Michael Ceulen is a Partner in Simpson Thacher’s Hong Kong office and a member of the Firm’s Private Funds Practice. He specializes in the organization, structuring and operation of global private equity funds, with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region. Having worked in both Simpson Thacher’s New York and London offices before relocating to the Hong Kong office in 2014, Michael is able to offer clients an international perspective. He has extensive experience advising on fundraisings across numerous asset classes, including buyout, growth, real estate, credit, co-investment arrangements and separately managed accounts.
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Work Highlights
- PAG Real Estate in the formation of PAG Real Estate Partners III, which raised $1.8 billion
- T Capital Partners in the formation of the TCAP VI Series Funds, which raised ¥80 billion
- KKR in the formation of KKR Asia Real Estate Partners SCSp, which raised $1.7 billion
- PAG Real Estate in the formation of SCREP VII, which raised $2.75 billion
- Yunfeng Capital in the formation of Yunfeng Fund III, which closed at $2.5 billion, and its predecessor fund Yunfeng Fund II, which closed at $1 billion
- Carlyle in the formation of Carlyle Asia Partners V, which raised $6.55 billion, and its predecessor fund Carlyle Asia Partners IV, which closed at $3.9 billion, as well as the establishment of Carlyle Realty Partners VII, which raised $4.2 billion
- Affinity Equity Partners in the formation of Fund V, which closed at $6 billion
- Navegar in the formation of its second Philippines-focused fund Navegar II, which raised $197 million
Accolades
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“Rising Star Partner,” Hong Kong – Private Equity Funds, Real Estate Funds, IFLR1000 2023/2024
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“Rising Star,” Hong Kong – Private Equity Funds, IFLR1000 2021, 2022/2023
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“Rising Star,” Hong Kong – Investment Funds, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2020 - 2021
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“Next Generation Lawyer,” Hong Kong – Investment Funds, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2019
Education
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New York University, 2011 LL.M.
Award for Highest GPA in the NYU Singapore Program
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National University of Singapore, 2011 LL.M.
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University of Antwerp (Belgium), 2008 licentiaat rechten (Master)
magna cum laude
Associations
- New York State Bar Association
- The Law Society of Hong Kong
Admissions
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Hong Kong 2018
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New York 2012
Michael Ceulen is a Partner in the Firm’s Hong Kong office and a member of the Private Funds Practice. He specializes in the organization, structuring and operation of global private equity funds, with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region. Having worked in both Simpson Thacher’s New York and London offices before relocating to the Hong Kong office in 2014, Michael is able to offer clients an international perspective. He has extensive experience advising on fundraisings across numerous asset classes, including buyout, growth, real estate, credit, co-investment arrangements and separately managed accounts.
Michael has counseled some of the world’s leading private equity firms as well as middle market sponsors, including Advantage Partners, Affinity Equity Partners, Apax, Aspirant Group, Blackstone, Brummer & Partners, BTG Pactual, CapSquare, The Carlyle Group, CLSA, EmergeVest, Hillhouse, J-Star, KKR, Morgan Stanley, Navegar, NewQuest, PAG, Polaris, T Capital Partners, Tor Investment Management, Yunfeng Capital and Zebra Global Capital, among others. Michael’s selected fund formation and other experience includes:
- PAG Real Estate in the formation of PAG Real Estate Partners III, which raised $1.8 billion
- The TCAP VI Series Funds, which raised ¥80 billion
- KKR Asia Real Estate Partners SCSp, KKR’s first Asia real estate fund, which raised $1.7 billion
- SCREP VII, PAG’s flagship opportunistic real estate fund, which raised $2.75 billion
- Yunfeng Fund III, which raised $2.5 billion, and its predecessor fund Yunfeng Fund II, which closed at $1 billion
- Carlyle Asia Partners V, which raised $6.55 billion, and its predecessor fund Carlyle Asia Partners IV, which closed at $3.9 billion
- Carlyle Realty Partners VII, which raised $4.2 billion
- Blackstone Real Estate Partners Asia II, which raised $7.1 billion
- Blackstone Capital Partners Asia, which closed at $2.3 billion
- Affinity Asia Pacific Fund V, which closed at $6 billion
- Polaris Fund V Series Funds, which raised ¥150 billion, and Polaris Fund IV Series Funds, which raised ¥75 billion
- Sunrise Capital IV, which closed at $450 million
- Navegar II, which raised $197 million
- NewQuest Asia Fund III, which raised $540 million
- Buyer consortium in the $1.58 billion going private transaction of New Frontier Health
- KKR in its acquisition of a significant minority stake in CA Media, an existing Asian media portfolio of The Chernin Group, as well as the creation of Emerald Media, a new vehicle to fund investments capitalizing on fast-growing opportunities in the media and entertainment industries across Asia
Michael received his LL.M. degrees from New York University and National University of Singapore in 2011, and his licentiaat rechten, magna cum laude, from University of Antwerp in 2008. He is admitted to practice in Hong Kong and New York.