HONG KONG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--International law firm Sidley Austin recently represented P.R.C.-based Nine Dragons Paper (Holdings) Limited in its tender offer for its US$300 million 7.875% Senior Notes due 2013, which achieved a 58% acceptance rate. Nine Dragons is the largest producer in Asia, and one of the largest in the world, of containerboard and other packaging paperboard products.

In Hong Kong, Sidley partners Matthew Sheridan and Jason Kuo led the team advising on U.S. law, and partner Constance Choy led the team advising on Hong Kong law. Merrill Lynch was the dealer manager for the transaction.

This was the third time that the Sidley team has represented long-standing client, Nine Dragons, on a significant capital markets matter.

In Spring 2008, Matthew Sheridan, working with Constance Choy, led the Sidley team that represented Nine Dragons in the offering of the Senior Notes. That transaction marked the first debt capital markets transaction from a new issuer in Asia in 2008. In 2006, Sidley also represented Nine Dragons in connection with its US$500 million initial public offering, listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Main Board with concurrent global placements pursuant to Regulation S and Rule 144A. The IPO was named “Best Mid-Cap IPO 2006” by The Asset.

Mr. Sheridan says, “We are delighted to have assisted our good client, Nine Dragons, in many of the group’s significant strategic corporate transactions over these recent years. We are pleased that they continue to rely on our diverse and multijurisdictional corporate finance capabilities for a broad range of corporate finance transactions.”

Sidley has a strong commitment to Asia, demonstrated by over 25 years in the region, with the first office in Asia established in Singapore in 1982. Sidley has one of the largest and most active capital markets practices of any international law firm in the region, advising clients on a broad range of matters governed under Hong Kong, U.S. and English law. The firm represents issuers, underwriters and sponsors on all types of equity, debt and equity-linked transactions, including listings on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Main Board and Growth Enterprise Market (GEM) Board, SEC-registered offerings in the United States, international securities offerings pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S governed, and issuances involving the creation of ADR or GDR programs. Offering multi-jurisdictional law capabilities, Sidley acts on dual listings and international offerings on the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, the London Stock Exchange, the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and, in conjunction with local advisers, stock exchanges in Jakarta, Korea and Singapore.

Notes to Editors

Sidley Austin LLP is one of the world's largest full-service law firms, with more than 1800 lawyers practicing in 16 U.S. and international cities, including Beijing, Brussels, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hong Kong, London, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo. Every year since 2003, Sidley has been named to Legal Business’ Global Elite, its designation for the 18 firms “that define the pinnacle of the legal profession.” BTI, a Boston-based consulting and research firm, has named Sidley to their Client Service Hall of Fame as one of only two law firms to rank in the Client Service Top 10 for seven years in a row, and to the BTI Power Elite as one of only seven law firms demonstrating the best client relationships for the fourth consecutive year.

For purposes of the New York State Bar rules, this press release may be considered Attorney Advertising and the headquarters of the firm are Sidley Austin LLP 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019, 212.839.5300 and Sidley Austin LLP One South Dearborn, Chicago, IL 60603, 312.853.7000. Prior results described herein do not guarantee a similar outcome.

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