Justin Zhou is an associate in the corporate team at the Bejing office of Kirkland & Ellis International LLP. He advises clients on corporate and securities law matters, including initial public offerings in the United States and Hong Kong, Rule 144A/Regulation S debt offerings, SEC compliance and mergers and acquisitions.
Prior to joining the Beijing office, Justin was an associate at our Hong Kong and London office.
Experience
Representative Matters
Since joining Kirkland & Ellis, Justin has represented the following matters, including advising:
Capital Markets
L Catterton Asia Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company backed by L Catterton, in its NASDAQ IPO that raised US$250 million
ReneSola Ltd. (NYSE: SOL), in connection with its registered direct offering of 10,000,000 of American Depositary Shares valued at US$250 million
The underwriters in the US$400 million IPO and listing of JHBP (CY) Holdings (HKSE: 6998), a holding company for Genor Biopharma, a commercial-ready biopharmaceutical company that focuses on developing and commercializing oncology and autoimmune drugs
The underwriters in the US$320 million initial public offering and listing on Nasdaq of Dada Nexus Limited, a leading platform of local on-demand retail and delivery in China
The underwriters in the US$586.5 million initial public offering and listing on the Nasdaq Global Select Market of Kingsoft Cloud Holdings Limited, one of China’s top cloud services providers
Jiayin Group Inc., a leading online individual finance marketplace in China, in its US$42 million initial public offering and listing on the Nasdaq Stock Market
The underwriters in the US$72 million initial public offering and listing on the New York Stock Exchange of LAIX Inc., a leading artificial intelligence company in China
The initial purchasers in the offering of US$1 billion in aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2024 from Pinduoduo Inc., an innovative and fast growing “new e-commerce” platform and one of the leading Chinese e-commerce players
The underwriters in the US$74.75 million follow-on offering of American depositary shares by JinkoSolar, and represented the placement agent in JinkoSolar’s US$85 million convertible notes offering in reliance of Regulation S. JinkoSolar (NYSE: JKS) is one of the largest and most innovative solar module manufacturers in the world
The underwriters in the US$250 million initial public offering and listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange of Maoyan Entertainment, which is a platform providing innovative Internet-empowered entertainment services in China
The underwriters in the US$108 million initial public offering and listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange of iDreamSky Technology Holdings Limited, a leading mobile game publishing platform in China
The underwriters in the US$180 million initial public offering and listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange of Tongcheng-eLong Holdings Limited, a leading online travel service provider in China
Tempo Acquisition, LLC, Tempo Acquisition Finance Corp. and the Blackstone Group L.P. in connection with the US$500 million senior notes offering to finance the acquisition of Aon plc
Marble II Pte. Ltd. and the Blackstone Group L.P. in connection with the US$500 million senior notes offering
Charter Communications in several notes offerings of over US$10 billion, an A/B exchange offer of US$15 billion and bonds redemptions
Exelon Corporation in the remarketing and settlement of its US$1.15 billion equity units
A number of institutional investors in an exchange offer initiated by Intelsat S.A. in connection with its out-of-court restructuring
Restaurant Brands International in its US$1.5 billion senior notes offering
Cott Corporation in its US$750 million senior notes offering
Ladder Capital in its US$500 million senior notes offering
Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs, Barclays, HSBC and Lloyds in connection with the £250 million senior secured notes offering by Pinewood Group
Citi, J.P. Morgan, Merrill Lynch and Wells Fargo in connection with several notes offerings over US$3.0 billion by Occidental Petroleum
Selecta Group B.V. in its tender offer for its €350 million senior secured notes and CHF 245 million senior secured notes and the post-closing redemption for notes not tendered
Travelodge Hotels Limited in its £30 million senior secured notes private tap
Mergers & Acquisitions
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
ReneSola in connection with the private placement of an aggregate of 100 million ordinary shares for US$11 million to Shah Capital Opportunity Fund LP
L1 Health in connection with its proposed acquisition of an American pharmaceutical company
Luye Pharma Group in connection with its proposed acquisition of an American pharmaceutical company
Funds
Veritas Capital in connection with the formation of US$3.55 billion Veritas Fund VI
Prior to joining Kirkland & Ellis, Justin represented:
Capital Markets
500.COM LTD, a leading online sports lottery service provider in China, in its US$75 million initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange
Mergers & Acquisitions
Xiabuxiabu Catering Management (China) Holdings Co., Ltd. in connection with the sale of Xiabu Xiabu shares by Actis to General Atlantic
Sequoia Capital, together with Goldman Sachs PIA, in their US$45 million investment in Novast Holdings Limited
Aviation Industry Corporation of China in connection with its US$650 million investment in a Joint Venture project with General Electric Company
Leyou, Inc. in connection with its US$20.9 million acquisition of Global Baby Holdings Co., Ltd
Aluminum Corporation of China in its joint exploration of iron ore with Rio Tinto Group in Guinea
NIT Education Group Limited in its Series B preferred shares financing matters
