Grace Huang

Global law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (‘Freshfields’) is advising Shanghai Henlius Biotech, Inc. (‘Henlius’), a biopharmaceutical company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (Stock Code: 2696), on its proposed privatisation by Shanghai Fosun New Medicine Research Company Limited by way of merger by absorption. The transaction is subject to various conditions, including amongst others independent shareholder approvals. The Freshfields team was led by partners Edward Freeman, Grace Huang and David Yi, supported by senior associate Kelly Huang, and associate Haohan Li.

Jul 2

1 min

Global law firm Freshfields has advised Synagistics Pte. Ltd (‘Synagistics’) on its completed de-SPAC transaction with HK Acquisition Corporation, a special purpose acquisition company (‘SPAC’) listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (‘HKSE’), and shares of Synagistics commenced trading on HKSE on 30 October 2024.  The transaction is the first successful de-SPAC in Hong Kong. Synagistics operates the Synagie Platform, a data-driven digital solutions platform in Southeast Asia.  It provides integrated digital commerce solutions to its brand partners. Synagistics and its brand partners’ businesses cover various sectors, including fashion and apparel, premium beauty and wellness and premium lifestyle and living sector. Its geographical presence in Southeast Asia covers Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia. The Freshfields team advising on the transaction was led by partners Grace Huang and Arun Balasubramanian, supported by counsel Cindy Kwong, senior associate Frank Jin and associates Kristy Wong and Yitian Jin.

Oct 31

1 min

Global law firm Freshfields is advising ESR Group Limited (‘ESR’) on its proposed privatisation from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange by a consortium led by Starwood Capital Group, Sixth Street and SSW Partners (and which also includes QIA, Warburg Pincus, and the founders of ESR) by way of scheme of arrangement.  Additional information is available here. The proposed transaction values ESR at HK$55.2 billion (approximately US$7.1 billion) on an equity value basis, making it the largest privatisation from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since 2021. Upon the scheme of arrangement becoming effective, the consortium offeror will own 100 per cent of ESR. The proposed privatisation is subject to various conditions, including approval by independent shareholders and regulators. ESR is Asia-Pacific’s leading new economy real asset manager and one of the largest listed real estate investment managers globally. The Freshfields team advising on the transaction was led by partners Edward Freeman and Grace Huang and counsel Danny Li, with support from counsel Cindy Kwong, senior associate Dickson Chan and associate Eric Cheung. Partner Matthew O’Callaghan and associate Lu Feng are advising on regulatory issues, counsel Stephanie Chiu is advising on employment issues, partners Christine Laciak and Aimen Mir are advising on US law matters, and partner Alastair Mordaunt, counsel Laurent Bougard and associate Ziqi Zhou are providing foreign investment and antitrust advice. Partner Daniel Cendan, counsel Matthew Haggans and associate Alice Jeon are advising on compliance matters.

Dec 6

1 min

Global law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (‘Freshfields’) has advised its longstanding client CK Infrastructure Holdings Limited ('CKI') on the Hong Kong law aspects of the admission of CKI’s issued shares to listing in the Equity Shares (International Commercial Companies Secondary Listing) category of the Official List of the UK Financial Conduct Authority and to trading on the Main Market for listed securities of the London Stock Exchange. CKI’s shares will trade on both the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange from 19 August 2024. CKI is one of the world’s largest global infrastructure companies. It has diversified investments in energy infrastructure, transportation infrastructure, water infrastructure, waste management, waste-to-energy, household infrastructure and other infrastructure-related businesses and its businesses primarily span the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Continental Europe, Canada, Hong Kong, and Mainland China. The Freshfields capital markets team advising on the transaction comprised partner Grace Huang and counsel Cindy Kwong.

Aug 15

1 min

Global law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (‘Freshfields’) is advising Merck KGaA, the German multinational science and technology company (‘Merck’), on the agreement to sell its global Surface Solutions business unit to Global New Material International Holdings Ltd. (‘GNMI’). The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and satisfaction of certain other customary closing conditions. Merck’s Surface Solutions business unit offers pigment solutions used in coating, industrial and cosmetic applications and generated sales of €411m in 2023, with Merck generating sales of €21bn in 65 countries in 2023. Merck intends to use the net proceeds from the divestment to further strengthen its strategic core businesses in life science, healthcare and electronics. GNMI, also known under the brand name Chesir, is a large pigment producer in China. Founded in 2011, GNMI is based in Guangxi, China and is listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange. The company has sites in China and Korea with approximately 800 employees. Freshfields is advising Merck on all legal aspects of the sale and carve-out, working closely with Merck’s in-house team led by Alexander Krüger (Senior Corporate Counsel), Gabriela Gomes Strieder (Senior Corporate Counsel), Malte Christians (Corporate Counsel), Alexander Werner (Head of Legal – HR, Procurement & Site Management) and Matthias Hart (Head of Legal – Surface Solutions). The global Freshfields team is being led by Partners Lars Meyer (Corporate/M&A, Frankfurt/Berlin) and Philipp Dohnke (Commercial/M&A, Hamburg) as well as Associates Laura Ashoff (Corporate/M&A, Berlin) and Tainá Moreira de Araújo (Corporate/M&A, Frankfurt), Counsel Marius Scherb (Commercial/M&A, Hamburg) and Senior Associate Elisabeth Wulf (Commercial/M&A, Hamburg) and also included: Partners: Rod Carlton (Antitrust, London), Frank Röhling (Antitrust, Berlin), Grace Huang (Corporate/M&A, Hong Kong), Thomas Müller-Bonanni (Employment Law, Düsseldorf), Thomas Granetzny (Employment Law, Düsseldorf), Christian Ruoff (Tax, Hamburg), Tanja Walter-Yadegardjam (Tax, Frankfurt), Michael Ramb (Public Law, Düsseldorf/Berlin), Ulrich Scholz (Energy Law, Düsseldorf), Julia Haas (Real Estate, Frankfurt) Counsel: Uwe Salaschek (Foreign Investment, Berlin), Colin Costello (CFIUS, Washington), Sarah Rohmann (Employment Law, Düsseldorf), Sascha Arnold (Regulatory, Hamburg) Principal Associates: Stephan Reemts (Corporate/M&A, Frankfurt), Ferdinand Dreher (Corporate/M&A, Berlin), Jill Rollmann (Corporate/M&A, Hamburg), Jan Jeram (Antitrust, Brussels), Marie-Theres Urban (Foreign Investment, Berlin), Andrea Strackerjan (Tax, Hamburg), Christian Schmidt (Tax, Frankfurt), Marlen Vesper-Gräske (Public Law, Hamburg), Sarah Kutsche (Real Estate, Düsseldorf), Hendrik Wessling (Energy Law, Düsseldorf) Associates: David Thüning (Corporate/M&A, Berlin), Alicja Klosok (Antitrust, London), Helen Panteli (Antitrust, London), Leonie Sage (Antitrust, London), Fabian Zöpfchen (Labor Law, Frankfurt), Fabienne Gieshoidt (Tax, Hamburg), Marlen Vesper-Gräske (Public Law, Hamburg) Transaction Lawyers: Stéphanie Adriaens (Senior Transaction Lawyer, Berlin), Besdegül Ünsal (Senior Transaction Lawyer, Berlin)

Jul 25

2 min