Herbert Smith Freehills advises joint sponsors on Dekon Group's Hong Kong IPO

Dekon Group is a rapidly growing livestock and poultry breeding and farming enterprise in China. With a vertically integrated industry chain covering the breeding and farming of pigs and yellow-feathered broilers and feed production, the company is committed to becoming a quality food manufacturing enterprise with full industry chain capabilities in China. The company's business has grown rapidly since inception, with an increase in the sales volume of pigs by more than 100 times in the last 10 years. As at 31 May 2023, the company's business footprint covered 39 cities across 13 provinces and autonomous regions in China. According to the Frost & Sullivan Report, the company ranked sixth among all pig suppliers in China in terms of sales volume of pigs in 2022; and ranked third among all yellow-feathered broiler suppliers in China in terms of sales volume of yellow-feathered broilers for the same year.

"We congratulate Dekon Group, one of China's leading agricultural companies, on its listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange," said Hong Kong partner Jason Sung. "We are delighted to have worked with the company and the joint sponsors on this IPO and wish them continued success."

Herbert Smith Freehills leads the legal market in advising sponsors and underwriters on Hong Kong IPOs. In the past two years, the firm has advised on 18 successful listings in Hong Kong, ranking second among 67 international and local law firms in Hong Kong, according to RyanBen Capital.

"Our expertise in capital markets ranges from primary industries to innovative sectors," said Hong Kong partner* Jin Kong. "We look forward to continuing to support Chinese companies to access international investors through Hong Kong."

Partners Jason Sung, Matt Emsley and Jin Kong jointly led a cross-office team advising the joint sponsors, assisted by senior associates Kris Cheung and Brian Ge, associates Crystal Chan, Reagan Li, Yirong Du and Ting Wang, legal manager Hilary Chong, trainees Kate Dai and Emyth Cun, as well as paralegals Emily Wan and Philip Yeung. Senior associate Maisie Ko also provided support.

Legal manager Marine Jin led Herbert Smith Freehills Kewei Joint Operation’s Alternative Legal Services business to provide high-efficiency solutions for verification and other document-intensive processes during the listing, assisted by senior legal analyst Chloe Hu, legal analysts Chunqin Li, Jarros Fang and Huaqian Zhang.

*According to regulatory requirements, Jin Kong's official title is Senior Registered Foreign Lawyer in Hong Kong.