provider of Business Process Outsourcing services to businesses around the world, from the Carlyle Group
- Bain Capital Credit on various portfolio investments in the Asia Pacific region
- Blackstone Group in connection with the leveraged financing for its acquisition of Interplex Holdings
- Blackstone Real Estate Partners in connection with the leveraged financing for its proposed acquisition of majority stake in Soho China
- Blackstone Real Estate Partners on the margin loan financing in connection with its investment in Mindspace Business Parks REIT (listed in India)
- Blackstone Real Estate Partners in connection with the refinancing of various portfolio investments in the PRC
- Carlyle on the acquisition of HCP Global, a leading Chinese packaging firm, from Baring Private Equity Asia. This transaction was named “Deals of the Year 2022” by China Business Law Journal
- CVC in connection with acquisition financing of a number of portfolio investments in the PRC
- KKR in connection with the leveraged financing for its acquisition of Quanyi Pharmacy
- KKR in connection with various minority investments in South East Asia
- Sequoia China Infrastructure Fund on its convertible bond investment in GDS Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: GDS; HKSE: 9698)
- Hillhouse Investment on its structured investment in Sinocera Group in the PRC
- Advent International on the leveraged financing for the business combination of King Koil China and Serta China
US Take Private
- An investor consortium led by New Frontier in the take-private of New Frontier Health Corporation (NYSE:NFH) which operates United Family Healthcare. This transaction was named “Deals of the Year 2022” by China Business Law Journal
- DCP Capital, Ocean Link Partners and Mr. Rick Yan, the Chief Executive Officer of 51job, in the take-private of 51job, Inc. (NASDAQ: JOBS). 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
- 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 with debt financing of US$3.5 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
- 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 “Private Equity Deal of the Year” by IFLR Asia-Pacific Awards 2022
Hong Kong Take Private
- Power Heritage Group Limited as the offeror in its proposed privatization of Jiangnan Group Limited (HKSE: 1366) by way of a scheme of arrangement
- GLP Pte. Ltd. and the consortium offeror comprising the Fung family and GLP, in the privatization of Li & Fung, a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKSE: 494)
- Loyal Valley Capital, as a member of an investor consortium, in the privatisation of O-Net Technologies (Group) Limited (HKSE:877) by way of a scheme of arrangement
- Ocean Link Partners and Sequoia Capital China in the proposed privatization of Zhejiang New Century Hotel Management Co., Ltd. (HKSE: 1158) by way of a voluntary general offer
Her experience prior to joining Kirkland has included advising:
- Bain Capital on the leveraged financing for its acquisition of a controlling stake in Hugel Inc, a beauty products maker in South Korea
- Bain Capital on the leveraged financing for its acquisition of Camp Australia
- Bain Capital on the leveraged financing for its acquisition of Only About Children in Australia
- Bain Capital on various dividend recapitalisation and refinancing transactions for its portfolio companies across the Asia-Pacific region
- Baring Private Equity Asia on its acquisition of a 40% stake in Weetabix Food Company in the UK
- Blackstone on the leveraged financing for the going-private transaction of Pactera Technology International Ltd.
- CPPIB on the leveraged financing for the going-private transaction of Nord Anglia Education Inc.
- KKR on the leveraged financing for its acquisition of Gland Pharma in India
- Primavera on the financing for the going-private transaction of Chemspec International Limited
- SSG Capital on various structured financing and equity-linked transactions across the Asia-Pacific region
- Tor Investment on structured financing to an aged care business based in both the US and China
- Sovereign wealth funds on co-investment in various leveraged financing transactions
- A global investment bank on various credit transactions in India and Middle East
- A consortium of investors led by GF Investments on the pre-IPO investments in e-Shang Redwood, a leading developer, owner and operator of logistics real estate across Asia
- A consortium of investors led by China Everbright on the investment of mezzanine convertible bonds issued by a PRC aluminum manufacturer
Prior Experience
Ropes & Gray — Counsel, Finance, Hong Kong, 2017
Ropes & Gray — Associate, Finance, Hong Kong, 2012–2017 (including six months on secondment to the Principal Investment Area of Goldman Sachs, Hong Kong)
Latham & Watkins — Associate, Finance, Hong Kong, 2011–2012
Allen & Overy — Associate, Banking, Hong Kong, 2009–2011
Allen & Overy — Trainee Solicitor, Hong Kong and London, 2007–2009
More
Recognition
“Leading Lawyer”, Banking and Finance: Leveraged & Acquisition Finance (International Firms) - China, Chambers Greater China (2023)
“Leading Lawyer”, Banking and Finance: Leveraged & Acquisition Finance (International Firms) - China, Chambers Global (2023)
“Leading Individual”, Banking and Finance – Hong Kong, Legal 500 (2020–2023)
“Highly Regarded,” Banking – Hong Kong, IFLR 1000 (2023)
“A-List China’s Elite Lawyers (Foreign Firms)”, China Business Law Journal (2022)
“Banking & Finance Lawyer of the Year,” Euromoney APAC Women in Business Law Awards (2022)
“IFLR Woman Leader,” IFLR1000 (2022)
Credentials
Admissions & Qualifications
- 2016, New York
- 2012, Admitted to Practice as a Solicitor of England and Wales
- 2009, Hong Kong, Solicitor
Languages
- English
- Mandarin
- Shanghai Dialect
Education
- City University of Hong KongPCLL2007
- University of New South WalesLL.B.; B.Com., Finance2006