Michael Ning counsels private equity sponsors, investors, and corporations on a variety of cross-border corporate transactions and investments. 

He has broad experience advising on, and assisting clients with, mergers and acquisitions, privatizations, private equity and leveraged buyouts, joint ventures, minority investments, equity capital markets, and compliance related matters.

Michael’s representative experience includes advising:

  • Searchlight Capital Partners, a transatlantic private investment firm, on its minority investment in Synergy Marine Group, a leading global ship manager and provider of end-to-end maritime solutions that is headquartered in Singapore and operates through a global network of over 25 offices across 13 countries
  • Hillhouse Capital Management, HOPU Investment Management, Global Logistic Properties Limited (GLP) founder Ming Mei’s SMG, Bank of China Group Investment, and China Vanke Co. or their affiliated entities in their US$11.6 billion acquisition of GLP, Asia’s leading warehouse operator, representing the largest private equity-backed takeover in Asia (ex-Japan) to date, and named Deal of the Year and Best Leveraged Finance Deal by FinanceAsia Achievement Awards 2017, Best Cross-border M&A Deal by FinanceAsia China Awards 2018, and M&A Deal of the Year: Southeast Asia by The Asia Legal Awards 2018*
  • A consortium comprised of Ocean Link Partners and Sequoia Capital China in the privatization of Zhejiang New Century Hotel Management Co., Ltd., a company previously listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (previously HKSE: 1158) and a hotel and hospitality management and operations group headquartered in Hangzhou that focuses on midscale to upscale hotels across China, by way of a voluntary general offer*
  • Polestar Performance AB and its affiliates, the global electric performance car company, in its business combination with Gores Guggenheim Inc. (Nasdaq: GGPI, GGPIW), a special purpose acquisition company, for approximately US$20 billion*
  • Artisan Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: ARTAU), a special purpose acquisition company founded by renowned Hong Kong cultural entrepreneur Adrian Cheng, in its business combination with Prenetics Group Limited, a global leader in genomic and diagnostic testing*
  • LOGOS Property in its sale of various logistics and industrial properties and assets in China*
  • Car Inc. (previously HKSE: 699), in its issue of US$175 million of convertible bonds to MBK Partners Special Situations fund*
  • Advantage Partners, in its primary and secondary general partner share sale to, and strategic partnership with, Tokyo Century Corporation*
  • Li & Fung, on a US$100 million strategic investment by JD.com in Li & Fung*
  • GLP and the consortium offeror comprising the Fung family and GLP, in the privatization of Li & Fung, a company previously listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (previously HKSE: 494)*
  • Malaysian sovereign fund in its investment in the US$14 billion Series C equity financing of Ant Financial; this transaction was named Best China Deal and Best Financing (early stage to pre-IPO) by FinanceAsia Achievement Awards 2018 and Private Equity Deal of the Year by The Asia Legal Awards 2019*
  • A consortium comprising FountainVest Partners and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan in its investment partnership with the Pure Group, Asia’s leading premium lifestyle brand that includes Pure Yoga, Pure Fitness, Pure Apparel, and Nood food*
  • The Carlyle Group, CITIC, and CITIC Capital Holdings in the US$2.08 billion acquisition of the McDonald’s operations in China and Hong Kong and negotiation of a 20-year master franchise agreement ― the largest McDonald’s franchise in the world; this transaction was named 2017 M&A Deal of the Year by Asian Legal Business*
  • Midea International Corporation Company Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Midea Group Co., Ltd. (000333.SZ), in its privatisation of Welling Holding Limited, a company previously listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKSE: 382)*
  • Hillhouse Capital Group and CareCapital Advisors Limited in its acquisition of a minority stake in a newly-formed company that will acquire Carestream’s dental digital business from Onex Corporation in partnership with Clayton, Dubilier & Rice*
  • G-Resources Limited in connection with the sale of its gold minerals mine to a US and Australian led consortium for approximately US$775 million, which constituted a very substantial disposal under the Hong Kong Listing Rules*
  • JobStreet Corporation Berhad (Malaysia) in its sale of certain of its businesses in Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Hong Kong to SEEK Limited (a company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange)*
  • Morgan Stanley, the sponsor and underwriter to the US$246 million Hong Kong IPO and global offering of Regina Miracle International (Holdings)*
  • Nirvana Asia in its US$261 million Hong Kong IPO and global offering*
  • Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse, and CCB International, the placing agents in connection with the US$930 million share sale by China Traditional Chinese Medicine to Sinopharm and other investors to finance its US$1.34 billion acquisition of Jiangyin Tianjiang Pharmaceutical*
  • Morgan Stanley as the placing agent in the US$50.4 million share offering Lee’s Pharmaceuticals, a company listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange*
  • China Agri-Products Exchange Limited, a company listed the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, on multiple capital reorganizations and rights issues*
  • PNG Resources Holdings, a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, in its US$70 million rights issue*
  • Wai Yuen Tong Medicine, a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, in its US$30 million rights issue* 

*Matter handled prior to joining Latham

Bar Qualification

  • Hong Kong (Solicitor)

Education

  • Bachelor of Economics, University of Sydney
  • Bachelor of Laws, University of Sydney
    First Class Honors
  • Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice, College of Law

Languages Spoken

  • English