The broad bench at Deacons advises a stellar client list of government bodies, state-owned companies, and partnerships within the property development and manufacturing sectors. Known for advising on the full gamut of transactional issues, the team regularly handles mandates involving exits and private equity investments. Ronny Chow and Machiuanna Chu jointly lead the practice. Chow has deep knowledge spanning both public and private M&A, in addition to corporate finance and securities issues, while Chu focuses on investment projects, joint ventures, and venture capital investments. Alexander Que primarily advises banks and major corporations, leveraging his regulatory expertise to advise on the Hong Kong Listing Rules and the Takeovers Code, and disclosure of interest requirements under the Securities and Futures Ordinance (SFO).
Key clients
- Chinachem Group
- China Shuifa Singyes Energy Holdings Limited
- Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Limited
- ICBC International Capital Limited
- Lai Sun group
- Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
- Viva Goods Holdings Limited
- Xingda International Holdings Limited
- Yip’s Chemical Holdings Limited
Work highlights
- Advising Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Limited on its pre-conditional voluntary general cash offers (through its SPV) to acquire all the issued shares of NWS Holdings Limited, and to cancel all the outstanding share options of NWS; and the related leveraged financing transactions for the offers. The maximum amount of cash required to implement the offers would be approximately HK$35.5 m.
- Advised SMBC AC on the Hong Kong law aspects of its acquisition of the entire equity interest in Goshawk Management Limited which holds substantially all of the aircraft leasing businesses of Goshawk Aviation Limited (a 50:50 joint venture of NWS Holdings Limited and Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Limited) for a total consideration of US$1.6 bn based on an enterprise value of approximately US$6.7 bn.
- Advised eSun, LSD and LSG on the merger of Media Asia Group Holdings Limited by eSun’s wholly-owned subsidiary through privatisation of Media Asia by way of a scheme of arrangement followed by the withdrawal of listing of Media Asia shares from GEM of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The transaction involved the issue of new eSun shares as the consideration for cancellation of Media Asia shares with an option for the scheme shareholders to receive part of the consideration in cash. The maximum aggregate value of the cancellation consideration amounted to approximately HK$347 m.
Lawyers
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Ronny Chow, Machiuanna Chu