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Maria HOU
Equity Partner / Beijing
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Tel +86-10-5957-2288
Email houzhanghui@zhonglun.com
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Practices
Cross-border Investment/M&A, Antitrust & Competition, Compliance & Investigation
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Industries
Energy & Power, Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences
Maria HOU
Maria Hou specializes in corporate and M&A, antitrust, and other compliance matters. In corporate and M&A, she has represented both international and Chinese investors and entrepreneurs in dozens of cross-border deals and investment projects. Maria has a proven track record in navigating national security review requirements, having secured approvals for many foreign investment projects in China. Her antitrust and competition experience includes successfully handling more than 100 merger filings, with some involving globally high-profile deals. Maria also advises on antitrust compliance and represents clients in investigations and litigation.
Drawing on a career built in top international and PRC law firms, Maria offers deep insight into the unique regulatory requirements of both Chinese and international frameworks. She tailors her solutions to address the specific needs of enterprises involved in cross-border transactions, using her understanding of cultural and regulatory differences and her fluency in both Chinese and English to bridge gaps and facilitate successful outcomes.
Representative Matters
M&A/Corporate
Advised an A-share listed company on the establishment of an aluminum alloy production enterprise in Mexico
Advised Livzon Pharmaceutical Group and the Indonesian listed company Kalbe on the establishment of a joint venture for the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients in Indonesia
Advised a Shandong-based medical device company and its Indonesian partner on the establishment of a joint venture for the production of medical consumables in Indonesia
Provided legal due diligence services for a state-owned investment fund’s proposed participation in an Indonesian nickel-cobalt project
Advised a private aluminum products company on the investment in and construction of alumina and aluminum projects in Indonesia
Advised an A-share listed company on the acquisition of a semiconductor manufacturing equipment company located in Brazil from a US-listed company
Provided legal services to a Chinese private equity fund in the sale of shares in a US-based portfolio company
Advised an A-share listed company on the establishment of an aluminum alloy production enterprise in Vietnam
Advised a leading PRC machinery equipment producer on the establishment of a subsidiary in Vietnam
Provided legal services related to financing to Chinese investors in the construction of alumina, aluminum electrolysis, and aluminum products processing projects in Saudi Arabia
Advised Beijing Foton Cummins Engine Co., Ltd. on the establishment of a subsidiary in Thailand
Advised Ting Hsin International Group and FamilyMart on the restructuring of the FamilyMart convenience store business in China
Advised HOYA CORPORATION on its photomask joint venture project with BOE
Advised Industrial Growth Partners on its acquisition of AEM Components (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.
Advised Centurium on its investment in Luckin Coffee
Advised Cummins (China) Investment Co. Ltd and E-quality Intelligent Technology Co. Ltd on their joint venture for the development and production of automotive electronic control systems
Advised Cummins on its hydrogen generator joint venture with Enze Fund (affiliated with Sinopec)
Advised Cummins on its after-treatment joint venture project with Foton
Advised Liaoning Bora Enterprise Group Co., Ltd. on its polyolefin joint venture project with LyondellBasell
Advised CMA CGM on its terminal service joint venture with Shanghai Tongsheng Logistics Park Investment and Development Co., Ltd.
Advised Beijing Shouhuan Cultural Tourism Investment Co., Ltd. on its joint venture project with Comcast to develop and operate Beijing Universal Theme Park
Advised Synopsys on its EDA joint venture project with several Chinese investors
Advised Air Products on its acquisition of GE's global gasification business and its joint venture with China Shenhua Group
Advised Air Products on its acquisition of several Chinese subsidiaries of Air Liquide
Advised Air Products on its investment in several hydrogen filling stations in China
Advised Rio Tinto on its mining joint venture project with Minmetals
Advised Vossloh on its joint venture project with a Chinese rail supplier
Advised FLSmith on its joint venture project with a Chinese manufacturer of mining equipment
Advised Cummins on its acquisition of 50% equity interests in JAC Navistar Diesel Engine Co., Ltd. and its joint venture with JAC Motors
Advised ThyssenKrupp on the sale of its tailored blanks business to a Chinese state-owned enterprise
Advised Volkswagen Financial Services on its proposed investment in a Chinese property insurer
Advised Warburg Pincus on several investment projects in China
Advised B. Braun on its proposed acquisition of a Chinese medical device producer
Advised Sorin on its joint venture project with Microport
Advised Schmitz Cargobull on its trailer manufacturing joint venture project with Dongfeng Group
Advised Mercedes-Benz on its establishment of a financial leasing company in China
Foreign Investment Security Review
Advised LyondellBasell on its acquisition of 50% equity interests in Liaoning Bora Petrochemical Co., Ltd.
Advised on the privatization of a listed company active in the semiconductor industry by overseas investors led by a Taiwan-based fund manager
Advised on the acquisition of an electronics manufacturer based in Suzhou by a US-based fund
Advised on the acquisition of two Chinese fintech companies by a listed Indian company
Advised on the establishment of a joint venture focusing on the new clean energy sector between a US-based company and a subsidiary of Sinopec
Advised on the acquisition of a domestic fine enamelled wire company by a German wire company
Advised a leading Japanese trade company on its proposed equity investment in a Chinese grain logistics company
Antitrust – Merger Control
Advised on Luxottica Group's merger with Essilor International (conditionally approved), and China commitments implementation
Advised on Samsung Electronics' acquisition of Harman International Industries
Advised on Air Products' acquisition of GE Shenhua Gasification Technology Company Ltd.
Advised on Cummins's after-treatment joint venture with Foton
Advised on CIMC's terminal service joint venture with CMA CGM
Advised on SABIC's petrochemical joint venture with FJPEC
Advised on HOYA Corporation's joint venture with BOE
Advised on PTTGC's acquisition of equity interests in Allnex
Advised on Faurecia's acquisition of equity interests in Beijing BAIC Dashi Automotive System Co., Ltd.
Advised on Liaoning Port Group Co., Ltd.'s acquisition of equity interests in Dandong Port Group Co., Ltd.
Advised on China Forestry Group Co., Ltd.’s acquisition of equity interests in Fujian Yong'an Forestry (Group) Co., Ltd.
Advised on LyondellBasell's acquisition of equity interests in Liaoning Bora Chemical Co., Ltd.
Advised on Zhuhai Aviation City Development Group Co., Ltd.’s acquisition of equity interests in Shenzhen Baoying Construction Holding Group Co., Ltd.
Advised on Air Products' hydrogen filling joint venture with Chengzhi Co., Ltd.
Advised on Air Products' hydrogen filling joint venture with Shanxi Lu'an Chemical Co., Ltd.
Advised on Vossloh's joint venture with a Chinese rail supplier
Advised on Great Wall Motor Company Limited’s joint venture with BMW
Advised on the acquisition of Robert Bosch’s starters and generators business by Zhengzhou Coal Mining Machinery and China Renaissance Capital Investment
Advised on Faurecia's acquisition of equity interests in Coagent Electronics
Advised on Faurecia's car seat joint venture with BYD
Advised on ThyssenKrupp's joint venture with Ansteel
Advised on Keppel Offshore and Marine's acquisition of LeTourneau® rig design and kits business from Cameron
Advised on Barrick's joint venture with SD-Gold
Advised on the proposed acquisition of equity interests in KLA Tencor by Lam Research
Advised on Ke.com's acquisition of equity interests in Shengdu Decoration
Advised on the acquisition of joint control over ARA Asset Management by Warburg Pincus and AVIC Trust
Advised on the establishment of a manufacturing joint venture between FLSmith and Northern Heavy Industries Group
Advised on a number of new investments/sales-out by Apax Partners
Advised on the establishment of a joint venture between TechnipFMC, Linde, and Nipigas
Advised on Tencent's several investment projects
Antitrust - Compliance and Investigation
Advised a leading producer of infant formula on its establishment of an antitrust compliance system
Advised several business units of Mars on antitrust compliance
Advised Dongfeng Infinit on antitrust issues of its local commercial policies
Advised Zippo on antitrust issues of its business operation in China
Advised a well-known Chinese real estate technology company on antitrust compliance of its business model
Provided antitrust compliance consultation for Nestle's business operations in China
Provided comprehensive compliance risk diagnosis services to VIP.com
Assisted Ke.com to respond to governmental authorities’ request of self-inspection and rectification of compliance issues
Assisted a search engine company to respond to governmental authorities’ request of self-inspection and rectification of compliance issues
Assisted two online booking platforms to respond to governmental authorities’ request of self-inspection and rectification of compliance issues
Assisted a serialized web fiction company to respond to governmental authorities’ request of self-inspection and rectification of compliance issues
Advised Ke.com on its establishment of an antitrust compliance system
Advised a Hong Kong based pharmaceutical R&D company on antitrust issues of its contract manufacturing arrangement with a Chinese pharmaceutical producer
Advised ThyssenKrupp on antitrust issues of its business operation in China
Represented an online database company in dealing with SAMR’s antitrust investigation on abuse of dominance
Represented a pharmaceutical company in dealing with Sichuan AMR’s antitrust investigation on a vertical monopoly agreement
Represented an industrial explosive materials producer in dealing with Guangxi AMR’s antitrust investigation on a horizontal monopoly agreement
Advised SAIC GM on responding to an antitrust investigation by Shanghai Price Bureau on a vertical monopoly agreement
Advised a technology company on responding to an antitrust investigation by the SAMR and Beijing AMR
Represented Zhenhua Logistics in responding to an antitrust investigation by Tianjin Development and Reform Commission on a price cartel
Advised a globally leading optical company on responding to an antitrust investigation by Shanghai AIC
Advised New Hope on responding to an antitrust investigation by Hainan Development and Reform Commission on a vertical monopoly agreement
Honors and Awards
For Individual
Top 100 of Foreign-related Legal Talents, sponsored by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Justice and the University of International Business and Economics
Up and Coming Lawyer, Chambers Greater China Region Guide 2024 - Competition/Antitrust (PRC Firms)
Rising Stars 2023, China Business Law Journal
Recommended Lawyer in China Mainland, The Legal 500
For Deal
Joint venture between Liaoning Bora Group and LyondellBasell, Outstanding Case of Foreign-related Legal Services, Beijing Bar Association
Merger filing for Essilor/Luxottica, Outstanding Case of Foreign-related Legal Services, Beijing Bar Association
Memberships & Affiliations
Part-time Tutor of Master of Laws, Renmin University of China
Part-time Tutor of Master of Laws, University of International Business and Economics
Related
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Deals Related
Zhong Lun Assists Hopson Commercial Group in Establishment of Strategic Partnership with Galeries Lafayette Management
As the legal advisor to Hopson Commercial Group in this project, Zhong Lun Law Firm provided one-stop legal services.
2023-04-11 -
Awards Related
114 Lawyers from 39 Practice Areas of Zhong Lun Recognized in Chambers Greater China Guide 2024
Zhong Lun Lawyers Garner 136 honors and 39 practice areas are recommended
2024-08-02
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Bar Admissions/Professional Qualifications
PRC Bar, 2011
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Education
LL.M., University of International Business and Economics, 2007-2009
B.A., University of International Business and Economics, 2003-2007 -
Professional Experience
Equity partner, non-equity partner, and associate, Zhong Lun Law Firm
Associate, K&L Gates
Associate, Taylor Wessing Beijing Office
Associate, Sinobridge Law Firm -
Languages
Chinese
English