Manas Chandrashekar

Kirkland & Ellis represented The Carlyle Group in connection with its proposed acquisition of KFC Holdings Japan, Ltd. (9873.T), the operator of the Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) fast-food franchise in Japan, together with the related long term franchise arrangements with brand owner, Yum! Brands. Mitsubishi Corporation (8058.T), the largest shareholder of KFC Holdings Japan, Ltd., announced separately that it would tender all of its shares in connection with the launched offer. The Kirkland team was led by corporate partner Jesse Sheley and technology & IP transactions partner Jeffery Norman; together with support from corporate partners Pierre-Luc Arsenault and Maurice Conway; and technology & IP transactions partner Min Wang. Additional transaction support was provided by corporate registered foreign lawyer Jiayi Wang and technology & IP transactions associate Rob Patrignani. The broader team for the transaction also included debt finance partners Manas Chandrashekar and Karen Ho; tax partner Mike Carew; government, regulatory & internal investigations partner Jodi Wu; and litigation partner Fergus Saurin.

May 24

1 min

Kirkland & Ellis advised Platinum Equity on the debt financing for its acquisition of a controlling stake in Mumbai-based generic pharmaceutical business Inventia Healthcare Limited’s core Oral Solid Dosage business (Inventia) from India Life Sciences Fund III (advised by InvAscent), NYLIM Jacob Ballas India Fund III, LLC, Mauritius and affiliates of the company’s founding Shah family. The Shah family is retaining a minority stake in Inventia. Inventia serves as a partner to over 100 customers supplying both semi-finished and finished OSD formulations for both regular and value-added generics. Inventia’s partners include global and leading local pharmaceuticals companies that sell in more than 40 countries across North America, South America, Europe, Southeast Asia, Middle East and Africa. The Kirkland team was led by debt finance partners Manas Chandrashekar and John Curran and associate Ryan Chan.

Sep 6

1 min

Kirkland & Ellis is advising EQT Partners Asia Pte. Limited on the debt financing and hedging for Houting UK Limited’s recommended cash acquisition of the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of Keywords Studios Plc, a London-listed global provider of fully integrated creative and technology-enabled solutions to the video games and entertainment industries. The acquisition values the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of Keywords Studios Plc at approximately £2.1 billion on a fully diluted basis, and implies an enterprise value of approximately £2.2 billion. The deal represents a first-of-a-kind transaction where an Asian bank financing is being arranged in support of a major PE sponsor led UK public-to-private acquisition. Read London Stock Exchange’s announcement The Kirkland team is led by debt finance partners Manas Chandrashekar and Brandon Ovington, with support from debt finance associate Daniel Sharif. The team also included debt finance partner Kirsteen Nicol and associate Adrian Kilercioglu; tax partners Mavnick Nerwal, Siv Devakumar and Art Ward and associate Alexander Kanishchev; and derivatives partner Drue Santora.

Jul 4

1 min

Kirkland & Ellis advised Advent International on the debt financing for its acquisition of the leading Indian listed pharma company, Suven Pharmaceuticals Limited (Suven). The acquisition, which involved an open-offer process, relied on an innovative financing structure which included an upsize of the original commitments following completion. Advent International will also explore a potential merger of Suven with its existing Indian portfolio company, Cohance Lifesciences, to establish a combined company that specialises in active pharmaceutical ingredients as well as contract development and manufacturing businesses. Read Advent International’s press release The Kirkland team was led by debt finance partner Manas Chandrashekar, with support from debt finance partner John Curran and associate Daniel Sharif.

Jan 16

1 min