Well-placed to leverage the firm's wider APAC network, the Hong Kong finance team at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP frequently advises Chinese and international banks, as well as corporations. The team’s advisory scope encompasses a diverse range of financing mandates, frequently involving support for M&A transactions, general working capital, and refinancing purposes. Leading the team, Alexander Aitken, in addition to his transactional engagements encompassing PRC and India-linked matters, demonstrates a firm grasp of regulatory issues, particularly those pertaining to the discontinuation of LIBOR. The practice also maintains a tight-knit partnership with the firm’s projects and infrastructure team, which is notably favoured by China-based infrastructure, construction, and engineering players. This collaboration revolves around complex project financing and structuring matters, frequently operating in tandem with Aitken’s finance team.
Key clients
- Agricultural Bank of China
- ANZ
Work highlights
- Advised NH-Amundi, a shareholder, in respect of a senior mezzanine loan required to prevent the underlying project company becoming insolvent with two tranches funded indirectly by NH-Amundi and another tranche funded indirectly by Macquarie Bank.
- Acted for Meritz as an international counsel for its investment into Lanvin Group, a global luxury fashion group, in a private placement ahead of Lanvin's de-SPAC listing on NYSE.