Harvey Yao

Harvey Yao focuses his practice on helping Asia-based fast-growing companies raise equity or equity-linked capital in both the public and private markets, including in SEC-registered offerings, private investment in public equity (PIPE) transactions, as well as venture and growth equity financings.

Harvey also regularly advises Nasdaq or NYSE listed companies in their SEC reporting and disclosure obligations, as well as private companies in their corporate governance, equity-based compensation and other general corporate and compliance matters.

Prior to joining Cooley, Harvey worked at the Beijing office of a top Wall Street law firm, where he gained significant experience and exposure to U.S. initial public offerings and securities regulations.

M&A and Private Equity 

Representative Matters:

• Bitdeer Technologies (Nasdaq: BTDR), a world-leading technology company for blockchain and high-performance computing, in its (1) up to US$150 million private placement (PIPE) financing in the United States, and (2) up to US$150 million committed equity financing in the United States, and (3) up to US$250 million at-the-market offering in the United States
• EHang Holdings (Nasdaq: EH), a leading autonomous aerial vehicle technology platform company, in its (1) up to US$100 million at-the-market offering in the United States, and (2) over US$73 million private placement (PIPE) financing outside the United States with strategic and financial investors
• Gracell Biotechnologies (Nasdaq: GRCL, acquired by AstraZeneca in 2023), a global clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering and developing breakthrough cell therapies, in its up to US$150 million private placement (PIPE) financing in the United States joined by syndicate of premier healthcare investors
• TAL Education (NYSE: TAL), a smart learning solutions provider in China, in its US$2.3 billion private placement of convertible senior notes led by Silver Lake
  Futu Holdings (Nasdaq: FUTU), a leading tech-driven online brokerage and wealth management platform, in its over US$1.2 billion follow-on offering of American depositary shares
• VNET Group (Nasdaq: VNET), a leading carrier- and cloud-neutral internet data center services provider in China, in its US$250 million private placement (PIPE) of junior convertible notes to Blackstone and US$260 million privately negotiated repurchase of high-vote ordinary shares from its largest institutional shareholder
• Fangdd (Nasdaq: DUO), a customer-oriented property technology company in China, in its US$20 million registered direct offerings in the United States with hedge fund investors

M&A and Private Equity  

• Bitdeer Technologies (Nasdaq: BTDR), a world-leading technology company for blockchain and high-performance computing, in its US$1.18 billion merger with Blue Safari (SPAC) and deSPAC listing on Nasdaq
• Summit Healthcare (SPAC) in its US$849 million merger with LakeShore Biopharma (Nasdaq: LSB), a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing, manufacturing, and delivering new generations of vaccines and therapeutic biologics for infectious diseases and cancer
  
• Profit Sail, a long-established global logistics service provider specialized in cross-border air freight services, in its US$200 million merger with AIB Acquisition (SPAC) and deSPAC listing on Nasdaq
• A Thailand-based leading courier and logistics service company in its (1) US$100 million growth equity financing, (2) US$100 million convertible bond financing, and (3) US$650 million late stage financing
• A leading mobile internet company specializing in free internet access in its US$300 million purchase of preferred shares from private equity investors
• A digital asset management platform for enterprises in its US$108 million growth equity financings and venture investments
• A 3D interior design, decoration and construction software platform in its US$100 million growth equity financing led by Hillhouse
• A Singapore-based ecommerce company in its multiple venture financings for over US$60 million
• A mid-cap private equity fund in its US$30 million investment in a U.S. video-sharing social networking platform
• A leading beverage company in its US$5 million investment in a Delaware company and the related license of exclusive China distribution rights for herbal and/or spiced liqueurs
• An online wholesale marketplace for retailers in its US$5 million seed round financing led by Lightspeed