Ogier wins loan deal of the year at IFLR Asia-Pacific Awards 2023

Ogier was among the winning advisers for Deal of the Year - loan category at the IFLR Asia-Pacific Awards 2023.

Ogier was recognised, alongside the other law firms involved, for its advice on the debt financing for the take-private of China’s 51job.

Working alongside lead counsels Kirkland & Ellis LLP (acting as lead counsel for Ocean Link and lead debt financing counsel to the consortium), Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP (acting as lead counsel for DCP Capital Partners) and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP (acting as lead counsel for Mr Rick Yan and his affiliates), Ogier was Cayman Islands legal counsel on corporate and debt finance matters to the investor consortium, which comprised of DCP Capital Partners, Ocean Link Partners Limited and Rick Yan, the chief executive officer of 51job Inc.

According to IFLR, "the deal wrestled with an unpredictable price environment and new PRC regulations on data protection that were highly relevant to the target’s business," and deal teams had to "innovate to structure a financing at various levels of the company to accommodate the multiple parties, with complex cross-default mechanisms running through them."

Ogier's deal team, based in its Hong Kong office, was led by partner Nathan Powell on corporate matters and partner David Nelson on debt finance matters and included partner Florence Chan, senior legal manager Kendrick Cheung, legal manager Sara Law and paralegal Jenson Ng.

Commenting on the award win, David said: "We're proud to have worked on such a significant transaction, which required close collaboration between our corporate and banking teams, lead counsel, and our clients. This market-leading recognition once again demonstrates Ogier's strength and expertise advising on complex, big-ticket cross-border financings."