Herbert Smith has advised MGM China Holdings Limited (“MGM China Holdings”) on its HK$11.7 billion (US$1.5 billion) IPO on the Main Board of Hong Kong Stock Exchange and Rule 144A/Regulation S global offering.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP announced today that it will launch a Hong Kong law practice later this year and that Celia Lam and Christopher Wong will join the Firm as partners in Hong Kong once the Firm has completed the necessary regulatory measures in connection with the launch of the Hong Kong practice.  Ms. Lam will join Simpson Thacher from the Hong Kong office of Linklaters, where she has served as a partner.  Mr. Wong will join from the Hong Kong office of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, where he has served as a partner.

Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, a leading global law firm, announced today that it has advised JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“JPMorgan”) as the depositary bank in the listing of Hong Kong Depositary Receipts (“HDRs”) for SBI Holdings, Inc. (“SBI”), a Japanese internet-based financial group, on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. SBI is the only Japanese company to be listed in Hong Kong and the second company after Brazil’s Vale S.A. (“Vale”) to issue HDRs. Paul Hastings advised JPMorgan as the sponsor and depositary in Vale’s listing of HDRs by way of introduction. Unlike Vale, SBI raised funds from its listing.

Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, a leading global law firm, announced today that it has advised ING Bank, Taipei Fubon Commercial Bank and Chinatrust Commercial Bank in connection with the acquisition by IK Investment Partners of the Offshore Incorporations group of companies, which provides company formation and associated services in Asia, from the Carlyle Group. IK Investment intends to create a world leading global trust and corporate services provider by merging the corporate service part of the Group, Acceptor and Credence Trust, with IK’s portfolio company Vistra Group, a provider of fund administration, trust and corporate services in Europe. The combined group will have 500 employees and is expected to benefit from Asian GDP growth, foreign direct investment into and out of the flourishing continent and an increase in M&A activity.

Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, a leading global law firm, announced today that it has advised Far East Horizon Ltd., (“Far East Horizon”), a leading financial services company focusing on financial leasing and a subsidiary of Sinochem Group, one of the largest Chinese state-owned enterprises, in its US$658 million Hong Kong IPO and global offering. The listing comprised a Hong Kong public offering and a Reg S international offering.

Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, a leading global law firm, announced today that it has advised Tan-Eu Capital (“Tan-Eu Capital”), a company which manages funds and joint ventures in partnership with the most prestigious and reputable local partners in Asia, as co-sponsor in the closing of Sotan China Real Estate I, LP (the “Partnership”), a real estate private equity vehicle. Tan-Eu Capital co-sponsored the Partnership with Shui On Construction and Materials (“SOCAM”). 

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP has advised China Hongqiao Group Limited (China Hongqiao) on its HK$6.37 billion (US$822 million) initial public offering on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, with a Rule 144A/Regulation S placement to global investors. The sole global coordinator and sole sponsor for the global offering is J.P. Morgan Securities (Asia Pacific) Limited. The joint bookrunners and lead managers are J.P.Morgan Securities Ltd., BOCOM International Securities Limited, ICBC International Capital Limited, Mizuho Securities Asia Limited, BNP Paribas Capital (Asia Pacific) Limited and Barclays Capital Asia Limited.

Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, a leading global law firm, announced today that it has advised Macquarie Capital Securities Limited (“Macquarie”), The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (“HSBC”) and Nomura International (“Nomura”) as the underwriters in Top Spring International Holdings Limited’s (“Top Spring”), a Shenzhen-based Chinese property developer, US$200 million Hong Kong Initial Public Offering (IPO). The listing comprised a Hong Kong public offering and a Reg S/Rule 144A international offering.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (Orrick) has advised China Kingstone Mining Holdings Limited on (Kingstone), China’s largest marble mining operator, on its HK$1.3 billion (US$167 million) initial public offering on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, with a rule 144A/Regulation S placement to global investors.

Locke Lord has raised its global profile with the opening of a new office in Hong Kong led by internationally recognized REIT and Capital Markets attorney Brad Markoff. Hong Kong represents the 13th office for Locke Lord and the second international office after London. As Hong Kong Office Managing Partner and head of its Asia practice, Markoff will focus on developing new business opportunities not only in Hong Kong but throughout Asia, including China, Korea, Singapore, the Philippines and India.