Real estate

Acted for Carlyle on its acquisition of the office property Central Plaza (with a GFA of approximately 63,000 square meters) in Shanghai to V Capital, the private equity arm of Chinese real estate developer Vanke, through a cross-border structure involving both onshore and offshore arrangements as well as financing, with a total transaction price being approximately RMB 1.2 billion.

Acted for an European captive investment and asset manager for real estate on its (i) co-investment into a fund which has acquired 16 properties in Hong Kong; and (ii) its acquisition of 100% stake (acquired through 2 stages with 50% stake each) in a portfolio of 5 modern logistics assets in China which are owned by a managed fund.

Acted for a Japanese equity fund, on the partial exit of its investment in two Grade A office towers in Beijing through a REIT listing in Hong Kong. This was the first listing to be sponsored by a private equity firm rather than a developer, which required some innovative structuring. The Real Estate team led the transaction with the assistance from the US and Hong Kong capital markets, funds, employment and intellectual property teams.

Acted for a real estate focused subsidiary of a Singapore investment company on the acquisition by, a subsidiary, of a strategic stake in a mixed-use commercial, office and residential plaza complex in Ho Chi Minh City; the inter-company transfers and restructuring of offshore companies holding China assets, including industrial facilities in the Baoshan District of Shanghai.

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Real estate development and investment

Acted for a listed company in Hong Kong in its senior housing fund formation, in which an e-solution company acted as sponsor and anchor investor to the fund.

Acted for a Hong Kong government related authority on operational issues relating to its investment in an income fund focused on energy.

Acted for an investment management business of an insurance company on the acquisition and financing of the last remaining property (Waterfront Shanghai) from an Asian fund of an asset manager, and then the disposal.

Acted for a private equity fund management company on its first and second phase acquisitions of a tower in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

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Real estate finance

Acted for a premier global integrated real assets fund manager on the acquisition and refinancing of a retail mall in Dalian.

Acted for a Japanese equity fund, on a US$500+ million refinancing of a commercial building in Beijing.

Acted for an UAE energy company on the acquisition of a 6-star luxury hotel in the Maldives operated by a luxury hotel brand and related acquisition finance.

Advising an HK investment company on its 50/50 joint venture with a leading real estate investment manager and two funds it manages to acquire and redevelop on industrial building in Hong Kong, including related financing, with the intention of a strata sale exit.

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Joint ventures

Acted for one of Asia's leading hospitality groups, on a joint venture with a real estate and hotel developer based in Jiangsu province, to launch 10 hotels in China, including the hotel management, franchising and ancillary agreements, as well as providing technical consultancy services and training.

Acted for an asset management services company on the establishment of a wholly foreign-owned enterprise through an offshore joint venture with a leading retail real estate management company to manage properties in China.

Acted for a Swedish financial group on a US$50 million investment into a joint venture with a Singapore listed developer for a residential development project in Shanghai on behalf of an Asian property fund and an international real estate fund.

Acted for a retail and residential real estate investment management company on a 50/50 joint venture with a capital investment company to hold the project company and management company in relation to Guangzhou Popark.

Acted for a British multinational groceries and general merchandise retailer on the formation of joint ventures with other partners to own and manage several underlying mall properties across China.

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Landlord and tenant

Acted for luxury retailers on their exit strategy and store management of shops in Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia and Singapore.

Acted for an amusement park as landlord on their retail leases in Shanghai.

Acted for a US fashion brand on all stand alone and shop-in-shop leases in Hong Kong.

Acted for a British multinational groceries and general merchandise retailer and negotiating anchor and major tenant leases with big brand-name tenants for retail spaces across several shopping malls in China.

Acted for multinational companies on their Hong Kong, Singapore and China leases (both office and retail) and negotiating them on their behalf.

Acted for one of the world's largest investment houses in its office leases in IFC in Hong Kong.

Real estate investors and developers

Acted for a private equity fund on the acquisition of a mall from a trust for S$190.5 million; and the purchase of a serviced apartment building in Lan Kwai Fong in Hong Kong.

Acted for a private equity firm based in Singapore on the partial sale of a workers' dormitory fund to a large institutional investor, involving restructuring, refinancing, recapitalisation, payment of dividends, share redemption, share buyback, cancellation of share warrants, share purchase, share swap, subscription and a reverse merger.

Acted for an asset management company in its potential acquisition of The Argyle, a residential block near Ho Man Tin, Kowloon.

Acted for a PRC asset management company on its first resort acquisition and development in the Maldives, including entering into a BVI joint venture arrangement with a local Maldives partner, all the development contracts, and finally its exit.

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Hotels and leisure

Acted for a leading hotel capital group on the purchase of a hotel in Shanghai.

Acted for a subsidiary of a sovereign wealth fund, on its acquisition of a luxury resort in the Maldives.

Acted for a leading Hotel Group on their loyalty program.

Acted for a leading Hotel Group on the potential acquisition of another hotel brand and on China land use rights.

Acted for a leading Hotel Group on timeshare products.

Acted for a charitable organisation on the change of operators of a building of serviced apartments in Hong Kong.

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Family offices

Acted for a property broker and an investment company as buyer on the purchase of the 175 acre Golf complex in Macau for US$438 million. Advised on land use issues as well as the acquisition of an operational golf course and land through the purchase of a complex holding structure, supervising and working closely with Macau and BVI counsel. There were major sensitivities around this transaction and a very tight time frame.

Acted for a private equity fund management company focusing on global real estate markets its acquisition of a hotel in Hoi An and an office premises in Ho Chi Ming City;.

Acted for a private equity fund management company on its formation of a JV company for the acquisition of a hotel group in Hong Kong.

Acted for a private equity fund management company on its sale of a leading hotel chain in Osaka Japan to a real estate investment trust listed in Japan, for JPY16 billion.

Retail and luxury goods

Acted for a global fund manager on its international regulatory, fund management issues and compliance requirements in connection with the disposal of its Asia retail fund to a consortium of global institutional investors for US$550 million; and the sale of its shares in an Asia retail fund for around US$133 million.

Acted for a European luxury brand on its divestment of its flagship store premises in Central, Hong Kong.

Acted for a real estate development and management company on the acquisition and development of land in Wuqing for the construction and operation of luxury retail outlet stores; its purchase of a luxury outlet in Hong Kong; and all supply contracts, service contracts and leases required to open its first luxury outlet mall in Hong Kong.

Acted for a British multinational groceries and general merchandise retailer in relation to all real estate acquisition work in China, including structuring acquisitions, due diligence investigations, preparation and negotiation of acquisition agreements whether by way of onshore or offshore share purchase or direct asset acquisition, development agreements, project and management services agreements, leasing documentation and other ancillary documentation, and advising on structural, offshore and onshore company formations and other issues; and the distressed sale of a shopping mall in Qingdao to Macquarie.

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Asia

Acted for a private equity fund management company focusing on global real estate markets on a number of Asia transactions - its acquisition of a hotel in Hoi An and an office premises in Ho Chi Ming City; on its formation of a JV company for the acquisition of the a hotel group in Hong Kong; the sale of a leading hotel chain in Osaka Japan to a real estate investment trust listed in Japan, for JPY16 billion; on its first and second phase acquisitions of a tower in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; a joint venture platform for acquiring and operating self-storage facilities in Hong Kong.

Acted for a leading global hotel chain on their projects in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, the negotiation of their hotel management agreements in these and other countries such as Vietnam, and the development project of a flagship hotel in Hong Kong.

Acted for a USA Inc on its acquisition from the government and development of industrial and factory buildings on green land in Penang, Malaysia.

Acted for a property broker and an investment company as buyer on the purchase of the 175 acre Golf complex in Macau for US$438 million. Advised on land use issues as well as the acquisition of an operational golf course and land through the purchase of a complex holding structure, supervising and working closely with Macau and BVI counsel. There were major sensitivities around this transaction and a very tight time frame.

Acted for a leading retail group on its Southeast Asia projects, including advising on and negotiating purchasing agreements, central commercial terms contract, supply contracts, build-to-suit facilities.

North America

Acted for a leading PRC real estate company on its partnership arrangement with another PRC insurance company to jointly develop a landmark investment in Boston, USA, a commercial real estate project valued at US$500 million.

Acted for a leading PRC real estate company on its joint venture with a HK listed real estate group on a mixed-use development project in Boston.

Acted for a Canadian pension fund on the joint establishment of a US$500 million Korean logistics development platform with a Chinese warehousing developer and an asset manager with an option to increase the size of the total equity commitment in the joint venture to US$ 1 billion, over time, as well as representing the client on ongoing related matters.

UK

Acted for a leading HK real estate investment management company on its purchase of 75% of a portfolio of three London buildings used as serviced offices.

Acted for a British airlines company on its Hong Kong, Singapore and China leases (both office and retail) and negotiating them on its behalf.

Acted for a newly established fund focusing on China outlet malls, managed by an institutional asset manager, on the fund's acquisition of a pipeline of designer outlet malls in China, closing on two malls in Wuqing and Shanghai, involving UK, Luxemburg, Singapore, Hong Kong and PRC jurisdictions.

Europe

Acted for Italian and French fashion brands on their Hong Kong, Singapore and China leases (both office and retail) and negotiating them on their behalf.

Acted for an Italian luxury outlet developer/operator on the formation of a joint venture with a local partner for the acquisition and development of land in Beijing for the construction and operation of luxury retail outlet malls.

Acted for an Italian luxury outlet developer/operator on its share transfer to, and formation of, an outlet fund jointly established by a leading property fund, a private equity fund management company focusing on global real estate markets and the client, then involving one existing and two potential outlet malls in China, and now involving six outlet malls.

China

Acted for an insurance company on its formation of a logistics fund and its intended purchase of a logistics portfolio in China and joint venture with Chinese founders.

Acted for a property investment and development company on a corporate split of a real estate WFOE in Guangzhou, distribution to shareholders, and an arbitration matter in Qiji.

Acted for a Swedish financial group on the acquisition of a logistics portfolio in Shanghai.

Acted for a global fund manager on the sale of its interest in three Chinese properties in readiness to wind down two funds.

Acted for a British multinational groceries and general merchandise retailer in relation to the distressed sale of a shopping mall in Qingdao to Macquarie.