John Baptist specialises in corporate finance, capital markets and mergers and acquisitions law. He has practised law in the jurisdiction of Hong Kong for over a decade. His clients include Hong Kong, Chinese and multinational companies as well as leading investment banks and financial institutions.

John Baptist is an expert legal advisor in equity capital markets transactions and has successfully closed over 30 IPOs and secondary offerings, with a total value of an excess of US$25 billion, including landmark IPOs such as HTSC, Bank of Communications, and Haitong Securities. Many of these transactions were awarded “Deal of the Year” in various awards.

Prior to joining KWM Hong Kong office, John Baptist worked in other leading international law firms and investment banks. He has had the opportunity to work in Beijing, Shanghai, and London for over five years.

John Baptist speaks fluent Mandarin, Cantonese and English and is proficient in negotiating and drafting documents in Chinese and English.

Recent IPO experience includes*:

• US$5 billion H share IPO of HTSC (Huatai Securities Co., Ltd.), advising issuer – Top 3 worldwide and largest Hong Kong IPO in 2015 and awarded “IPO of the Year” by Asia Legal Awards, The American Lawyer
• US$2 billion H share IPO of Bank of Communications Co., Ltd., advising issuer in 2005 – First PRC bank listed outside China
• US$1.8 billion H share IPO of Haitong Securities Co., Ltd., advising Haitong International, JP Morgan, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Citi, UBS – Top 2 IPO in 2012 and awarded “Equity Deal of Year 2012” by China Law & Practice
• US$1.5 billion IPO of China Huishan Dairy Holdings Company Limited, advising issuer – Top 4 IPO and largest private-owned enterprise listing in 2013
• US$1.4 billion H share IPO of Huishang Bank Corporation Limited, advising 21 underwriters including BOCI, CITIC, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, UBS – Top 5 IPO in 2013
• US$1.1 billion H share IPO of China Galaxy Securities Co., Ltd., advising 27 underwriters including Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, China Galaxy International – Top 6 IPO in 2013
• US$335 million IPO of Sunac China Holdings Limited, advising Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs and other underwriters in 2010 – Awarded “Deal of the Year 2010” by China Business Law Journal
• US$315 million IPO of Haichang Holdings Ltd, advising BNP Paribas and Merrill Lynch – First PRC theme park operator listed outside China
• US$239 million H share IPO of Hanhua Financial Holding Co., Ltd., advising issuer in 2014 – First PRC guarantee financing provider listed outside China
• US$120 million H share IPO of Luzheng Futures Company Limited, advising issuer in 2015 – First PRC futures company listed outside China
• Others: Bank of Qingdao, Xinte Energy Co. Ltd. in 2015; BAIC Motor Corporation Ltd., China CNR Corporation Limited, Central China Securities Co. Ltd. in 2014; Zhengzhou Coal Mining Machinery Group Company Limited, Future Land Development Holdings Limited in 2012; Changfeng Axle (China) Company Limited, ShiFang Holdings Limited in 2010; Intime Department Store (Group) Co. Ltd. in 2007; Jilin Qifeng Chemical Fiber Co., Ltd. in 2006; China Netcom Group Corporation (Hong Kong) Limited in 2004; PICC Property and Casualty Company Limited in 2003

Recent secondary offering / placing experience includes*:

• US$1.7 billion top-up placing of China Taiping Insurance Holdings Co. Ltd., advising placing agents HSBC, Citi, UBS, CCBI, CICC and CMBI – Largest top-up placing in 2015
• US$326 million H share placing of Central China Securities Co., Ltd, advising placing agents CCBI, Qilu International, HSBC and Pan Asia in 2015
• US$225 million H share placing of Huaneng Renewables Corporation Limited, advising the placing agent Credit Suisse in 2014
• US$182 million H share placing of Huadian Power International Corporation, advising the placing agent UBS in 2014
• US$142 million placing of Sihuan Pharmaceuticals Holdings, advising the placing agent Morgan Stanley in 2014
• US$117 million H share placing of Beijing Jingneng Clean Energy, advising the placing agents UBS, Essence International and CMS in 2014

Recent Regulatory experience with the listed companies in Hong Kong includes*:

• H share companies: Xinte Energy Co. Ltd., The People’s Insurance Company (Group) Of China, China Reinsurance Group, Luzheng Futures Company Ltd
• A+H share companies: China Construction Bank, Huatai Financial Holdings (Hong Kong) Limited, Zhengzhou Coal Mining Machinery Group Co., Ltd., China CITIC Bank
• Red-chip companies: China Taiping Insurance Group, China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited, China Netcom Group Corporation Hong Kong Limited

Recent merger and acquisition and other experience includes*:

• Cheung Kong Property Holdings Limited, Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings Limited and Power Assets Holdings Limited : A$7.3 billion acquisition of 100% equity interest in ASX-listed energy company DUET Group
• US$900 million issuance of perpetual subordinated convertible securities by Sino-Ocean Land Capital Finance, advising issuer – Awarded “Debt and Equity-Linked Deal of the Year 2011” by China Law & Practice
• US$302 million acquisition by NWS Holdings Limited, the infrastructure and service flagship of New World Development Company Limited, of 8.84% of the total issued share capital of Beijing Capital International Airport Co., Ltd.
• China Mobile acquisitions of (i) China Resources Peoples Telephone, a voluntary conditional cash offer and (ii) mobile telecommunication assets in China
• Citibank acquisition of 5% shareholding in Shanghai Pudong Development Bank
• Strategic investment by Copenhagen Airports in Hainan Meilan Airport

*Includes transactions completed prior to joining KWM