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Derek Poon

Derek Poon

Partner
Baker McKenzie

Biography

Derek Poon is a partner in Baker McKenzie's Hong Kong office and a member of the Firm's Private Equity and Mergers & Acquisitions practice groups. He is also the chair of Baker McKenzie's Asia Pacific Private Equity Group and a member of the Global Private Equity Steering Committee. Derek has extensive experience representing private equity firms, investment banks and major corporations on a wide variety of corporate matters, including public and private mergers and acquisitions, private equity, joint ventures, real estate private equity and distressed M&A transactions. Earlier in his career, Derek spent time on client secondment with Bain Capital with the Asia Private Equity team.

Practice Focus

Qualified in the US, Hong Kong, UK and Australia, Derek has worked on several significant transactions in Hong Kong, Mainland China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, India, Australia, ASEAN countries as well as on outbound deals into Europe and North America.

Representative Legal Matters

  • Advised Gaw Capital Partners and a consortium of institutional investors, including Schroder Pamfleet, on the HKD 9.845 billion acquisition of CityPlaza One office building from Swire Pacific and Swire Properties. This transaction was named “M&A Deal of the Year” in the ALB Hong Kong Law Awards 2021.

  • Advising CDPQ as lead investor on the USD 147 million growth round in Druva, a global leader in cloud data protection.

  • Advised Sino Biopharmaceutical Limited (HKSE: 1177) on the USD 110 million acquisition of Softhale NV, a privately owned Belgian company focused on the development of products for the treatment of respiratory diseases.

  • Advising UBS AG, as financial adviser to a consortium comprising Sequoia China and Ocean Link Partners, on the proposed privatization of Zhejiang New Century Hotel Management (HKSE:1158).

  • Advising a member of an investor consortium on the proposed going private transaction of New Frontier Health (NYSE: NFH).

  • Advised an investment fund on its participation in the USD 8.7 billion take-private of 58.com (NYSE: WUBA), China's largest online classifieds marketplace, by a consortium comprising among others, Warburg Pincus, General Atlantic and Ocean Link Partners.

  • Advising Casetify in its strategic investment by C Ventures.

  • Advising Tencent on various fintech and gaming investments in North America, EMEA and APAC.

Prior to joining Baker McKenzie, Derek handled the following matters:

  • Represented Bain Capital on its acquisition of a controlling interest in Asia Pacific Medical Group, a leading private hospital group in the PRC with a portfolio of hospitals and clinics in the PRC and Southeast Asia; acquisition of a majority stake in Daymon Worldwide Inc., a global leader of retail services; USD 1.275 billion sale of FCI Asia Pte Ltd to Amphenol Corporation; USD 1 billion (INR 68.54 billion) investment in Axis Bank, the third largest private sector bank in India through a subscription of shares and warrants.

  • Represented Founders of Topcast Aviation, APAC’s leading independent aircraft parts distributor, in the sale of a majority of shares of Topcast to Permira.

Admissions

  • England & Wales~United Kingdom
  • Hong Kong~China
  • New York~United States
  • New South Wales~Australia

Education

  • University of New South Wales (Bachelor of Laws)
  • University of New South Wales (Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting))
  • The College of Law (Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice)
  • University of Hong Kong (P.C.LL.)

Languages

  • Cantonese
  • English
  • Mandarin
Baker & McKenzie, a Hong Kong partnership, is a member of Baker & McKenzie International, a Swiss Verein.