Christopher Kelly
Partner, Hong Kong SAR
Biography
Overview
Christopher Kelly leads our Mergers & Acquisitions practice in Asia-Pacific, based in Hong Kong.
Chris has nearly 30 years of experience advising clients on a wide range of M&A, private equity, corporate finance and commercial matters, including public and private M&A, equity offers, joint ventures and strategic partnerships.
Bars and Courts
Registered Foreign Lawyer, The Law Society of Hong Kong
England and Wales, Solicitor
Queensland
Education
LLB
University of Queensland
BCom
Accounting and Business Finance
University of Queensland
Languages
English
Experience
- Gentari International Renewables Pte. Ltd., a subsidiary of Gentari Sdn Bhd (the renewable energy business of PETRONAS), on its approximately NT$23 billion (US$750 million) acquisition of 49 percent of the Hai Long offshore wind project in Taiwan from Northland Power, a Canadian-listed renewable power producer, and on two subsequent OSW investments in related projects in Taiwan with Northland Power (Northwind and Canwind).
- Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) on the development of, and subsequent equity sale of a strategic stake in, the US$3 billion (NT$90 billion) 589 MW Changfang and Xidao (CFXD) offshore wind project in Taiwan. This deal won "Asia Pacific Project Finance Deal of the Year 2020" by IJGlobal Awards, "Asia Pacific Renewable Deal of the Year 2020" by PFI Awards, "Project Finance Deal of the Year 2020" by FinanceAsia Achievement Awards and "Project Finance Deal of the Year 2021" by IFLR Asia-Pacific Awards.
- Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners on the acquisition of a 95 percent interest in Swancor Renewable Energy Co. Ltd, including its 25 percent interest in the Formosa 2 offshore wind farm project in Taiwan. This deal was recognized as "Renewables Deal of the Year, Asia-Pacific" at the Infrastructure Investor Awards 2019.
- Macquarie Digital Tower Pte. Limited and Phil-Tower Consortium Inc. in the auction sale for the acquisition and leaseback of telecommunication infrastructure assets in Visayas and Mindanao, Philippines from Globe Consortium Inc.
- The Carlyle Group on multiple transactions, including its:
- US$490 million acquisition of a strategic 20 percent stake in Piramal Pharma, the pharmaceutical division of Piramal Enterprises Limited, one of India's leading diversified companies, with a presence in financial services, information management and pharmaceuticals;
- US$240 million acquisition of a controlling stake in SeQuent Scientific Limited, the largest pure-play animal healthcare company in India;
- IPO and subsequent exit from Yashili International Dairy (by way of a general offer by Mengniu Dairy); and
- US$137 million strategic investment in HK-listed Haier Electronics, through new equity, CBs and warrants, and subsequent sell-down by way of a block trade of the CBs.
- Noble Group on multiple transactions, including its US$3.5 billion debt-for-equity restructuring of Noble Group and the subsequent sales of its commodities trading business to Vitol, Jamalco (aluminum smelting business in Jamaica) to Glencore / Century Aluminum and its 8 percent stake in U.K. listed Harbour Energy. The restructuring deal was awarded "Restructuring Deal of the Year" at the IFLR Asia-Pacific Awards 2019 and "Finance Deal of the Year: Insolvency and Restructuring" at the Asia Legal Awards 2019.
- Kohler Co. in the multi-jurisdictional carve-out and sale of its energy business to Platinum Equity and its continued investment in its energy business in partnership with Platinum Equity.
Awards and Recognition
Ranked 'Leading Individual' for Corporate/M&A in Hong Kong by Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2025
Recommended practitioner for Corporate and M&A in China: Hong Kong-based (International Firms) by Chambers Greater China 2025
Recommended practitioner for Private Equity in China by Chambers Greater China 2024
