Maurice Conway
Partner
Transactional
Kirkland & Ellis
Overview
Maurice Conway is a partner in the Hong Kong office of Kirkland & Ellis. His practice focuses on international M&A and private equity transactions, as well as general corporate matters across a diverse range of industries, with particular focus on representing private equity clients and corporates on investments in Southeast Asia.
Experience
Representative Matters
Maurice's experience since joining Kirkland includes advising:
- Carlyle on its proposed acquisition of KFC Holdings Japan, Ltd. (9873.T), the operator of the Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) fast-food franchise in Japan, together with the related long term franchise arrangements with brand owner, Yum! Brands
- Warburg Pincus on its investment in Xuyen A, a leading private tertiary general hospital group in Vietnam
- Crescent Point Capital on the acquisition by Ares Management Corporation of the Crescent Point Capital platform, a leading Asia-focused private equity platform
- MoneyHero Group on its business combination with Bridgetown Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: BTWN), a special purpose acquisition company formed as a collaboration between Pacific Century Group and Thiel Capital
- PCCW Limited (HKSE: 0008) on its investment in Hyphen Group (aka CompareAsia Group), an insurance broker company, which is principally engaged in the development and operations of a financial comparison website
- Carlyle on the acquisition of HCP Global, a leading Chinese packaging firm, from Baring Private Equity Asia. This transaction was named “Deals of the Year 2022” by China Business Law Journal
- Polestar Performance AB and its affiliates, the global electric performance car company, on its business combination with Gores Guggenheim Inc. (Nasdaq: GGPI, GGPIW), a special purpose acquisition company formed by affiliates of The Gores Group and Guggenheim Capital, LLC, for approximately US$20 billion
- Voyager Innovations, a KKR portfolio company and the leading technology company in the Philippines, on its US$210 million Series C fundraising round (including funding from KKR, Tencent, PLDT, IFC, SIG Venture Capital, EDBI and First Pacific)
- Bain Capital Private Equity on its proposed acquisition of a 24.98% stake in IIFL Wealth Management, an India-listed company, from General Atlantic and Fairfax Financial
- LimeTree Capital on the investments by KKR and ADM Capital in WE PARK, a China-focused commercial car park assets platform held by LimeTree Capital
- TPG, a leading global alternative asset firm, and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, a globally diversified investment institution that prudently invests funds on behalf of the Government of Abu Dhabi, on the acquisition of a minority stake in The CrownX
- Varde Partners, a leading global alternative investment adviser, on its disposal of its interest in Global Cloud Xchange together with the other shareholders for approximately US$512 million
- FountainVest on its acquisition of Ziwi, a New Zealand-based ultra-premium pet food manufacturer and global exporter
- Ziwi, a FountainVest portfolio company, on its acquisition of Freeze Dried Foods, a New Zealand-based company and a global leader in continuous freeze drying
Maurice’s experience prior to joining Kirkland includes advising:
- ARA Asset Management Limited in relation to a proposed business combination of the ARA Group with ESR Cayman Limited
- Affinity Equity Partners on its US$200m investment into M-Daq, a Singapore-based fintech company
- Vingroup Joint Stock Company on the joint venture between Vincommerce, a consumer retail unit of Vingroup which operates supermarkets, convenience stores, and farms, and Masan Consumer to create VCM Services and Trading Development Joint Stock Company, a Vietnam-based vertically integrated retail business
- TPG Capital and Hong Leong on the US$1 billion joint venture acquisition of Columbia Asia Healthcare, a Malaysia-based healthcare company that operates 17 hospitals and a clinic across Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam
- HKBN on its approximately US$1.3 billion acquisition of WTT Holding Corporation, a Hong Kong-based fixed telecommunication services operator
- Lodgis Hospitality Holdings on the US$230 million acquisition of approximately 64.99% of shares in ACDL, a Canada-based real estate company and indirect owner of The Grand Ho Tram Strip, a resort hotel with casino and golf course in Vietnam
- Warburg Pincus on the US$225 million investment in Converge ICT Solutions, a Philippines-based telecommunications provider
- Warburg Pincus on the equity investment in Online Mobile Service JSC, a Vietnam-based provider of mobile payment solutions
- Hybridblock on the establishment of a corporate structure for a global cryptocurrency and cryptographic token trading platform and exchange
- Vinhomes Joint Stock Company on its US$1.3 billion pre initial equity offering investment by GIC Private Limited
- Affiliates of Warburg Pincus in its joint venture with Becamex IDC to form BW Industrial Development Joint Stock Company, a Vietnam-based developer of institutional-grade industrial and logistics properties
- Warburg Pincus and e-Shang Redwood Group on the proposed US$13 billion takeover offer for Global Logistics Properties Limited including US$9 billion financing package
- Techcombank on its US$370 million pre initial equity offering investment by Warburg Pincus
- Vincom Retail and its shareholder Warbug Pincus on its debut international offering of shares listed on HOSE
- Nord Anglia Education on its sale to a consortium led by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Baring Private Equity Asia
- FastMed Urgent Care on its strategic joint venture relationship with Pacific Springboard, LLC in relation to the provision of urgent medical care clinics in the PRC
- Warburg Pincus Asia LLC and Avic Trust as lead investors in the consortium acquisition of Singapore listed ARA Asset Management Ltd. a Singapore-based real estate fund manager for SGD1.7 billion, The other consortium members are JL Investment Group, The Straits Trading Company, and Cheung Kong Property Holdings
- The Carlyle Group on the acquisition of a 26% stake in SBI Cards, a payment solutions provider in India that is a joint venture between the State Bank of India and GE Capital
- International Paper Company on the sale of its corrugated-packaging business in the PRC and Asia Pacific for approximately US$150 million to a fund established by Shenzhen-listed packaging company, Xiamen Hexing Packaging Printing Co., Ltd.
- A global consumer products manufacturer and distributor on its joint venture with a distribution company in the PRC to manage its online and offline distribution network in the PRC, structured through three separate joint venture arrangements
- Goldman Sachs on its acquisition of a large stake in a multi-million dollar real estate property portfolio in Shanghai, alongside various other private equity investors through a Hong Kong offshore investment vehicle
- Avenue Capital Group on its strategic divestment of Series B convertible preference shares in a Hong Kong offshore joint venture vehicle through a PRC onshore group restructuring and share buyback procedure of a medical research company
- The Vitality Group on its strategic joint venture with AIA Group Limited, a global leader in life insurance, to bring AIA Vitality, an innovative wellness-based life insurance model, to the Asia Pacific region
- Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, through an investment holding company, on the establishment of a new joint venture company with New World Development Company Limited to own and manage three premium Hong Kong hotel assets, namely the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, Renaissance Harbour View, and Hyatt Regency TST, with a transaction value of approximately US$2.5 billion
- A leading Asian investment management firm on its secondary buyout of Teknicast, Malaysia’s largest non-automotive aluminum die casting company and a leading manufacturer of complex, premium aluminum die cast components, from a portfolio company of the global private equity firm Actis, for an undisclosed sum
- CDH on its strategic 50/50 joint venture investment in Asia with an investment management firm for the purposes of investing in residential property assets in Asia
- Société Générale on the disposal of its private banking business in Singapore and Hong Kong, as well as a part of its private banking business in Dubai and a part of its trust business in Singapore, to DBS Bank for US$220 million
- Controlling shareholders of Pacific Andes Ltd., a company listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, on the sale of its Poliplant Palm Oil Plantation business to Cargill Tropical Palm Holdings Ltd., a Cargill and Temasek joint venture
- Macquarie Capital Group on its investment in China Senior Care (Hong Kong) Limited, a senior living facilities provider based in the PRC, through a loan facility, combined with detachable warrants exercisable into equity
- Ascent Capital Advisors Limited, a venture capital fund active in Asia, on numerous capital raises, investments, and divestments in Asia, including a minority investment in a Singaporean animation company and a Series B capital raise
- UBS AG, London Branch, on its acquisition of 4.9% of a class of Hong Kong listed shares in China CITIC Bank Corporation Limited in connection with a back-to-back sale arrangement for the shares with Xinhu Zhongbao Co., Ltd. for US$1.6 billion and a related margin loan facility arrangement
- CCB International on its execution of a swap arrangement to facilitate the disposal of a minority stake of shares listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited to a private investor for an undisclosed sum
- GE Aviation on the formation of a new joint venture with Evergreen Aviation Technologies, Inc. to provide maintenance, repair and overhaul services to a new generation of GE engines
Prior Experience
Latham & Watkins, 2016–2021
Allen & Overy, 2011–2016
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Credentials
Admissions & Qualifications
- 2015, Hong Kong, Solicitor
- 2011, Admitted to practice as a Solicitor of England & Wales
Education
- College of LawLPC2008
- University College DublinBachelor of Business & Law2007
News &
Insights
Kirkland Represents The Carlyle Group in Connection with Acquisition of KFC Holdings Japan, Ltd.