This week’s Insights looked at the recent Korean presidential election, the enduring importance of Hong Kong to PRC firms, and one of Singapore’s hot new legal-tech startups.

This week’s Insights looked at the prospects of third-party funding in Singapore, what it’s like for a law firm to advise on organization of the Olympic Games, and one of India’s hot new legal tech startups.

KWM Academy launching ceremony & advisory board meeting was held in Beijing on April 19 2017. Nearly 100 experts, scholars and public figures attended the ceremony.

JunHe LLP was the biggest winner at SSQ ThomsonReuters ALB China Law Awards 2017 after picking up seven awards, including Managing Partner of the Year, Beijing Law Firm of the Year and SSQ Award China Law Firm of the Year, with King & Wood Mallesons receiving six awards.

On April 6 2017, Barrick Gold Corporation (“Barrick”), the world’s largest gold miner, and Shandong Gold Group (“Shandong Gold”) signed the agreement on joint development of Argentina’s Veladero Gold Mine in Jinan, Shandong province. Zhong Lun Law Firm, Canada’s Davis Ward Philips & Vineberg, and Norton Rose Fulbright provided legal services for the project.

On March 16 2017, leading global aluminum manufacturer, United Company RUSAL Plc. (“RUSAL”) successfully issued the first-phase of yuan-denominated bonds (“panda bond”) worth RMB 1 billion on Shanghai Stock Exchange (SHSE). Zhong Lun Law Firm served as the Chinese legal advisor to CICC.

On March 29 2017, ZheShang Bank Co., Ltd. completed an offshore private placement of non-cumulative permanent preferred shares worth US$ 2.175 billion, with the first-phase coupon rate fixed at 5.45%.

Swire Beverages Holdings Ltd., a subsidiary wholly-owned by Swire Pacific Limited A (HKEX: 00019), completed a buy-in in Coca Cola's bottling business in China through reorganization on March 31, 2017. The company will pay around RMB 4.6 billion (net) for the franchise and reorganization deal.

Guotai Junan Securities Co., Ltd. (Guotai Junan) completed its initial public offering (stock code: 2611) on the mainboard of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) on April 11. Haiwen & Partners acted as the Chinese legal advisor to Guotai Junan, and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer acted as its Hong Kong legal advisor. The Chinese and Hong Kong legal advisors to the underwriter are respectively Grandall Law Firm and Clifford Chance.