Herbert Smith Freehills Kewei helps Danone close two China transactions during lockdown / 科伟史密夫斐尔联营办公室助力达能在疫情封闭期间完成两笔中国交易

Leading global law firm Herbert Smith Freehills and its joint operation partner Kewei have provided on-the-ground support to multinational food giant Danone on two M&A transactions in China.

With travel restrictions and lockdown affecting Danone's Singapore-based project team, our team managed negotiations with deal counterparties and liaison with local government, reached agreement on complex issues for the client in addition to the normal legal support.

On both transactions, the team provided an end-to-end legal service integrating PRC and international law advice, including deal structuring, due diligence, transaction documentation drafting, governmental filing, registration and closing.

“We are honoured to have advised Danone on two consecutive China transactions,” said Herbert Smith Freehills Kewei international partner Gavin Guo. “In difficult times, we were able to use our cross-jurisdiction resources to offer hands-on local experience. The transactions also signal ongoing and renewed activity in inbound China M&A, despite the constraints of pandemic travel restrictions."

The transactions demonstrate the strengths of the firm's Joint Operation with Kewei established last year, which allows us to provide access to quality PRC law advice alongside our international legal expertise.

Gavin Guo led the team, assisted by Shanghai senior associate Angela Zhao, supported by Kewei counsel Leo Wang and associate Alvin Zheng.

Hong Kong partner Kathryn Sanger, Shanghai partner Helen Tang, and Shanghai senior associate Grace Fang advised on the disputes aspects of the transactions.

Paris partner Hubert Segain and Singapore partner Nicola Yeomans are global client relationship partners for Danone.

国际知名的律师事务所史密夫斐尔与科伟律师事务所的联营办公室为全球食品巨头达能集团近期在中国完成两笔并购交易提供法律服务。

由于受到出行限制和隔离措施的影响，本所交易团队为达能新加坡项目团队提供了常规法律服务之外的有力支持，负责推进与交易对手的谈判以及与当地监管机构的沟通，帮助客户就多项复杂问题达成协议。

本所在两笔交易中提供了整合中国法和外国法的端到端法律服务，包括交易架构、尽职调查、文件起草、政府备案、注册和交割。

科伟史密夫斐尔资深国际顾问郭武汉表示：“我们很荣幸连续就两笔达能在中国的交易提供法律服务。我们的团队有能力排除万难，充分利用本所跨司法管辖区的资源，为客户提供亲身实践的本地体验。通过这些交易我们看到，尽管受到出行限制和管控措施的影响，外商投资中国的活动正在进行，并重新活跃起来。”

这笔交易展现出史密夫斐尔与科伟联营平台的优势，我们能够在提供国际法律专业知识的同时，提供高质量的中国本地法律服务。

交易团队由科伟史密夫斐尔资深国际顾问郭武汉领导，史密夫斐尔上海办公室赵秋丹 (Senior Associate)、科伟史密夫斐尔王明亮 (Counsel) 和郑天骅 (Associate) 提供支持。

史密夫斐尔香港办公室合伙人Kathryn Sanger、上海办公室合伙人唐汉洁以及方丽娟 (Senior Associate)就争议解决方面提供咨询。

史密夫斐尔巴黎办公室合伙人Hubert Segain及新加坡办公室合伙人Nicola Yeomans负责该客户的全球客户关系。