White & Case LLP - News - White & Case Expands Finance Capability in Asia

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White & Case Expands Finance Capability in Asia

Hong Kong, April 22, 2008 ... White & Case has made a major addition to its Asia Bank Finance and Restructuring practices with the arrival of partner John Hartley and his team of three from Lovells. John is widely recognized as one of Hong Kong's leading finance lawyers and has been located there since 1990. He is dual qualified in Hong Kong and England & Wales and has extensive experience in cutting edge and complex cross border transactions in the region, many of which were market "firsts." John has represented leading banks across the full range of banking products, including acquisition finance, loan syndications, project finance, real estate finance, receivables financings and securitisations.

John's recent notable transactions include advising SoftBank, a leading Japanese technology and investment company, on the acquisition of Vodafone Group PLC's Japanese mobile phone unit (Vodafone KK), the largest leveraged buyout in Asia to date and a deal in which White & Case advised Deutsche Bank in connection with the financing arrangements for the acquisition. John subsequently advised SoftBank on its landmark refinancing utilising the world's largest whole-business securitisation package of ¥1,449.1 billion. These deals won Japan Deal of the Year, Securitisation Deal of the Year and M&A Deal of the Year at the Japan Asian Legal Business Awards in 2007; FinanceAsia's M&A Deal of the Year, Securitisation Deal of the Year and Best Deal of the Year in 2007; Euromoney's Japan LBO of the Year 2007; IFLR M&A Deal of the Year 2007; and were also recognised by Acquisition Finance and Asian Counsel magazines as Deal of the Year.

John will be joined by Chen Guan Feng, a partner in White & Case's Singapore office, who will relocate to Hong Kong in order to work more closely with the Firm's financial institution clients in the region. Guan Feng has been advising on cross border financing transactions and private corporate debt restructurings in Asia and Europe for more than 10 years. Among the many deals he has recently advised on, Guan Feng led a team representing the joint mandated lead arrangers of a US$600 million credit facility to MMI International Ltd., a Labuan company formed by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts funds and members of management, to take private MMI Holdings Limited. This was FinanceAsia's "Leveraged Financing Deal of the Year 2007" and is one of the largest public-to-private leveraged buyout financings in Singapore to-date.

"We are delighted to be joined by John, Guan Feng and their teams," says Barrye Wall, the Executive Partner of White & Case's Hong Kong office. "The significant expansion builds on our solid foundation in the region and demonstrates the continuing commitment of the Firm to building its English law finance practice around the network. They will be joined over the summer by further resources from our London and New York offices."

White & Case was recently ranked as the number one global legal adviser to debt providers on leveraged buyouts, in terms of deal volume, according to an analysis of Mergermarket's 2007 deal data. The Firm secured pole positions across the board with number one rankings in Asia (excluding Australasia), Europe and the Americas. White & Case also ranked number one globally in the same category through 2005-2007 in terms of deal volume, advising on a third more deals than its nearest competitor and second globally in terms of deal value. White & Case's Global Banking & Finance Practice was also recently awarded Tier One ranking in the latest edition of Chambers Global.

"We have a long and successful track-record of ensuring we put our resources where our clients need them. Many of our financial institution clients are moving resources into Asia and we are committed to mirroring this to ensure they have what they need at their disposal," commented Eric Berg, partner and head of White & Case's Global Bank Finance Practice.

About White & Case LLP
White & Case LLP is a leading global law firm with more than 2,300 lawyers in 37 offices in 25 countries. Our clients value the breadth and depth of our US, English and local law capabilities and rely on us for their complex cross-border commercial and financial transactions and for international arbitration and litigation. Whether in established or emerging markets, the hallmark of White & Case is our complete dedication to the business priorities and legal needs of our clients.

Contact:
Bronwyn Eynon-Lewis
Media Relations, Asia-Pacific
White & Case
852 2822 8739

	Press Releases
Expertise Banking Financial Restructuring and Insolvency Lawyers Guan Feng Chen Baldwin Cheng John Hartley Locations Hong Kong	White & Case Expands Finance Capability in Asia Hong Kong, April 22, 2008 ... White & Case has made a major addition to its Asia Bank Finance and Restructuring practices with the arrival of partner John Hartley and his team of three from Lovells. John is widely recognized as one of Hong Kong's leading finance lawyers and has been located there since 1990. He is dual qualified in Hong Kong and England & Wales and has extensive experience in cutting edge and complex cross border transactions in the region, many of which were market "firsts." John has represented leading banks across the full range of banking products, including acquisition finance, loan syndications, project finance, real estate finance, receivables financings and securitisations. John's recent notable transactions include advising SoftBank, a leading Japanese technology and investment company, on the acquisition of Vodafone Group PLC's Japanese mobile phone unit (Vodafone KK), the largest leveraged buyout in Asia to date and a deal in which White & Case advised Deutsche Bank in connection with the financing arrangements for the acquisition. John subsequently advised SoftBank on its landmark refinancing utilising the world's largest whole-business securitisation package of ¥1,449.1 billion. These deals won Japan Deal of the Year, Securitisation Deal of the Year and M&A Deal of the Year at the Japan Asian Legal Business Awards in 2007; FinanceAsia's M&A Deal of the Year, Securitisation Deal of the Year and Best Deal of the Year in 2007; Euromoney's Japan LBO of the Year 2007; IFLR M&A Deal of the Year 2007; and were also recognised by Acquisition Finance and Asian Counsel magazines as Deal of the Year. John will be joined by Chen Guan Feng, a partner in White & Case's Singapore office, who will relocate to Hong Kong in order to work more closely with the Firm's financial institution clients in the region. Guan Feng has been advising on cross border financing transactions and private corporate debt restructurings in Asia and Europe for more than 10 years. Among the many deals he has recently advised on, Guan Feng led a team representing the joint mandated lead arrangers of a US$600 million credit facility to MMI International Ltd., a Labuan company formed by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts funds and members of management, to take private MMI Holdings Limited. This was FinanceAsia's "Leveraged Financing Deal of the Year 2007" and is one of the largest public-to-private leveraged buyout financings in Singapore to-date. "We are delighted to be joined by John, Guan Feng and their teams," says Barrye Wall, the Executive Partner of White & Case's Hong Kong office. "The significant expansion builds on our solid foundation in the region and demonstrates the continuing commitment of the Firm to building its English law finance practice around the network. They will be joined over the summer by further resources from our London and New York offices." White & Case was recently ranked as the number one global legal adviser to debt providers on leveraged buyouts, in terms of deal volume, according to an analysis of Mergermarket's 2007 deal data. The Firm secured pole positions across the board with number one rankings in Asia (excluding Australasia), Europe and the Americas. White & Case also ranked number one globally in the same category through 2005-2007 in terms of deal volume, advising on a third more deals than its nearest competitor and second globally in terms of deal value. White & Case's Global Banking & Finance Practice was also recently awarded Tier One ranking in the latest edition of Chambers Global. "We have a long and successful track-record of ensuring we put our resources where our clients need them. Many of our financial institution clients are moving resources into Asia and we are committed to mirroring this to ensure they have what they need at their disposal," commented Eric Berg, partner and head of White & Case's Global Bank Finance Practice. About White & Case LLP White & Case LLP is a leading global law firm with more than 2,300 lawyers in 37 offices in 25 countries. Our clients value the breadth and depth of our US, English and local law capabilities and rely on us for their complex cross-border commercial and financial transactions and for international arbitration and litigation. Whether in established or emerging markets, the hallmark of White & Case is our complete dedication to the business priorities and legal needs of our clients. Contact: Bronwyn Eynon-Lewis Media Relations, Asia-Pacific White & Case 852 2822 8739