Herbert Smith has advised The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, UBS AG Hong Kong Branch, Citigroup Global Markets Asia Limited, BNP Paribas Capital (Asia Pacific) Limited, China International Capital Corporation Hong Kong Securities Limited, Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C., and Morgan Stanley Asia Limited, as joint bookrunners on the HK$8.2 billion (US$1.1 billion) IPO of Sun Art Retail Group Limited (“Sun Art”) on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and Rule 144A/Regulation S global offering.

Mayer Brown JSM is pleased to announce that it advised Phoenix Real Estate Investment Funds in acquiring more than 90% of the undivided shares in Arts Mansion, No.31 Conduit Road, Hong Kong.

Mayer Brown JSM is pleased to announce that it advised Swire Properties Limited on the sale of Hong Kong’s Festival Walk to a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mapletree Investments Ptd Ltd (“Mapletree”) for a cash consideration of HK$18.8 billion. Completion took place on 18 August 2011.

Leading international law firm Clifford Chance has advised funds advised by leading private equity firm CVC Asia Pacific Limited (CVC) on the disposal of a 29.9 per cent stake in Hung Hing Printing Group Limited (Hung Hing), a printing and packaging business listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, to Rengo Co, Ltd. (Rengo). Following the sale, CVC will retain a 7.6 per cent stake in Hung Hing.

Morrison & Foerster advised China International Capital Corp (CICC) and CITIC Securities as joint H-share underwriters in the A+H share rights issue of China CITIC Bank Corporation Limited. Notwithstanding difficult market conditions, China CITIC Bank Corporation Limited raised approximately US$4 billion from the A+H share rights issue. China CITIC Bank Corporation Limited is China’s seventh-largest lender in terms of total assets, and its largest shareholder is China’s largest financial conglomerate, CITIC Group.

International law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is advising a consortium led by Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings Limited, the Hong Kong listed infrastructure company, on its recommended cash acquisition of Northumbrian Water Group plc, the UK listed water company. The acquisition values Northumbrian Water’s issued share capital at approximately £2.4bn.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (Orrick) has advised Intime Department Store (Group) Company Limited (Intime) in relation to an offering of Renminbi (RMB) 1 billion 4.65% guaranteed bonds due 2014 which are listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange with a Regulation S placement to global investors.

Baker & McKenzie recently acted for the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (“CPPIB”) on its acquisition of 50% of the shares in Hong Kong Interlink from Goodman Group, one of the world’s largest listed fund managers specializing in industrial and business properties with whom CPPIB has a long-standing relationship. The gross purchase price of CPPIB’s interest is approximately CAD285 million (HKD2.26 billion). CPPIB is making an equity commitment of approximately CAD205 million and assuming debt of approximately CAD80 million to purchase the 50% interest.  The other 50% of Hong Kong Interlink will be owned by the Goodman Hong Kong Logistics Fund.

Joy Global Inc. (NASDAQ: JOYG), a worldwide leader in high-productivity mining solutions, reported yesterday that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire approximately 41 percent of the outstanding common stock of International Mining Machinery Holdings Ltd. (IMM), a Hong Kong listed designer and manufacturer of underground coal mining equipment in China.

Linklaters today announces that Tien-yo Chao has been elected a partner in its China practice with effect from August 2011. Tien joins from Morrison & Foerster in Hong Kong where he has been a partner since 2003 after previously heading his own firm and serving as a partner at Slaughter and May.