Howard K. H. Lam

Howard Lam, a partner in Latham & Watkins’ Hong Kong office, advises corporates, banks, and investors on complex financing transactions across Asia, with a strong focus on China.

Mr. Lam regularly advises banks, sponsors, and borrowers in LBOs, acquisition financings, China onshore/offshore financing, margin financings, private equity financing, bridge financing, and debt capital market transactions.

He also represents banks, bondholders, investors, and insolvency practitioners in distressed situations, including enforcement, restructurings, creditors schemes of arrangement, liability management, receiverships, and formal liquidation procedures.

He has recently led a number of high-profile leveraged financing and restructuring transactions and is recognized as a leading practitioner in this area.

According to Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2015, Mr. Lam brings “a strong PRC focus to the practice… he led the team that advised the banks on the leveraged financing of the take-private of Pactera, which was Asia’s first leveraged buyout to be financed through a high yield bond.” He is also praised by Chambers Asia-Pacific 2014: He “continues to play a major role in a number of contentious restructuring matters. His broad finance experience has also seen him advise on syndicated finance and convertible bond deals.”

Mr. Lam's recent experience includes advising:

• A syndicate of banks led by Bank of America, N.A. on a US$6.5 billion club loan to a leading Chinese technology company
• A consortium led by Chinese private equity firm Hopu Investments on a US$1.1 billion financing for acquisition for a minority stake in FWD, a leading insurance business arm of the private investment group, Pacific Century Group
• The mandated lead arrangers on US$3.5 billion financing in connection with Tencent Holdings’ acquisition of Supercell Oy, a Finland-based mobile games developer
• The joint and several liquidators of Wongs Investment Development Holdings Group Limited, formerly the controlling shareholder of HK Main Board-listed company, China Kingstone Mining Holdings Limited, in the disposal of approximately 48.16% of the total issued share capital of China Kingstone Mining by way of placing and sale to two buyers
• The underwriters BAML, Citi, and HSBC on the leveraged buyout financing by Blackstone consortium in connection with a going-private transaction of a Nasdaq-listed company
• Bright Food (Australia) Co., Limited, a Chinese multinational food and beverages manufacturing company, on its A$85 million term facility agreement in connection with its acquisition of additional shares in an Australian subsidiary
• The original sponsor consortium in relation to the proposed financing of the take private of Shanda Games
• Secured term loan facility for Vedanta Resources to refinance the acquisition facilities for the acquisition of Cairn India
• Baring Private Equity and Nord Anglia Education on various credit facilities including a pre-IPO finance, bridge loan, and a new facility
• Darby Asia Opportunities Fund III Management Co. Ltd on its investments in a Chinese food and beverages company and an Indian IT consultancy group
• China Firstextile (Holdings) Limited on its US$100 million syndicated facility agreement arranged by Nomura International (Hong Kong) Limited
• HSBC as mandated lead arranger and bookrunner on the US$74 million and HK$201.5 million term loan facility to Hilong Holding Limited, part of the Hilong Group of Companies, a group of holding enterprises specializing in businesses related to the oil and natural gas industries
• Fortune REIT, the Hong Kong-listed real estate investment trust, on refinancing of existing credit facilities by way of a HK$1.1 billion term loan facility and a HK$700 million revolving credit facility

• Restructuring & Insolvency in Hong Kong -  September 14, 2020
• The Evolving Landscape for Finance in Greater China -  November 17, 2015
• IFLR - Cross Border Financing Report 2015, Hong Kong -  November 05, 2015
• China: NDRC Abolishes Pre-approval Requirement for Offshore Bond Offerings and Loans  -  November 02, 2015
• Insolvency & Corporate Reorganisation Survey 2014: Hong Kong -  July 28, 2014
• China: New SAFE Regulations Improve Access to Onshore Credit Support  -  July 10, 2014
• How exposed are holders of Chinese debt? -  April 24, 2014