Global law firm White & Case LLP has represented China Development Bank Corporation in connection with the €553 million acquisition financing for Weichai Power Hong Kong International Development Co. Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Weichai Power Co. Ltd, for the acquisition of a stake in Germany’s KION Group. The transaction represents the largest direct investment by a Chinese group in Germany to date.
KION is Europe’s market leader in industrial trucks, the global number two in the industry and the leading non-domestic supplier in China. Weichai Power is a leading automotive and equipment manufacturing group in China and is a subsidiary of Shandong Heavy Industry Group.
“We expect outbound investments by major Chinese industrial players will continue to be a feature of global cross-border corporate transactions in 2013. Our greater China team has a track record of representing various stakeholders investing in both developed and growth markets,” said White & Case partner Baldwin Cheng.
“We are pleased to have advised on this landmark transaction. With combined local and international capabilities in China, Europe and other major destinations for Chinese outbound investments, White & Case is well positioned to advise clients looking to invest in new markets, and new industry sectors,” said White & Case Beijing Executive Partner Xiaoming Li.
“As one of Germany’s top trading partners globally, China is beginning to play an important role in the expansion of German industrial players and vice versa. This transaction is a perfect example of a highly collaborative strategic partnership between China and Germany,” said White & Case partner Tom Schorling.
The White & Case team was led by partners Xiaoming Li, Baldwin Cheng and David Li in Beijing, and Tom Schorling and Andreas Stilcken from Frankfurt. They were supported by associates Caspar Davey and Ting Yuan in Beijing, and Ingrid Knollmeyer in Frankfurt.
