King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) announced today that it has joined the Hong Kong Infrastructure Financing Facilitation Office (IFFO) as a partner. The IFFO is a platform established by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority in July 2016 to facilitate infrastructure investments and their financings. It supports Hong Kong's development as an infrastructure financing hub under China's Belt and Road initiative. As Chinese enterprises pursue their "going out" strategies, opportunities for Hong Kong as a fund raising hub for these transactions will increase.
KWM is one of the first law firms invited to join the IFFO which recognises the firm's expertise and standing in Hong Kong as well as the important, broader role the Hong Kong legal sector plays in this initiative.
KWM Hong Kong partner David Lam comments, "Hong Kong's reputation as an international financial centre makes it an ideal destination for Belt and Road-related fund raisings. We have advised on a number of financings for energy investment projects along the Belt and Road. In many of these deals, there is a significant Hong Kong component which requires expertise from Hong Kong lawyers. Working with our China team, we combine our experience of international project finance together with our familiarity in collaborating with Chinese enterprises to bring these transactions to a successful completion."