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Image: Jeff Lee

Jeff Lee

Of Counsel, Corporate Department

Overview

Jeff Lee is of counsel in the corporate practice of Paul Hastings and is based in the Hong Kong office. He has extensive experience advising corporate clients, private equity and investment funds on a wide range of cross-border corporate and commercial transactions. Jeff’s practice focuses on public and private company acquisitions, minority and strategic investments, joint ventures and corporate restructurings. He also frequently advises corporate clients and Chinese local government financing vehicles (LGFVs) on investment grade, credit enhanced and high yield debt issues, as well as other banking and financing transactions and real estate work.

Jeff is admitted to practice in Hong Kong and Victoria (Australia). He is also a Notary Public and has an active notarial practice of attesting and certifying documents and performing notarial acts for use outside Hong Kong. He is fluent in English, Cantonese and Mandarin.

Prior to joining Paul Hastings, Jeff practiced with another international law firm. He has acted for leading banks and financial institutions on a variety of bilateral and syndicated, secured and unsecured lending transactions involving private companies, public listed companies and real estate investment trusts (REITs). He has also represented and advised local and international clients on acquisition, disposal, financing and leasing of commercial and residential real estate properties in Hong Kong.

Education

  • Postgraduate Certificate in Laws (PCLL), University of Hong Kong (2010)
  • Bachelor of Laws (LLB), King’s College London (2009)

Representations

M&A and Investments

  • Value Partners Group, a Hong Kong-based asset management firm, in its acquisition of a 50% stake in the Cromwell Italy Urban Logistics Fund from Australia-based Cromwell Property Group and the creation of a joint venture with Cromwell. This acquisition marks Value Partners Group’s first investment in Europe.
  • Sino-Ocean Group, one of the largest real estate companies in China, in the sale of its interest in Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li Chengdu to Swire Properties for a total consideration of US$800 million.
  • CapitaLand in the formation of a 50:50 joint venture with a third party to acquire approximately 70% of Pufa Tower in Shanghai, China for RMB2,752 million.
  • CDH Genetech Limited, part of the CDH Investments group, in its US$1.4 billion agreement to acquire all the issued shares of Sirtex Medical Limited, an Australian medical device company, through a Scheme of Arrangement.
  • Sino-Ocean Group, one of the largest real estate companies in China, in its US$95 million acquisition of boutique hotel and members’ club Soho House in Chicago’s booming Fulton Market neighborhood. Hong Kong private equity firm Gaw Capital Partners and Huarong International Financial Holdings also teamed up for the six-storey, 40-room hotel.
  • ALPHA Asia Macro Trends Fund II, a private fund managed by Alpha Investment Partners Limited, in the sale of Shanghai International Plaza, an office-and-retail property, to LaSalle Investment Management. Alpha Investment Partners, a Singapore based a premier asset manager in Asia, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Keppel Capital Holdings Pte. Ltd.
  • COSCO SHIPPING Holdings Co., Ltd. (COSCO SHIPPING Holdings), the largest integrated shipping company in China, in a voluntary general cash offer for all of the issued shares of Orient Overseas (International) Limited, made by the wholly-owned subsidiaries of COSCO SHIPPING Holdings and Shanghai International Port (Group) Co., Ltd. for a total value of up to US$6.3 billion pursuant to the Hong Kong Takeovers Code. The combination will create one of the largest global container liners in the world.
  • CapitaLand in its US$226 million sale of Innov Tower in Shanghai, China, to AEW Value Investors Asia II, a value-added pan-Asia fund of AEW Capital Management. Innov Tower is a 40,445 square meters en-bloc office building with 23 stories.
  • AEW Capital Management on behalf of its AEW Value Investors Asia II fund in its sale of 686 Jiujiang Road to Ascendas-Singbridge, a Singapore-headquartered developer and fund manager jointly owned by Temasek Holdings and JTC Corporation. 686 Jiujiang Road is a 14-storey Grade B office tower near People’s Square in Shanghai, China.
  • Alpha Asia Macro Trends Fund III, a private fund managed by Alpha Investment Partners, in its formation of a joint venture with Keppel Land China Limited for the US$525 million acquisition of SOHO Hongkou, a 29-storey office tower with retail space located in Shanghai’s North Sichuan Road business hub. Alpha Investment Partners is a Singapore-based premier asset manager and a subsidiary of Keppel Capital.
  • Alpha Investment Partners in its US$517 million divestment of 80% stake in Sparkle Bright Holdings Limited which owns Life Hub @ Jinqiao, a mixed-use development in Shanghai to Star Champ Development, a subsidiary of Chongbang Group.
  • Sino-Ocean Land, one of the largest real estate companies in China, in its partnership with Delos, a U.S. wellness real estate and technology firm pioneering WELL building standard, to advance built environment wellness in China.
  • CDH Investments in its US$900 million sale of shares in WH Group.
  • China Everbright Limited in its US$120 million disposal of 49% of the share capital of Everbright Securities (International) Limited to Everbright Securities Financial Holdings Limited.
  • Fujian Grand Chip Investment Fund LP (FGC), through its indirect German subsidiary Grand Chip Invesmtnet GmbH (GCI), in its proposed voluntary public takeover offer for the Frankfurt listed chip maker AIXTRON SE. The takeover offer will be for all of AIXTRON's outstanding shares, including shares represented by American depository shares, and values the company at approximately €670 million.
  • Profit Plus Global Limited, a joint venture formed between China Everbright Limited and Everbright Real Estate Limited, in its US$1.3 billion acquisition of all the shares of SEA (BVI) Limited, which indirectly owns Dah Sing Financial Center, a Grade A commercial building in Hong Kong.
  • Evergrande Real Estate Group Limited in its US$1.6 billion acquisition of Pioneer Time Investment Limited, a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands with limited liability, from Chinese Estates Holdings Limited. The principal asset of the target is a Grade A office and commercial building in Hong Kong, in the core area between Admiralty and Wan Chai.
  • China COSCO Holdings Company Limited and its associated companies in the landmark restructuring, comprising a series of asset acquisitions and disposals among its patent companies and its subsidiaries. The restructuring represents a substantial reconfiguration of two of China’s leading state-owned enterprises which, on a combined basis, will become the world’s fourth largest container-shipping company.
  • China Orient Summit Capital - an offshore investment management platform established by China Orient Asset Management and China Summit Capital - and KKR, a leading global investment firm, in their co-investment in credit and distressed opportunities in the Chinese market. Paul Hastings advised on setting up the joint venture and the investment platform, and on the subsequent investments.

Debt Capital Markets

  • Wuxi Nengda Thermoelectricity Co., Ltd., a state-owned enterprise in Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, PRC, as the guarantor in the issuance of RMB750 million 4.2% credit enhanced guaranteed bonds due 2025 by Hongkong Yunlin International Co., Limited.
  • MPACT Treasury Company Pte. Ltd., Mapletree North Asia Commercial Trust Treasury Company (S) Pte. Ltd. andMapletree North Asia Commercial Treasury Company (HKSAR) Limited as issuers and DBS Trustee Limited (in its capacity as trustee of Mapletree Pan Asia Commercial Trust) as guarantor, on the establishment of a S$5 billion guaranteed Euro Medium Term Securities Programme by the issuers.
  • Pingxiang City Construction Investment Group Co., Ltd., a state owned enterprise in Pingxiang City, Jiangxi Province, on its US$244 million 4.5% credit enhanced bonds due 2025.
  • Jiangru Tenghai Investment Holding Group Co., Ltd., a state owned enterprise in Nantong City, on its US$100 million 3.4% credit enhanced bonds due 2023.
  • Rudong County Mintai Urban and Rural Construction Engineering Co., Ltd., a state-owned enterprise in Rudong County, Nantong City, on its US$100 million 2.9% credit enhanced bonds due 2025.
  • Zhongtai International, Shenwan Hongyuan, Zheshang Bank, CEB International and Central Wealth Securities Investment as placing agents in the €40 million 1.9% guaranteed credit enhanced bonds due 2023 by Jinan Jibei New Town Supply Chain Service Co. Ltd, a Chinese state-owned supply chain enterprise in Shangdong。
  • Wuxi Xixi Industrial Development Group Co., Ltd., a state-owned infrastructure and resettlement housing construction enterprise in Binhu District, Wuxi City, on its issuance of US$200 million 2.0% credit enhanced bonds due 2025.
  • Jiangsu Ruihai Investment Holding Group Co., Ltd., a state-owned investment, financing and operating platform for urban infrastructure construction, operation and housing in Haian City, Jiangsu Province, on its issuance of US$100 million 1.9% credit enhanced bonds due 2023.
  • Jiangsu Dieshiqiao Home Textile Industry Group Co., Ltd., a state-owned property leasing, infrastructure and resettlement housing construction enterprise in Haimen District, Jiangsu Province, in its issuance of:
    • US$100 million 2.2% credit enhanced bonds due 2024;
    • US$100 million 2.04% credit enhanced bonds due 2024; and
    • US$35 million 3.0% credit enhanced bonds due 2025.
  • Yan’an New Area Investment Development (Group) Co., Ltd., a state-owned financial services provider for municipal public work construction, land development, infrastructure and affordable housing construction in Yan’an New Area, on its issuance of US$100 million 5.0% bonds due 2022.
  • ZJKF International (BVI) Limited, an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of Zhangjiakou Financial Holding Group Company Limited, a state-controlled financial holding company in Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province, on its US$92.8 million 4.30% credit enhanced guaranteed bonds due 2024.
  • Rudong County Tongtai Investment Group Co., Ltd., a state-owned investment, financing and operating platform for urban infrastructure construction, operation and management of specialized parks in Rudong County, Nantong City, on its issuance of US$50 million 5.5% bonds due 2022.
  • Rudong County Jinxin Transportation Engineering Construction Investment Co., Ltd., a state-owned enterprise which focuses on investment in, financing and construction of urban infrastructure projects and land transfer subsequent to consolidation and development in Rudong County, Nantong City, on its issuance of:
    • US$150 million 2.8% credit enhanced bonds due 2024;
    • US$50 million 2.4% credit enhanced bonds due 2024;
    • US$120 million 2.3% credit enhanced bonds due 2024; and
    • US$80 million 2.68% credit enhanced bonds due 2024.
  • China Everbright Limited, one of China’s leading cross-border asset management and investment companies, with special focuses on fund management and principal investment, on its issuance of US$300 million senior perpetual capital securities.
  • Contemporary Ruiding Development Limited, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (“CATL”), a leading electric vehicles battery brand based in China, in its issuance of: 
    • US$1.5 billion debut offshore bond. The offering involved US$1 billion of 1.875% guaranteed bonds due 2025 and US$500 million of 2.625% guaranteed bonds due 2030 and guaranteed by CATL. HSBC, Merrill Lynch, ICBC International and CMB International acted as the joint global coordinators, joint bookrunners and joint lead managers. Barclays, Bank of China, CCB International, CITIC Bank International, China Everbright Bank, China Minsheng Bank, China PA Securities (Hong Kong) Company Limited, Citigroup, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank and Standard Chartered Bank acted as the joint bookrunners and joint lead managers; and
    • US$500 million 1.5% guaranteed bonds due 2026 guaranteed by CATL. HSBC, Merrill Lynch and ICBC International acted as the joint global coordinators, joint bookrunners and joint lead managers. Barclays, BNP Paribas, China CITIC Bank International, China Minsheng Bank Hong Kong Branch, Citigroup and CMB International acted as the joint bookrunners and joint lead managers.
  • Techtronic Industries, a Hong Kong-based investment holding company principally engaged in power equipment products businesses, on the update of its USD$500 million Medium Term Note Programme. Citigroup was the arranger and dealer.
  • Haitong International Securities, a subsidiary of Haitong Securities, on the update of its US$5 billion Medium Term Note Programme. Haitong International Securities and HSBC were the arrangers.
  • UBS, Barclays Bank, ICBC International, Guotai Junan International, Bank of Communications, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, China Construction Bank, J.P. Morgan, MUFG, CLSA and United Overseas Bank as joint lead managers and joint bookrunners on the issuance by Shanghai Electric Group Global Investment of its US$300 million guaranteed bonds. The bonds were guaranteed by Shanghai Electric (Group) and listed on the Singapore Exchange.
  • UBS, Barclays Bank,  ICBC International, Guotai Junan International, Bank of Communications, OCBC, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, China Construction Bank, J.P. Morgan and MUFG as the underwriters on the US$500 million guaranteed bonds by Shanghai Electric Group Global Investment. The bonds were guaranteed by Shanghai Electric (Group), one of the largest equipment manufacturing conglomerates and one of the three major power equipment suppliers in the PRC.
  • Mei Nian Investment and Meinian Onehealth as the issuer and parent guarantor respectively in Mei Nian Investment’s issuance of US$200 million guaranteed senior notes due 2021. Meinian Onehealth is one of the largest private health checkup services providers in China.
  • Sino-Ocean Land, one of the largest real estate companies in China, as the guarantor in relation to the issue by its wholly-owned subsidiary, Sino-Ocean Land Treasure IV Limited, of: 
    • US$320 million guaranteed green notes due 2025, HSBC, UBS, China International Capital Corporation, China CITIC Bank International, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, The Bank of East Asia, Limited, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, China Everbright Bank Hong Kong Branch, CMB Wing Lung Bank, Haitong International, ABCI Capital and Huarong International Securities Limited were the joint lead managers;
    • US$500 million guaranteed notes due 2022. HSBC, Goldman Sachs, UBS, China CITIC Bank International, China International Capital Corporation, CMB International, DBS Bank Ltd., Morgan Stanley, Silk Road International, The Bank of East Asia, Limited, Haitong International and Guotai Junan International were the joint lead managers;
    • US$600 million guaranteed notes due 2029. HSBC, Goldman Sachs, China CITIC Bank International, UBS, China International Capital Corporation, BOC International, Barclays, DBS Bank and Haitong International were the joint lead managers;
    • US$700 million floating rate guaranteed notes due 2021. HSBC, Goldman Sachs, UBS, CITIC Bank International, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank and Industrial Bank were the joint lead managers; and
    • US$600 million of perpetual securities. Bank of China, CITIC Bank International, China Merchants Securities, DBS, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, Industrial and UBS were the joint lead managers.
  • Yuzhou Group (formerly known as Yuzhou Properties), a leading property developer in China, on a series of notes issuance, including its issuance of:
    • US$300 million green senior notes, due 2026. Goldman Sachs, BOC International, Credit Suisse, J.P. Morgan, UBS, Deutsche Bank, Haitong International, Guotai Junan International, Morgan Stanley, HSBC, China Industrial Securities International and Yuzhou Financial acted as the joint global coordinators, joint bookrunners and joint lead managers;
    • US$500 million senior notes due 2022. BOC International, Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs., Haitong International, CICC and Yuzhou Financial acted as the joint global coordinators, joint bookrunners and joint lead managers;
    • US$500 million senior notes due 2023. Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley, BOC International, Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs and Yuzhou Financial were the joint global coordinators, joint bookrunners and joint lead manager;
    • US$400 million senior notes due 2023. BOC International, HSBC, J.P. Morgan and Yuzhou Financial were the joint global coordinators and BOC International, HSBC, J.P. Morgan, Barclays, Guotai Junan International, Haitong International, and Yuzhou Financial were the joint bookrunners and joint lead managers;
    • US$500 million senior notes due 2024. BOC International, CMB International, Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs, Haitong International, J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley, CICC HK Securities, HSBC and Yuzhou Financial were the joint global coordinators, joint bookrunners and joint lead managers;
    • US$425 million guaranteed senior notes due 2021. Credit Suisse, BOC International and Yuzhou Financial were the joint lead managers and joint bookrunners;
    • US$200 million senior notes due 2021. BOC International, Haitong International, Credit Suisse, HSBC, Guotai Junan International, Deutsche Bank, Industrial Bank, Orient Securities and Yuzhou Financial were the joint global coordinators, joint lead managers and joint bookrunners;
    • US$375 million senior notes due 2021. BOC International, Credit Suisse, Huatai Financial, Haitong International and Yuzhou Financial were the joint lead managers;
    • US$300 million perpetual securities. BOC International, Citi, Credit Suisse, HSBC, Huatai Financial, Industrial Bank, Haitong International and Yuzhou Financial were the joint lead managers;
    • US$350 million senior notes due 2022. BOC International, Haitong International Securities, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Yuzhou Financial, AMTD, China Galaxy International, Citi, HSBC and Zhongtai International were the joint lead managers; and
    • US$250 million senior notes due 2023. BOC International, Credit Suisse, Haitong International Securities, HSBC, Deutsche Bank, Huatai Financial Holdings (Hong Kong) and Yuzhou Financial were the joint lead managers.
  • Redsun Properties Group, a leading property developer in China, on a series of notes issuance, including its issuance of:
    • US$155 million senior notes due 2023 (to be consolidated and form a single class with the US$300 million senior notes due 2023);
    • US$300 million senior notes due 2023. CICC, UBS, Deutsche Bank, and Credit Suisse acted as the joint lead managers and joint bookrunners;
    • US$150 million senior notes due 2022. CICC, UBS, Barclays and Deutsche Bank were the joint lead managers and joint bookrunners; and
    • US$275 million senior notes due 2022. CICC, Deutsche Bank, Guotai Junan and UBS were the joint lead managers and joint bookrunners.
  • The joint lead managers on the issuance of US$250 million senior notes due 2024 by Seazen Group Limited (formerly known as Future Land Development Holdings), a Hong Kong-listed leading PRC property developer.
  • The joint lead managers on the issuances of the following notes by New Metro Global Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Seazen Holdings (formerly known as Future Land Holdings), a property developer with its A shares listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange:
    • US$350 million senior notes due 2023;
    • US$350 million senior notes due 2021;
    • US$300 million senior notes due 2022;
    • US$300 million senior notes due 2020;
    • US$300 million senior notes due 2019;
    • US$300 million senior notes due 2021;
    • US$200 million senior notes due 2021;
    • US$300 million senior notes due 2021;
    • US$200 million  senior notes due 2021; and
    • US$300 million senior notes due 2020.
  • Mapletree Treasury Services Limited, Mapletree Treasury Services (HKSAR) Limited and Mapletree Treasury Services (US) Pte. Ltd. as issuers and Mapletree Investments Pte Ltd. as guarantor, on the update of a US$5 billion guaranteed Euro Medium Term Note Programme by the issuers. Citigroup, DBS, HSBC, CIMB Bank Berhad, Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited, Credit Agricole, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank AG, ING Bank, Standard Chartered Bank and United Overseas Bank Limited were the arrangers and dealers of the EMTN Programme.
  • Mingfa Group,a leading PRC investment company focusing on property development listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, on its issuance of US$200 million of bonds due 2020. Head & Shoulders Securities Limited acted as the placing agent.
  • Zhongyuan Bank on its issuance of US$1.395 billion non-cumulative perpetual offshore preference shares. CMB International, AMTD and Yuanyin Securities were the joint global coordinators, joint bookrunners and joint lead managers.
  • New Lion Bridge Co., Ltd., in its issuance of US$160 million senior guaranteed notes due 2020.Guotai Junan International, UBC, ICBC International and Zhongtai International were the joint lead managers.
  • Credit Suisse,Bank of China, Haitong International Securities, Guotai Junan Securities, Future Land Resources Securities and Central Wealth Securities Investment: We represented the initial purchasers in the issuance of US$200 million senior notes due 2022 by Future Land Holdings Co., Ltd (“Future Land Holdings”), a property developer with its A shares listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Future Land Holdings is a subsidiary of Future Land Development Holdings Limited, a Hong Kong-listed Chinese property developer.
  • Yestar Healthcare Holdings Company (formerly known as Yestar International Holdings Company), one of the leading medical consumables and equipment companies in China, in its issuance of US$200 million senior notes due 2021. Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank and Haitong International Securities were the joint lead managers.
  • Shaoxing City Investment (HK) Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Shaoxing City Investment Group Limited (“SCIG”), in the issuance of US$300 million bonds due 2019. SCIG is the main urban infrastructure investment platform of the Shaoxing Municipal Government. This is one of the first offshore bond issue by a municipal government issuer in the PRC.

Banking and Finance

  • WH Group on a US$ 2 billion term loan facility to finance its conditional voluntary cash offer to buy-back for cancellation.
  • A real estate fund on a RMB750 million term loan facility granted by a leading financial institution in Hong Kong to finance the acquisition of certain floors in a commercial building in Beijing.
  • Sino-Ocean Land Holdings, one of the largest real estate companies in China, on a series of matters, including:
    • a three-year multi-currency term loan facility in the principal amount of approximately US$800 million-equivalent, with US dollar and HK dollar tranches. The facility will be provided by a syndicate of more than 10 banks with Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, The Bank of East Asia, China Construction Bank, HSBC, DBS Bank, BNP Paribas, Hang Seng Bank, and Wing Lung Bank as mandated lead arrangers;
    • its US$215 million term loan facility to finance its real estate development projects in the PRC;
    • the US$700 million loan facility from 19 banks with Bank of China and China Construction Bank as mandated coordinating arrangers; and
    • its US$600 million multi-currency syndicated loan facility (with US dollar, HK dollar, and RMB tranches) provided by a syndicate of 10 banks with Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, HSBC, and Hang Seng Bank as mandated lead arrangers and bookrunners. The loan has a tenor of three years and will be used to refinance an existing term loan facility and to finance its general working requirements, including real estate development projects in China.
  • Yuzhou Group (formerly known as Yuzhou Properties), one of the leading property developers in China, on its US$300 million incremental term loan facilities from a group of leading financial institutions.
  • Redsun Properties, one of the leading property developers in China, on its US$70 million term loan facility from a group of leading financial institutions.
  • CDH Investments (together with China Grand Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Holdings Limited) on the US$850 million acquisition financing for the acquisition of all the issued shares of Sirtex Medical Limited, an Australian medical device company.
  • A private equity fund managed by a Singapore based fund manager on a US$164 million offshore term loan facility and a RMB850 million onshore term loan facility granted by a leading financial institution in Hong Kong to finance the acquisition of a commercial property in Shanghai.
  • China Everbright Limited on its provision of a US$350 million loan facility to Beyond Border Investments for the purpose of financing the acquisition of, and capital contribution to, certain limited partnerships and limited liability companies.
  • Mingfa Group, a leading PRC investment company focused on property development, on its US$100 million term loan facility from China Huarong International Holdings Limited.

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Involvement

  • Member of the Law Society of Hong Kong
  • Member of Hong Kong Society of Notaries

Practice Areas

Mergers and Acquisitions

Corporate

Financial Services

Asia

Global Finance

Financial Restructuring

Mergers and Acquisitions

Private Equity

Real Estate

Securities and Capital Markets


Languages

Chinese (Cantonese)

Chinese (Mandarin)

English


Admissions

Victoria

Hong Kong Solicitor


Education

University of Hong Kong, P.C.LL. 2010

King's College London, The Dickson Poon School of Law, LL.B. 2009


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