Daniel Dusek is a partner of Goodwin’s Private Equity group. Daniel has extensive experience advising on complex, cross-border corporate matters, including mergers and acquisitions, disposals, auctions, private equity and leveraged buyouts, take-privates, spin-offs, joint ventures and deSPACs, for leading private equity investors and corporations.
Daniel is recognized as a leading corporate/M&A and private equity lawyer by Chambers Greater China Region, Chambers Asia-Pacific, Chambers Global and The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific. He is named as one of the Global Elite Thought Leaders for M&A and Governance in Asia Pacific by Who’s Who Legal in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. Asian Legal Business selected him as one of the top 10 M&A lawyers in China in 2017. Who’s Who Legal regarded him as “A leading figure in the Hong Kong market, dedicated his practice to advising clients on high-stakes M&A and private equity investments and associated regulatory frameworks.” According to Chambers Asia-Pacific, clients viewed him as a "highly skilled negotiator who runs a solid practice and provides excellent service" and he is “always thinking on behalf of his clients beyond just the law, which is an invaluable skill and means he is trusted as a lawyer, but also an adviser." (2020 & 2021)
Experience
Daniel's recent experience includes advising:
- FountainVest on the $1.37 billion IPO of its portfolio company, Amer Sports, a global group of iconic sports and outdoor brands including Arc’teryx, Salomon, Wilson, Atomic and Peak Performance.
- KKR on its investment in the $80 million Series C equity financing of Maya Innovations (formerly Voyager Innovations), a leading fintech company in the Philippines.
- PennEngineering®, a premier manufacturer of fastening products and a portfolio company of Tinicum, on the acquisition of Sherex® Fastening Solutions, a global leader in the design, manufacturing, and installation of blind rivet nuts and associated fastening solutions
- Catcha Investment Corp (NYSE American: CHAA), a special purpose acquisition company, on its business combination with Crown LNG, a leading provider of offshore LNG liquefaction and regasification terminal technologies for harsh weather locations. The combined business has a pro forma implied enterprise value of approximately $685 million
- Bessemer Venture Partners on various growth equity investments in China and Southeast Asia
- Carlyle on the acquisition of HCP Global, a leading Chinese packaging firm, from Baring Private Equity Asia*
- KKR on its disposition of a portion of its shares in PT Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa (Gojek), an Indonesian on-demand multiservice platform and digital payment technology group*
- FountainVest Partners on its acquisition of Ziwi, a New Zealand-based ultra-premium pet food manufacturer and global exporter*
- TPG and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority on their acquisition of a minority stake in The CrownX*
- Varde Partners on its disposal of its interest in Global Cloud Xchange together with the other shareholders for approximately $512 million*
- As an international co-counsel for an investor consortium, comprising Warburg Pincus Asia LLC, General Atlantic Singapore Fund Pte. Ltd., Ocean Link Partners Limited, and Mr. Jinbo Yao, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of 58.com, on the take-private of 58.com Inc. (NYSE: WUBA), China’s largest online classifieds marketplace, at a valuation of approximately $8.7 billion. This transaction was named Finance Deal of the Year: Acquisitions by The Asia Legal Awards 2021 and “Finance Deal of the Year” by China Law & Practice Awards 2021*
- As an international co-counsel and sole debt financing counsel for an investor consortium, comprising DCP Capital Partners II, L.P., Ocean Link Partners, and Mr. Rick Yan, the Chief Executive Officer of 51job, on the take-private of 51job, Inc. (NASDAQ: JOBS) at a valuation of appropriately $4.3 billion. This transaction was named “2021 Deals of the Year” by China Business Law Journal*
- TH International Limited (Tims China), the master franchisee and operator of Tim Hortons coffee shops in China
- on its business combination with Silver Crest Acquisition Corporation (NASDAQ: SLCR), a publicly-traded special purpose acquisition company. The transaction values the combined business at approximately $1.8 billion*
- on a convertible note financing by a leading global asset manager. Tims China is pursuing a business combination with Silver Crest Acquisition Corporation (NASDAQ: SLCR)*
- The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) and Anchor Equity Partners on their respective investment in Airoha Technology Corp., a global leading communications solutions fabless integrated circuit design house based in Taiwan, majority-owned and controlled by MediaTek Inc. (TWSE: 2454). The transaction was valued at around $3.4 billion*
- Polestar Performance AB and its affiliates, the global electric performance car company, on its business combination with Gores Guggenheim Inc. (Nasdaq: GGPI, GGPIW), a special purpose acquisition company formed by affiliates of The Gores Group and Guggenheim Capital, LLC, for approximately $20 billion*
- Near Intelligence Holdings, Inc., a global SaaS leader in privacy-led data intelligence on people, places and products, on its business combination with KludeIn I Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: INKA), a special purpose acquisition company*
- Hypebeast Limited (HKSE: 00150), a global digital media and e-commerce platform in contemporary lifestyle and culture, on its listing on NASDAQ through a business combination with Iron Spark I Inc. (NASDAQ: ISAA), a special purpose acquisition company. The combined business has a pro forma equity value of $534 million*
- Amer Sports, a Finnish sporting goods company, along with its investor consortium ANTA Sports (HKG:2020.HK), FountainVest Partners, Anamered Investments Inc. and Tencent Holdings Limited, on the sale of Amer’s Precor division to Peloton (NASDAQ:PTON), one of the largest global commercial fitness equipment providers with a significant U.S. manufacturing presence, for $420 million*
- Azentio Software, a Singapore-headquartered software products business owned by funds advised by Apax
- on its binding agreement to acquire certain software assets from Path Solutions, a provider of core banking software*
- on their acquisition of the software products business of 3i Infotech Limited (NSE: 3IINFOTECH), an Indian IT solutions company listed on the National Stock Exchange of India Limited*
- Partners Group
- on its sale of a portfolio company with global operations in the technology sector in the Southeast Asia region*
- on its $300 million investment in DJ New Ease Group, a developer and operator of logistical and industrial real estate projects and asset manager in the PRC majority-owned and controlled by Warburg Pincus and its founder, Sun Dong Ping*
- GIC on its $1 billion+ co-investment with Equinix in the form of a limited liability partnership to develop and operate xScale™ data centers in Japan*
- Voyager Innovations, a leading technology company in the Philippines, on its $210 million Series C fundraising round*
- Carlyle on its acquisition of Jagex, one of the largest and most successful British video game studios, developing and publishing video games on PC and mobile, and is best known for its online role-playing living game franchise, RuneScape, which has attracted almost 300 million player accounts since its launch 20 years ago*
- FountainVest Partners, as a member of an investor consortium, on the €5.6 billion ($6.4 billion) voluntary public tender offer for all the shares in Amer Sports Corporation (HEL: AMEAS), a Finnish sporting goods company with internationally recognized brands including Salomon, Arc’teryx, Peak Performance, Atomic, Mavic, Suunto, Wilson and Precor. The investor consortium comprised ANTA Sports Products Limited (HKSE: 2020), FountainVest Partners, an affiliate of Chip Wilson (founder of lululemon athletica inc) and Tencent Holdings. This transaction was named “Deal of the Year” by FinanceAsia China Awards 2019*
- Hammer Capital, as a member of an investor consortium (the other member being Tencent Holdings (HKSE: 700)), on an announced take-private transaction of Bitauto Holdings Limited (NYSE: BITA) at $1.1 billion, as well as the investor consortium in the consequential mandatory general offer for the shares of Yixin Group Limited (HKSE: 2858) valued at $1.6 billion pursuant to the chain principle under the Hong Kong Takeovers Code*
- CCC Information Services Inc., a leading SaaS platform for the property and casualty insurance economy, on its business combination with Dragoneer Growth Opportunities Corp. (NYSE: DGNR), a special purpose acquisition company formed by an affiliate of Dragoneer Investment Group*
- CarVal Investors on its acquisition with Nithia Capital of Uttam Value Steel Limited and Uttam Galva Metallics Limited, the India-based manufacturers of steel and capital equipment products, as part of the corporate insolvency resolution process of the two companies*
- Silk EV, a U.S.-based engineering and design firm, on its joint venture with Chinese state-owned automaker FAW Group Corporation to make sports cars under the “HongQi” brand*
- L Catterton on its $250 million investment in Jio Platforms, a next-generation Indian technology company and subsidiary of Reliance Industries. This transaction was named TMT Deal of the Year by The Asia Legal Awards 2021*
- Cartesian Capital Group on an investment in its portfolio company, Tim Hortons China, by Tencent, Sequoia Capital and Eastern Bell Capital*
- The special committee of the board of directors of NASDAQ-listed Sky Solar Holdings, Ltd., a global independent power producer, in connection with a tender offer by an offeror group lead by Japan NK Investment K.K. and IDG Capital (together with a proposed short-form merger), as well as other strategic alternatives*
- Carlyle on its $150 million investment in Bytedance Ltd., a leading Chinese technology driven online media platform*
- Hillhouse on the pre-IPO financing round of a global artificial intelligence platform*
- Partners Group on the establishment of an investment platform in Singapore focusing on Indian real estate assets with the Xander Group acting as operator*
- Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501, “Hitachi”) and Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd. on the proposed merger of Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd. and three affiliates of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (TSE: 7267), Keihin Corporation (TSE: 7251), Showa Corporation (TSE: 7274) and Nissin Kogyo Co., Ltd. (TSE: 7230). The merged company will be owned jointly by Hitachi and Honda and will be a global mega-supplier of automobile and motorcycle systems*
- A Middle Eastern sovereign wealth fund on its investment in the $14 billion Series C equity financing of Ant Financial. This transaction was named “Best China Deal” and “Best Financing (early stage to pre-IPO)” by FinanceAsia Achievement Awards 2018 and Private Equity Deal of the Year by The Asia Legal Awards 2019*
- A consortium comprised of funds affiliated with Baring Private Equity Asia and CITIC Capital Holdings on its $300 million acquisition of Wall Street English, a global private English language school business, from Pearson, a global leading learning company*
- An investor consortium led by Mr. Bizuo (Tony) Liu, the Chief Executive Officer of Cellular Biomedicine Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CBMG), certain other senior management members of Cellular Biomedicine, Hillhouse Bio Holdings, L.P. and TF Capital Ranok Ltd. and also including Dangdai International Group Co., Limited and Mission Right Limited on a proposed take-private of Cellular Biomedicine, a biopharmaceutical firm engaged in the drug development of immunotherapies for cancer and stem cell therapies for degenerative diseases*
- Nexus Point Management Limited on its acquisition of Burger King’s business in Taiwan and the related negotiation of a master franchise agreement*
- Global A&T Electronics Ltd., Singapore-based issuer in its consensual restructuring, which restructured $1.27 billion of secured bonds through a prepackaged bankruptcy filing and resulted in existing equity sponsors TPG and Affinity retaining a majority equity stake in the reorganized company*
- The special committee of the board of directors of China Automotive Systems, Inc. on its proposed, but terminated going-private acquisition by the consortium consisting of Chairman Chen and affiliates of Morgan Stanley Private Equity*
- Church & Dwight on its long-term strategic alliance with Shanghai Jahwa for the exclusive distribution of certain of its products in the PRC*
- A global animal health company on its long-term joint venture with its Chinese partner for the development, manufacture and sale of a vaccine in the PRC*
- Anbang Insurance Group Co., Ltd. as lead member of an investor group on its proposed, unsolicited $14 billion acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. (not consummated)*
- The special committee of the board of directors of Qihoo 360 Technology Co. Ltd. on its $9.3 billion going-private acquisition by a consortium including the chairman and CEO of Qihoo, CITIC Capital Securities Co., Ltd., Golden Brick Capital, China Renaissance Holdings Ltd. and Sequoia Capital China. This is the largest-ever going-private deal for a Chinese company listed in the U.S.*
- Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. on its proposed, but terminated, unsolicited acquisition of Yingde Gases Group Company Limited (Hong Kong)*
- Shandong Hongda Mining Co., Ltd. on its $300 million acquisition of Jagex Ltd. (United Kingdom), a developer of online games*
- Duke Energy in a $1.2 billion sale of its holdings in Brazil to China Three Gorges Corporation*
- An affiliate of Fortress Investment Group LLC on the sale of its majority stake in its portfolio company, Abercrombie & Kent Group of Companies, S.A., to Zhonghong Group*
- Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Inc., an affiliate of Joh. A. Benckiser, on its joint venture to operate coffee and tea retail outlets in Greater China under the Peet’s Coffee brand*
- Jacobs Douwe Egberts B.V. (Netherlands), an affiliate of Joh. A. Benckiser
- on its joint venture in Greater China focusing on marketing and selling coffee, tea products and appliances to retail, wholesale, e-commerce and out-of-home customers*
- on its $1.1 billion acquisition of Super Group Ltd. (Singapore)*
- BRF S.A. (Brazil) on its acquisition of a 70% stake in FFM Further Processing Sdn Bhd*
- The Carlyle Group LP on its investment in newly issued Class A ordinary shares and convertible notes of SouFun Holdings Ltd.*
- Affiliates of The Carlyle Group LP, together with Sequoia Capital and Actis Capital, LLP on the $1.3 billion sale of an 81% stake in Keystone Lodging Holdings Ltd. to Shanghai Jinjiang International Hotels Development Co.*
- The special committee of independent directors of Perfect World Co., Ltd. on the $1 billion going-private acquisition by Perfect Peony Holding Co. Ltd*
- GIC on various private equity and M&A matters*
- A buyer consortium consisting of Carlyle Group Inc., Trust bridge Partners V, L.P. and a large strategic investor on its acquisition of a controlling stake in Cloudary Corporation, an online provider of literature and publications*
- Integrated Whale Media Investments, a Hong Kong-based investor group, on its acquisition of a majority stake in Forbes Media LLC, a magazine publisher*
- China Huaxin Post and Telecommunications Economy Development Centre on its $362 million acquisition of the Enterprise business of Alcatel-Lucent S.A.*
- UCWeb Inc. and its founders on a series of transactions resulting in a disposition of 100% of equity interests to Alibaba Group*
- Ms. Roberta Lipson, the CEO of Chindex International, Inc. as part of the buyer consortium led by an affiliate of TPG and including an affiliate of Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) Co., Ltd., on the $434 million going-private transaction of Chindex*
- Baidu Inc. on its $283 million acquisition of Nuomi Holdings Inc. from Renren Inc.*
- CITIC Private Equity Advisers (Hong Kong) Limited on its $312.3 million acquisition of a 21.7% stake in Biosensors International Group, Ltd., a Singapore-listed company, from an affiliate of Shandong Weigao Group Medical Polymer Company Limited*
- The buyer consortium consisting of The Carlyle Group, Sequoia Capital and Actis Capital, in the $688 million going-private transaction of 7 Days Group Holdings Limited*
- The WhiteWave Foods Company on its joint venture in China with China Mengniu Dairy Company Limited*
- Mr. Zishen Wu, CEO and chairman of Yongye International Inc. (China), and Full Alliance International Limited, on the $360 million going-private transaction of Yongye International Inc.*
- Hony Capital on the $540 million going-private acquisition of Simcere Pharmaceutical Group (Nasdaq) by a buyer consortium led by Simcere Chairman Jinsheng Ren and Hony Capital*
- UCWeb Inc., a leading provider of mobile Internet software technology and services, on its acquisition of a 80% equity interest in Teiron Network Technology Co., Ltd.*
- J.P. Morgan, as financial advisor, on the $625 million going-private acquisition of Pactera Technology International Limited (Nasdaq)*
- The Capital Group Companies on a series of privately negotiated dispositions of minority interests in a Hong Kong-listed company and a privately held organization*
- AutoNavi Holdings Limited, a Chinese developer of navigation software, on several transactions, including the issuance of preferred and ordinary shares to Alibaba Group Holding Limited for $294 million, and the acquisition of Alohar Mobile Inc., a privately held startup company focusing on location-based mobile technologies*
- Sinochem Group (China), a Chinese state-owned conglomerate, on Sinochem CP Co. Ltd.’s $300 million commercial paper program*
- Pension Danmark A/S, a Danish pension fund with €16.4 billion under management, on its 50% equity investment in an affiliate of E.On AG that owns and operates wind farms in Pennsylvania and Texas*
- China XD Electric Co., Ltd. on its joint venture with General Electric Company’s Digital Energy business pursuant to which GE subscribed for a 15% equity stake in XD for $535 million and the two companies formed an automation joint venture*
- Landis+Gyr, a global leader in energy management solutions, on its $2.3 billion acquisition by Toshiba Corporation*
- Deere & Company on its sale of John Deere Renewables, LLC, a leading operator and developer of wind power to Exelon Generation Company, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Exelon Corporation, for $900 million. This transaction was named 2010 “Best M&A Deal” by Power Finance & Risk*
- Babcock & Brown on several transactions, including the sale of its interests and management rights in its $1.9 billion Infrastructure Fund North America LP to John Hancock Life Insurance Company and other entities; on the purchase of its wind development portfolio by Riverstone Holdings LLC; on the sale of its Texas Gulf wind project with a capacity of 283.2 MW to an affiliate of Pattern Renewables LP; and in the sale of its three operating wind projects with a combined capacity of 184.5 MW to NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, a subsidiary of FPL Group, Inc., for $352 million*
- Trane Inc. (formerly known as American Standard) on its $10.1 billion acquisition by Ingersoll-Rand Company Limited; and in its $1.745 billion sale of its global bath and kitchen business to Bain Capital Partners*
- The board of directors of Avaya Inc. on the $8.3 billion acquisition of Avaya Inc. by a consortium of private equity investors that included TPG Capital and Silver Lake Partners*
- Univision Communications Inc. on its $13.5 billion sale to a consortium of private equity investors that included Texas Pacific Group; Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P.; Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC; Providence Equity Partners Inc.; and investor Haim Saban*
- First Reserve Corporation on its $1.2 billion acquisition of Dresser-Rand Company and its subsidiaries from Ingersoll-Rand Company Limited*
- Landmark Communications Inc. on its sale of The Weather Channel business to a consortium consisting of NBC Universal Inc., a unit of General Electric Co., Blackstone Group LP and Bain Capital LLC, and the related spin-off of Landmark’s other businesses to Landmark’s existing shareholders*
- Jerry Moyes on his $2.6 billion acquisition of Swift Transportation Inc.*
*Denotes experience prior to Goodwin.
Areas of Practice
Credentials
Education
JD2000
New York University School of Law
BA1995
Harvard University
Admissions
Bars
- HK Registered Foreign Lawyer (New York)
- New York
Recognition & Awards
Daniel is continually recognized as a leading lawyer for his areas of expertise, and has been included in numerous legal guides.
- “Leading Lawyer,” Private Equity: Buyouts & Venture Capital Investment (International Firms) – China, Chambers Greater China Region / Chambers Asia Pacific (2021-2024)
- “Leading Lawyer,” Corporate/M&A: The Elite (International Firms) – China, Chambers Greater China Region / Chambers Asia-Pacific (2018–2024)
- Named to Private Practice Powerlist for Asia Pacific M&A – Legal 500 (2024)
- “Leading Individual,” Corporate (including M&A) – Hong Kong, Legal 500 (2020–2024)
- “Leading Individual,” Private Equity – Hong Kong, Legal 500 (2020–2024)
- “Highly Regarded,” M&A, IFLR1000 (2018–2023)
- “Highly Regarded,” Private Equity, IFLR1000 (2018–2023)
- Recommended as a "Global Leader" for M&A, Who's Who Legal (2023)
- Recommended as a "Global Leader" for Foreign Investment Review and M&A, Who's Who Legal (2022)
- Recommended as a "National Leader" for Mainland China & Hong Kong M&A, Who's Who Legal (2022)