ENG

  • Maria HOU

    Equity Partner / Beijing

  • Tel +86-10-5957-2288

    Email houzhanghui@zhonglun.com

  • Practices

    Cross-border Investment/M&A, Antitrust & Competition, Compliance & Investigation

  • Industries

    Energy & Power, Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences

CV

Maria HOU

Maria Hou specializes in cross-border mergers & acquisitions, antitrust, and other compliance matters. Carrying over 10 years of experience working with top international and PRC law firms, she has advised clients from the United States, Europe, Southeast Asia, and China. Her practice focuses on cross-border transactions involving China, where she has represented overseas and Chinese investors and entrepreneurs in dozens of foreign direct investment and M&A transactions. Maria also advises clients on national security review issues and has obtained the national security approval for scores of foreign investment projects in China in the fields of petrochemical, auto parts, fintech, and electronics, among others. Maria regularly provides advice on all aspects of corporate governance, employment, and has extensive experience in implementing corporate restructurings.

In the area of antitrust and competition law, Maria has successfully completed more than 100 merger filings, including the merger between Essilor and Luxottica (conditionally approved in China), the acquisition of Harman by Samsung Electronics (unconditionally approved in China) and some other high-profile deals. Maria also advises clients on antitrust compliance issues, represents companies in antitrust investigations and lawsuits and provides antitrust training services on a regular basis.

Representative Matters

M&A/Corporate

  • 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 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 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

  • Bar Admissions/Professional Qualifications

    PRC Bar, 2011

  • 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