Maria Hou

Practice Areas

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

Professional Memberships

Part-time Tutor of Master of Laws, Renmin University of China

Part-time Tutor of Master of Laws, University of International Business and Economics

Personal

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.

Work Highlights

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

Expert in these Jurisdictions

PRC Bar, 2011

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 Spoken

Chinese

English