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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.

Derek is recognized as a “Leading Individual” by Legal 500 Asia Pacific for Private Equity, “Up and Coming” lawyer by Chambers Greater China for Private Equity and "Highly Regarded" in M&A and Private Equity by IFLR1000.

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

  • Advising a consortium of private equity investors on a USD 672 million investment for a 47.3% equity stake in DigitalLand Holdings Limited, the international data center platform of GDS Holdings Limited.

  • Advising UBS as financial advisor on the proposed USD 1.7 billion acquisition by DCP Capital of approximately 78.70% of Sun Art from affiliates of Alibaba Holding.

  • Advising GNMI on its proposed EUR 665 million acquisition of Merck's global surface solutions business.

  • Advised EQT on its sale of Dataflow to Arcapita.

  • Advising HSBC, as financial advisor to Vinda International Holdings Limited (HKSE: 3331) in connection with the USD 3.35 billion pre-conditional voluntary conditional cash offer by RGE.

  • Advised M3IG in the sale of M3 Capital Partners to GLP Capital Partners.

  • Advised ADQ, AllianzX, Ares, Bain Capital, Boyu Capital, CDH, Celadon Partners, CMC Capital, Coatue, Davidson Kempner, DigitalBridge, Gaw Capital, Global Infrastructure Partners, Hillhouse, PAG, Macquarie, New Frontier, Nexus Point, OTPP, Vitruvian Partners, 8F and its portfolio companies in various investments/proposed investments and other advice in Asia.

  • Advised Prenetics on its USD 200 million joint venture with Dennis Lo named Insighta.

  • Advised CMB International in connection with PAG's mandatory general offer of Shandong Fengxiang (HKSE: 9977).

  • 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.

  • Advised 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) in various transactions including: (1) 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; (2) investment alongside a consortium of investors into Treadwell Therapeutics; and (3) its strategic partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim.

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.