Mergers & Acquisitions

With over 20 years' experience in this field, TransAsia is one of the few local law firms in China with the practical experience and expertise necessary to handle all phases of an M&A transaction. Our history of global alliances and the international backgrounds of our professionals also/further enhance our ability to manage complex cross-border transactions.

As China pursues deeper economic reforms, M&A has become an increasingly popular alternative to the incorporation of direct subsidiaries. Our M&A practice covers many industries, including construction, print and broadcast media, electronics, personal safety gear, telecoms, Internet, insurance, and fire and security control.

Client Services

• Partner identification and negotiation
• Legal due diligence and analysis
• Structuring and restructuring investments
• Drafting and negotiating transaction documents (including shareholder agreements, share subscription or purchase agreements, asset purchase agreements, non-compete undertakings, and disclosure schedules)
• Issuing legal opinions on matters of PRC law
• Coordinating with valuation firms for asset and equity valuations
• Handling PRC governmental approval and registration formalities for investments and related matters (such as foreign exchange remittances)
• Attending to corporate changes and other company secretary issues
• Handling the transfer of key personnel

Several of China's most dynamic sectors remain highly regulated and are closed to foreign investment. As such, foreign investors often form strategic alliances with local partners, to better understand the market and be well-positioned for its eventual liberalization.  We have significant experience in this area of work, and offer clients effective and timely advice using innovative and practical solutions within the framework of the law.

Our M&A team works closely with colleagues in related practices areas, including corporate & commercial, intellectual property, and private equity & venture capital.

Representative Transactions

• Advised Indophil Resources on the A$545 million takeover bid by Zijin Mining
• Acted as Electronic Arts' PRC Counsel for its US$300 million acquisition of Playfish (a leading creator of social network games)

• Represented II-VI Incorporated (leading producer of laser optics) in its US$100 million acquisition of Photop Technologies
• Assisted Tyco International on the purchase of a minority interest in a personal protective clothing manufacturer in Shanghai
• Assisted Vishay International to buy out its Chinese partner, a major state-owned entity, from an equity joint venture in the business of manufacturing aviation assembly components
• Advised Bacou-Dalloz (now Sperian Protection), the world’s leading producer of personal protective equipment, on M&A issues in Shanghai
• Represented Sohu.com (one of China's largest Internet portals) in all of its major acquisitions and investment transactions, including its  acquisition of 17173.com (the leading online games web site in China), Focus.cn (top real estate website in Beijing) and Goodfeel (China’s leading wireless ringtone service provider), as well as its US$30 million acquisition of ChinaRen.com
• Represented Beijing Teletron in its acquisition of Chinese online education, systems integration and e-government enterprises
• Advised LexisNexis on its acquisition of a local Internet service provider
• Advised Akamai Technologies Inc on its acquisition of a US Internet delivery service provider and its China business
• Represented Alibaba.com in its US$1 billion investment by Yahoo!, the largest transaction of its kind in China's Internet sector to date
• Assisted Electronic Arts with its acquisition of a 15% stake in one of China’s leading, Nasdaq-listed gaming companies
• Advised Glu Mobile on its acquisition of a top Chinese mobile game company
• Represented CBSi (formerly CNET) in its acquisition of various leading B2C e-commerce and product comparison sites in China
• Assisted OPI on its US$ 430 million financing by Softbank - the largest of its kind in the SNS sector to date

Representative Clients