Eugene Man

Partner, Hong Kong SAR

Biography

“Eugene is a detail-oriented lawyer with very strong technical skills who consistently strikes a balance between his legal expertise and the need to be commercial in transactions.” Chambers Greater China 2024

“Eugene Man is extremely knowledgeable, and able to help banks and borrowers alike achieve fair deals. Always available and open-minded.” Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024

Overview

Eugene is a Partner in the Hong Kong office of White & Case LLP, and Head of Debt Finance and Restructuring, Asia-Pacific.

With over 20 years of experience in Asia-Pacific, Eugene has a formidable reputation in the field of banking and finance and is widely recognized by respected legal guides as a leading practitioner with a significant track record in the market. He has advised on some of Asia's most high-profile and innovative financing transactions, such as the multi-award-winning financing transactions for Alibaba Group and the award-winning financing for Studio City Macau, which was one of the first corporate pari bank-bond transactions with a super senior revolving credit facility in the region.

Eugene represents banks and other financial institutions, corporates and financial sponsors, on a range of highly structured cross-border leveraged and corporate finance transactions, including sponsor financings, pre-IPO and structure financings, sustainability linked financings, gaming financings, real estate financings, equity margin financings and other event driven financings. He also advises on non-contentious insolvency and restructuring matters.

Eugene is dual-qualified in Hong Kong and England and Wales, and is ranked in his field in Chambers Asia-Pacific. Eugene is also ranked as a 'Leading Individual' in Hong Kong Banking & Finance by Legal 500 Asia-Pacific, is recognized as one of Asia's best young lawyers by Asian Legal Business' 40 under 40 in 2019 and is also the exclusive winner of the Banking category for Hong Kong given by the ILO Client Choice Awards in 2016.

Eugene has successfully completed the Harvard Law School's Executive Education program in Leadership in Law Firms 2023.

Bars and Courts
Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales
Solicitor of the High Court of Hong Kong
Education
Postgraduate Certificate of Laws
City University of Hong Kong
LLB
London School of Economics and Political Science
Languages
English
Cantonese

Experience

Financing for Far East Horizon Limited
Advised First Abu Dhabi Bank on a AED term loan facility to Far East Horizon Limited.

Financing for Fosun
Advised Deutsche Bank as mandated lead arranger and bookrunner on a facility to Fosun, which is the holding company of the Club Med business.

Financing for Weibo Corporation
Advised Citigroup Global Markets Asia Limited and Credit Suisse AG as original mandated lead arrangers and bookrunners on the US$1.2 billion facilities to Weibo Corporation as borrower. The financing involved 23 banks as arrangers and original lenders.

Acquisition financing for OTPP
Advised Barclays Bank PLC as the original mandated lead arranger and Deutsche Bank AG, Singapore Branch as facility agent of a US$110 million debt financing to a vehicle of Ontario Teachers Pension Plan for the acquisition of a controlling stake in Sahyadri Hospitals Group.

Recapitalization buy-out merger of Fullerton Health
Advised RRJ Capital on its recapitalization buy-out merger of Singapore-based Fullerton Healthcare Corporation Limited.

Financing for Canadian International School
Advised a multinational investment management company on a private credit financing to Canadian International School Pte Ltd.

CITIC Capital Acquisition Financing of GNC Holdings
Advised CITIC Capital on the financing for its US$770 million acquisition through its subsidiary Harbin Pharmaceutical Group Holding Co., Ltd. of substantially all of the assets of GNC Holdings Inc. pursuant to Section 363 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. The financing comprised of a US$400 million facility from Bank of China Limited, Macau Branch in addition to second lien loans and subordinated convertible notes.

HK$14.85 billion financing for Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited
Advised the joint global coordinators, senior mandated lead arrangers and bookrunners on a HK$14.85 billion senior revolving credit facility to MCO Nominee One Limited, a subsidiary of Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited, a developer, owner and operator of casino gaming and entertainment resort facilities in Asia. The facility refinanced an existing senior secured financing of the Melco Resorts Macau group, and provides an option to incur further indebtedness under incremental facilities of up to HK$7.75 billion.

Private credit financing provided by Black Rock
Advised funds managed by BlackRock as lenders in a private credit fund level financing to an Asia-based private equity fund.

Financing for acquisition of the LELO group
Advised the mandated lead arrangers and bookrunners in relation to a senior secured term loan facility to a CITIC Capital led consortium for the acquisition of the LELO group. The LELO group is an award-winning designer brand and world-leading provider of intimate lifestyle products and sensual toys.

Financing for Lifestyles Healthcare
Advised the mandated lead arrangers and bookrunners in US$238 million term and revolving facilities to Lifestyles Healthcare Pte. Ltd., a portfolio company owned by CITIC Capital and Humanwell Healthcare, to refinance its 2018 acquisition financing.

US$10 billion of financings for Ant Financial

  • Advised the mandated lead arrangers and bookrunners on the amendment and extension of the 2017 facilities and concurrent upsize to an aggregate US$6.5 billion senior secured revolving credit facilities for Alipay (Hong Kong) Holding Limited, in 2019.
  • Advised mandated lead arrangers and bookrunners on a US$3.5 billion senior secured term and revolving loan financing to Alipay (Hong Kong) Holding Limited, in 2017. The proceeds of the facilities were made available for, among other things, Alipay's intended take-private acquisition of MoneyGram International Inc. and other investments.

Financing for acquisition of Deutsche Hospitality by Huazhu Group (f.k.a. China Lodging Group)
Advised JPMorgan, Deutsche Bank and Morgan Stanley as mandated lead arrangers and bookrunners on a EUR440 million term loan facility and US$500 million revolving loan facility to Huazhu Group (formerly known as China Lodging Group) for its acquisition of Frankfurt-based Deutsche Hospitality and refinancing existing debt.

Loans to Dianchi International
Advised Morgan Stanley and other lenders in US$150 million and HK$950 million syndicated term loans to Dianchi International Holdings Limited. The loan was guaranteed by Kunming Dianchi Water Treatment Co., Ltd.

Financing for Acquisition of Euromoney's GMID by CITIC Capital and Caixin Global
Advised the consortium led by CITIC Capital Partners and Caixin Global on the financing for their US$180.5 million acquisition of Euromoney's Global Markets Intelligence Division (GMID).

Financing for Privatization of CWT Limited by HNA
Advised the private credit fund and other financial institutions on the financing to subsidiaries of HNA Holding Group Co., Ltd. for the voluntary general offer for all the issued shares in CWT Limited, a Singapore-listed integrated logistics solutions provider.

US$30.65 billion of financings for Alibaba Group
Advised the mandated lead arrangers in an aggregate US$30.65 billion financings for Alibaba Group Holding Limited, China's e-commerce giant, including the US$6.5 billion, US$5.15 billion, US$4 billion, US$3 billion, US$8 billion multi-award winning, and two-stage US$4 billion financings since 2012.

Financings and refinancings for Reignwood Group

  • Advised Deutsche Bank as mandated lead arranger and bookrunner on a US$125 million and EUR115 million refinancing term loan facility to Reignwood Group, secured by Ten Trinity Square in 2020.
  • Advised Deutsche Bank as mandated lead arranger on a US$150 million and GBP112 million refinancing term loan facility to Reignwood Group, a multinational investor and developer, secured by Ten Trinity Square, a mixed-use building in London, United Kingdom in 2018.
  • Advised Deutsche Bank as mandated lead arranger on a US$500 million term loan facility to Reignwood Group, secured by Ten Trinity Square in 2015.

US$1.2 billion Senior Secured Notes and HK$233 million Super Senior Revolving Credit Facility for Studio City Macau
Advised the financial institutions on the Rule 144A/Regulation S offering of US$1.2 billion senior secured notes due 2019 and senior secured notes due 2021 by Studio City Company Limited (SCC), and on the HK$233 million super senior revolving credit facility (SSRCF) for SCC. SCC is 60 percent held indirectly by Melco Crown Entertainment Limited, a developer, owner and operator of casino gaming and entertainment resort facilities in Asia, with the remaining 40 percent held indirectly by New Cotai, LLC.The offering consisted of US$350 million aggregate principal amount 5.875 percent senior secured notes due 2019, and US$850 million aggregate principal amount 7.25 percent senior secured notes due 2021. It is the largest high yield corporate bond in Asia so far in 2016, and involved complex intercreditor and security interest arrangements in one of the first corporate pari bank-bond transactions with a super senior revolving credit facility in the region. This deal won the "High Yield Deal of the Year" award at the IFLR Asia Awards 2017.

US$600 million 7.250% senior notes of Studio City Finance Limited
Advised Deutsche Bank AG, Singapore Branch and Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited and other initial purchasers in connection with the Rule 144A/Regulation S offering of US$600 million 7.250% senior notes due 2024 of Studio City Finance Limited and Deutsche Bank AG, as dealer-manager, in the concurrent tender offer for Studio City Finance Limited's existing US$425 million 8.50% senior notes due 2020. Other initial purchasers are BOCI Asia Limited, Bank of Communications Co., Ltd. Macau Branch, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia) Limited, ICBC (Macau) Capital Limited and Mizuho Securities Asia Limited.

US$1.75 billion financing for Melco Crown Macau
Advised the coordinating arrangers and bookrunners on an amendment and extension to senior secured facilities of Melco Crown (Macau) Limited, a subsidiary of Melco Crown Entertainment Limited, a developer, owner and operator of casino gaming and entertainment resort facilities in Asia. The amended facilities provide for US$1,750 million in senior facilities, consisting of a US$500 million six-year term loan and a US$1,000 million five-year revolving credit facility, which amount may be increased by an additional US$250 million.

Awards and Recognition

Leading Lawyer, Chambers Greater China Region 2016 – 2024
Banking & Finance – China (International Firms)

Leading Lawyer, Chambers Greater China Region 2024
Banking & Finance: Leveraged & Acquisition Finance – China (International Firms)

Leading Individual, Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2022 – 2024
Banking & Finance – Hong Kong

Recognized as one of Asia's best young lawyers by Asian Legal Business' 40 under 40 2019

Exclusive winner of the Banking category for Hong Kong, The ILO Client Choice Awards 2016