Frank Sun, a partner in the Hong Kong office of Latham & Watkins and a member of the Corporate Department, specializes in private equity investment and public and private M&A transactions. Mr. Sun regularly advises private equity funds and corporate clients in private equity investments, cross-border acquisitions, PIPEs, privatizations, and a wide range of other complex M&A transactions as well as venture capital financings.
A native Mandarin speaker focusing on multijurisdictional work, Mr. Sun has practiced law in London, Beijing, New York, and Hong Kong. Prior to joining Latham, from 2012 he was a Hong Kong-based partner of another major international law firm.
Mr. Sun's recent experience includes advising:
- CITIC Capital Partners and its affiliate on the acquisition of Salion Food Condiment Company Limited, a manufacturer of condiments and seasonings, with its principal business in China
- Binance, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency and blockchain infrastructure providers, in its US$200 million strategic investment in Forbes, the iconic business information brand in the US
- MBK Partners Fund V, L.P. on the US$950 million acquisition of ocean parks located across China from Hong Kong-listed hospitality group Haichang Ocean Park Holdings Ltd.
- A major PE fund in its participation as a co-lead investor in the US$500 million equity financing of Zoox, a leading US autonomous driving start-up based in Silicon Valley
- Boyu Capital as a lead investor alongside with Sequoia Capital China on a US$200 million investment in Klook, Asia’s largest in-destination services booking platform, by way of subscription of Series D shares
- L Catterton Asia on its US$175 million investment with JD.com in NASDAQ-listed Secoo Holding Limited, Asia's largest online integrated upscale products and services platform, through a subscription of convertible note and warrant
- China Traditional Chinese Medicine Holdings Co. Limited on the placement of 604.3 million shares to Ping An Life Insurance Company of China for HK$2.68 billion
- ORIX Asia Capital on its investment in Dianrong, a China-based online platform for borrowing and lending money
- ORIX Asia Capital on its investment in WeCash, a China-based online credit evaluation platform
- Carlyle Asia Partners on the sale of its controlling stake in Crystal Orange Hotel Holdings, a boutique hotel operator in China
- Orix Asia Capital in connection with the subscription of new shares and warrants issued by Hong Kong-listed United Photovoltaics Group Limited, which is seeking to raise equity and debt financing to redeem a certain portion of its outstanding convertible bonds
- CITIC Capital Partners on its sale of a controlling stake in King Koil Shanghai Sleep System Co., Ltd to Advent International. King Koil China is a manufacturer and retailer of premium mattresses in China
- Bain Capital, in its acquisition of a controlling interest in Asia Pacific Medical Group, a leading private hospital group, which provides a range of primary care and specialty services through a portfolio of hospitals and clinics in the PRC and other parts of Southeast Asia*
- CITIC Capital in the acquisition of a minority interest in City Football Group Limited, owner of the Manchester City Football Club*
- ORG Packaging Co. Ltd (SHE: 002701) in its acquisition of a 27% interest in CPMC Holdings Limited (HKSE:906) from COFCO Corporation for a total consideration of HK$1.6 billion (approximately US$205 million)*
- The special committee of NASDAQ-listed eLong in connection with its acquisition by a consortium that includes affiliates of Tencent Holdings Limited, Ctrip.com, and certain other existing shareholders of eLong*
- The special financing committee of NASDAQ-listed Sohu.com in connection with its evaluation of an investment proposal from Dr. Charles Zhang, Sohu.com’s chairman and chief executive officer*
- Xinren Aluminum Holdings Limited (SGX: MN5), in its US$600 million structured financing composed of international syndicate loan facilities, secured convertible bonds, and warrants*
- The Carlyle Group, in its investment in Beijing Ubox Technology & Trade Co., Ltd, a leading vending machine operator in China*
- China Traditional Chinese Medicine Co. Limited (HKSE: 570) in its two “very substantial acquisitions” regulated by the Hong Kong Listing Rules and the related equity and debt financing transactions:
- The US$1.43 billion acquisition of a 87.30% stake in Jiangyin Tianjiang Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., the largest manufacturer of concentrated traditional Chinese medicine granules in China, from eight sellers, partly financed by HK$8.2 billion share subscriptions by certain existing shareholders and 26 institutional investors*
- The US$430 million acquisition of Tongjitang Chinese Medicine Company from Hanmax Investment Limited and Fosun Industrial Co., Limited*
- Qihoo 360 Technology Co. Ltd. (NYSE: QIHU), a leading Internet company in China, in forming a strategic partnership with Hong Kong-listed Coolpad Group Limited (HKSE: 2369), a leading smartphone company in China*
- CITIC Securities International Company Limited, in its investment in China Huarong Asset Management Co. Ltd as part of a US$2.35 billion pre-IPO placement by China Huarong to strategic investors*
- Vipshop Holdings Limited (NYSE: VIPS), China's leading discount online retailer for brands, in its US$132.5 million acquisition of a 75% equity interest in Lefeng.com Limited, an online retailer of cosmetics and fashion products, and its US$55.8 million acquisition of a 23% equity interest in China-based cosmetics producer Ovation Entertainment Limited*
- Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan in its US$175 million pre-IPO acquisition of a minority interest in a Chinese healthcare company through a subscription and purchase of shares*
*Matter handled prior to joining Latham