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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 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
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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
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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