Leo Zhou

Since joining Kirkland & Ellis, Leo has been involved in the following representations: 

• The offeror on its proposed privatization of Vesync (HKSE: 2148)
• Edding Group Company Limited, an integrated biopharmaceutical company, in connection with a proposed merger and reverse takeover with Genor Biopharma Holdings Limited, a Hong Kong-listed biopharmaceutical company under Chapter 18A. The deal represents the first ever reverse takeover relating to a Chapter 18A listed company. This transaction was named “Deals of the Year 2024” by China Business Law Journal
• Celestial Link Limited, an investment vehicle ultimately controlled by PCCW Limited (HKSE: 0008), in its HK$280 million PIPE investment as a lead investor in the de-SPAC merger of HK Acquisition Corporation (a SPAC listed in Hong Kong under the stock code 7841) and Synagistics Pte. Ltd.
• ZG Group, a leading iron & steel e-commerce platform in China, on its business combination with Aquila Acquisition Corporation, a special purpose acquisition company. The negotiated value of ZG Group in this transaction is HK$10,004,000,000, and the committed PIPE investment as of the signing date is approximately HK$605 million. This is the first de-SPAC transaction in Hong Kong since the introduction of the SPAC listing regime in Hong Kong on 1 January 2022
• AP Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: APCA), a special purpose acquisition company, on its proposed business combination with JEPLAN, Inc., a global leader in chemically recycled PET technology. The transaction values the combined company at an estimated equity value of approximately US$480 million on a post-money basis. This transaction was named “Best M&A Deal - North Asia” by FinanceAsia Achievement Awards 2023
• MoneyHero Group on its business combination with Bridgetown Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: BTWN), a special purpose acquisition company formed as a collaboration between Pacific Century Group and Thiel Capital
• L Catterton Asia Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: LCAA), a special purpose acquisition company formed by affiliates of L Catterton, a leading global consumer-focused investment firm, on its business combination with Lotus Technology Inc., a leading global luxury electric vehicle maker that operates under the iconic British brand, Lotus. The combined business is listed under the ticker symbol “LOT”. The transaction values the combined business at a pro forma enterprise value of approximately US$5.4 billion
• Asia Innovations Group Limited (ASIG), a leading mobile social company across emerging markets, on its proposed business combination with Magnum Opus Acquisition Limited (NYSE: OPA), a special purpose acquisition company. The business combination provides for an equity valuation of US$2.5 billion for the combined company. This transaction was named “Deals of the Year 2022” by China Business Law Journal
• Voyager Innovations, a KKR portfolio company and the leading technology company in the Philippines, on its US$210 million Series C fundraising round (including funding from KKR, Tencent, PLDT, IFC, SIG Venture Capital, EDBI and First Pacific) 
• Hypebeast Limited (HKSE: 00150), a global digital media and e-commerce platform in contemporary lifestyle and culture, on its proposed listing on NASDAQ through a business combination with Iron Spark I Inc. (NASDAQ: ISAA), a special purpose acquisition company
• Poema Global Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: PPGH), a special purpose acquisition company affiliated with Princeville Capital, on its business combination with Gogoro Inc., a global technology leader in battery swapping ecosystems that enable sustainable mobility solutions for cities 
• Artisan Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: ARTAU), a special purpose acquisition company founded by renowned Hong Kong cultural entrepreneur Adrian Cheng, on its business combination with Prenetics Group Limited, a global leader in genomic and diagnostic testing. This transaction was named “Deals of the Year 2022” by China Business Law Journal

Prior to joining Kirkland & Ellis, Leo represented clients in the following selected transactions:

• A buyer consortium led by a Hong Kong Stock Exchange-listed company and several private equity funds in the going private transaction of a NASDAQ-listed biopharmaceutical company in China, at a valuation of approximately US$4.76 billion
• A private equity firm in the private placement of US$1.05 billion convertible notes issued by a NYSE-listed leading K-12 after-school tutoring services provider in China
• A group of private equity investors in the US$200 million series A financing of a China-based biotechnology company
• A global venture capital fund in multiple rounds of equity financing of an AI-powered operator of digital content platforms in China
• A private equity firm as a lead investor in the US$3 billion series F financing of a China-based operator of short-video platform
• A buyer consortium led by a group of private equity investors in the US$1.5 billion going private transaction of a NASDAQ-listed healthcare services provider in China
• A global venture capital fund in multiple rounds of equity financing of various China-based biopharmaceutical companies
• A private equity firm as a lead investor in the US$125 million series E financing of a Singapore-based AI-powered image-recognition service provider
• A global venture capital fund and a Singapore sovereign wealth fund in the US$320 million series G financing of a Korea-based food delivery service platform
• A China-based fashion group in the acquisition of a Dutch designer and manufacturer of premium jeans