Global buyout firm Carlyle Group engaged Linklaters as legal adviser for its $137 million investment in China’s home appliances giant Haier Electronics Group Co through convertible bonds. Haier Electronics Group, the Hong Kong subsidiary of Haier Group, was advised by DLA Piper,while retaining Anglo Chinese Corporate Finance as its financial adviser. Carlyle’s agreement to buy a 9 percent stake in Haier in early August helps the Chinese washing-machine maker expand its foothold in the nation’s third and fourth-tier cities and venture into Japanese and Korean markets. Carlyle also has an option to invest an extra $57 million when the warrants are exercised. The transaction came on the heels of Haier’s recent foray into Asia --after its $130 million purchase of Panasonic Corp's Sanyo Electric washing machine and refrigerator units in Japan and Southeast Asia. DLA Piper’s team is led by Jeffrey Mak, a partner specializing in securities and corporate transactions. Mak is aided by his colleagues Frances Li, Iris Yuen, Simon Lo and Vickie Feng. "The deal may be regarded as innovative, especially in terms of materialising the needs of both parties in the context of rapidly changing domestic consumption industry in China," Mak said.