Jiayi Wang

Since joining Kirkland & Ellis, Jiayi has been involved in the following selected transactions:

• The Carlyle Group in 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. This transaction was named “Best Private Equity Deal - North Asia” by FinanceAsia Achievement Awards 2024
• The Carlyle Group in the $1.8 billion sale of its stake in the strategic partnership that operates and manages McDonald's franchised businesses in China, Hong Kong and Macau to McDonald's Corp. (NYSE: MCD). This transaction was named “Best Private Equity Deal - China Offshore” by FinanceAsia Achievement Awards 2024
• ZG Group, a leading iron & steel e-commerce platform in China, on its business combination with Aquila Acquisition Corporation, a special purpose acquisition company. This is the first de-SPAC transaction in Hong Kong since the introduction of the SPAC listing regime in Hong Kong on 1 January 2022
• TH International Limited (“Tims China”; NASDAQ: THCH) on its acquisition of PLKC International (“Popeyes China”) to become the exclusive operator and developer of the Popeyes® brand in mainland China and Macau
• COFCO Beverages (CCBMH) Limited, a subsidiary of Chinese state-owned food processing company COFCO Corporation and China Foods Limited (HKSE: 506), on the acquisition of all of the equity interests in certain wholly-owned subsidiaries of Coca-Cola Bottlers Manufacturing Holdings Limited, a joint venture ultimately owned by The Coca-Cola Company, Swire Pacific Limited (HKSE: 00019 and HKSE: 00087) and COFCO Beverages (CCBMH) Limited. This transaction was named “Deals of the Year 2022” by China Business Law Journal
• The special committee of the board of directors of LAIX Inc. (OTC: LAIXY), an artificial intelligence company in China that creates and delivers products and services to popularize English learning, in its going-private transaction 
• Near Intelligence Holdings, Inc., a global SaaS leader in privacy-led data intelligence on people, places and products, on its business combination with KludeIn I Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: INKA), a special purpose acquisition company 
• Hypebeast Limited (HKSE: 00150), a global digital media and e-commerce platform in contemporary lifestyle and culture, on its proposed listing on NASDAQ through a business combination with Iron Spark I Inc. (NASDAQ: ISAA), a special purpose acquisition company
• TH International Limited (Tims China), the exclusive master franchise of Tim Hortons coffee shops for Restaurant Brands International Inc. (TSX: QSR) (NYSE: QSR) in China, on a convertible note financing by a leading global asset manager
• JD Property Group Corporation in its acquisition of a controlling interest in, and the related takeover of, China Logistics Property Holdings Co., Ltd. (HKSE: 1589)
• Plus (NYSE: PLAV), a global provider of self-driving truck technology, in its US$3.3 billion business combination with Hennessy Capital Investment Corp. V
• TH International Limited (Tims China), the master franchisee and operator of Tim Hortons coffee shops in China, on its business combination with Silver Crest Acquisition Corporation (NASDAQ: SLCR), a publicly-traded special purpose acquisition company. The transaction values the combined business at approximately $1.4 billion. This transaction was named “Deals of the Year 2022” by China Business Law Journal
• Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE: CWK), a leading global real estate services firm, in the formation of a new asset services company with Vanke Service
• Partners Group on its US$300 million investment in DJ New Ease Group, a developer and operator of logistical and industrial real estate projects and asset manager in the PRC majority-owned and controlled by Warburg Pincus and its founder, Sun Dong Ping
• Carlyle in its investments in various Chinese leading companies in the education, media, technology, cosmetics and consumer industries
• Coatue Management in its various investments in the leading biotech, beverage, technology and consumer companies in China

Prior to joining Kirkland & Ellis, Jiayi had a role in the following selected transactions:

• CVC Capital on its sale of a controlling stake in an online education institution in China
• TPG Capital on its equity investment in a leading pre-school education institution in China
• A NYSE listed leading internet technology developer and online service provider, on
  • its Series B investment in an online digital media technology company in China; and
  • its Series F and Series G investment in a leading online food ordering platform in China.
• A Japanese originated conglomerate corporation on its disposal of 100% equity interest in its subsidiary in China to Shenzhen O-Film Technology Co., Ltd, a Shenzhen listed company (code: 002456), for over US$200 million
• Zeavion Group on its take-over acquisition of the educational business of The Gymboree Corporation, a leading pre-school education institution originated in the United States, for over US$120 million