Francis Zou
Biography
Overview
Francis Zou's practice focuses primarily on two areas: debt finance transactions and regulatory matters, and mergers and acquisitions and other corporate transactions.
Counting major international banks and multinational corporations among his clients, Francis offers a wealth of experience in all types of financings: investment grade, leveraged and structured financings, acquisition financings, receivables financings and other trade financings, and debt restructurings.
Francis regularly advises clients across a number of different corporate transactions, including M&A (private and public), private equity investments, divestitures, and rollup transactions.
He also counsels clients on SEC-registered offerings and private placements of debt, equity and convertible securities, asset financings, and derivatives transactions.
His knowledge of business and cross-border issues means he is frequently called upon to assist major international banks and multinational corporations with their operations in the US. He helps international banks to carry out successful strategic expansions by guiding their applications to the Federal Reserve and the relevant Federal and state chartering authorities. He also works closely with the Firm's litigation department to advise international banks and multinational corporations operating in the US in relation to commercial disputes and criminal investigations.
Experience
Bank of China
Representation in connection with a US$2.2 billion acquisition financing provided to a subsidiary of China Petrochemical Corporation.
Bank of China
Representation in connection with two US$1 billion credit facilities extended to a subsidiary of Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.
Agricultural Bank of China
Representation in connection with a US$450 million credit facility extended to Fosun International Limited.
Bank of China
Representation in connection with a US$240 million direct-pay letter of credit facility for the account of COFCO Capital Corporation in support of its commercial paper program.
First Commercial Bank
Representation in connection with a real estate loan provided to 59th Street Realty LLC.
China Merchants Bank New York branch
Representation in connection with the establishment of its US$1 billion global certificate of deposit program.
Bank of Communications New York branch
Representation in connection with the establishment of its US$1.5 billion global certificate of deposit program.
Shinhan Bank
Representation in connection with its US$1 billion commercial paper program.
Bank of China
Representation in connection with its applications to the Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for approval and license to establish a federal branch in Chicago, Illinois.
First Commercial Bank
Representation in connection with its applications to the Federal Reserve and Texas State Banking Department for approval and license to establish a state branch in Houston, Texas.
Bank of Taiwan
Representation in connection with its applications to the Federal Reserve and the New York State Department of Financial Services for approval and license to upgrade its New York Agency to a state-licensed New York Branch.
A Major International Bank
Representation in connection with its enforcement proceeding by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the New York State Department of Financial Services.
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China
Representation in connection with its acquisition of Prime Dealer Services from Fortis Bank.
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC)
Representation in connection with its acquisition from Bank of East Asia of an 80 percent equity stake in Bank of East Asia (USA), National Association. The Federal Reserve's conclusion at the end of its review of this transaction that ICBC was subject to comprehensive and consolidated supervision of its home country banking regulatory authority and approval of this transaction was the first of its kind for a Chinese bank and paves the way for other leading Chinese banks to acquire control of depository institutions in the United States.
HNA Group Company Ltd.
Representation in connection with its proposed sale of SR Technics Limited.
HNA Group Company Ltd.
Representation in connection with its proposed sale of Swissport International Limited.
"Legal Strategies for a Successful M&A Transaction in the US", 2014: Commune,
Great Wall, Beijing
"Outbound M&A by China's Growth Enterprises", 2012: China Entrepreneurs' Second Annual Wall Street China Forum, the Cornell Club, New York
"Key Legal Considerations for a Foreign Company's Acquisition in the U.S.", 2011: Chinese Cross-Border M&A Forum: US Opportunities, St. Regis Hotel, Beijing
