Howard Zhang
Focuses on mergers and acquisitions, including public company acquisitions, private equity portfolio investments, buyouts, joint ventures and strategic investments.
Howard’s practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, including private equity portfolio investments, buyouts, joint ventures and strategic investment transactions. He also advises clients on cross-border securities and general corporate matters.
Chambers ranks Howard in Band 1 for M&A work in China by international firms. A client quoted by Chambers says Howard offers “fantastic judgement” and is “a real partner to his clients.” Legal 500 Asia Pacific ranks Howard in its “Hall of Fame” for his M&A and private equity work in China.
Experience highlights
Cross-Border Mergers & Acquisitions
- Ingram Micro acquisition by Platinum Equity
- CNOOC $17.9 billion acquisition of Nexen
- Dalian Wanda $2.6 billion acquisition of AMC Entertainment
- IDG Capital acquisition of International Data Group
- Huatai Securities $780 million acquisition of AssetMark
- Ingram Micro $6 billion acquisition by Tianjin Tianhai to become part of HNA Group
- Freeport-McMoRan sale of its interest in TF Holdings
Public Company Acquisitions
- The buyer groups on the going-private transactions of:
- China Distance Education
- KongZhong
- Synutra International
- The special committee on the going-private transactions of:
- New Frontier Health Corporation
- 51job
- China Biologic Products
- DouYu merger with HUYA
- Yintech going-private transaction
- Provident Acquisition $1.02 billion combination with Perfect
- Blue Safari Group merger with Bitdeer Technologies
- Ucommune merger with Orisun Acquisition Corp.
- iKang Healthcare acquisition by Yunfeng Capital and Alibaba
- Special committee of Jiayuan.com on acquisition by Baihe
- iSoftStone management on the company’s going-private transaction
Joint Ventures
- Vanke Services on the formation of a JV with Cushman Wakefield
- Universal and Comcast on a proposed JV with Beijing Shouhuan for a theme park and resort in China
Strategic Investments
- Centurium Capital investment in Meican
- Kingsoft Cloud acquisition of Camelot
- Tongcheng combination with E-dragon
- Tencent and Tencent Music Entertainment on a share swap with Spotify and Tencent’s purchase of minority stake in Spotify
- China Biologic Products $513 million acquisition of 80% equity interest in Tianxinfu
- China Lodging Group $531 million acquisition of Crystal Orange Hotel Holdings
- Postal and Savings Bank of China $7 billion sale of shares to strategic investors
- Fujian Thai Hot Investment on its:
- $1.4 billion acquisition of the insurance operations of Dah Sing
- acquisition of a majority interest in Alliance HealthCare Services
- Baidu on its:
- investment in Cheetah Mobile
- $1.9 billion acquisition of 91 Wireless Websoft
- $370 million acquisition of PPS’s online video business
- acquisition of Providence Equity Partners’ stake in iQiyi
- Series B financing of Qiyi.com
- $306 million investment in Qunar
Private Equity / Venture Capital
Representation of leading private equity and venture capital firms, sovereign wealth funds and entrepreneurial companies in various investment transactions
Insights
Credentials
Recognition
Chambers Global – Corporate/M&A: China-Based (International Firms), China, Band 1
Chambers Greater China Region – Corporate/M&A: Mainland China-Based (International Firms), China, Band 1
Legal 500 Asia Pacific – Private Equity: Foreign Firms, China, Hall of Fame
Legal 500 Asia Pacific – Corporate and M&A: Foreign Firms, China, Hall of Fame
IFLR1000 – Private Equity, M&A, Capital Markets: Equity, China, Highly Regarded
Asian Legal Business – “China Top 10 M&A Lawyer: International Law Firm,” 2017
Asian Legal Business – “Dealmakers of Asia,” 2021
Education
- American Jurisprudence Award
- Topics Editor, Boston University International Law Journal
Professional history
- Partner, 2008-present
Qualifications and admissions
- Beijing Ministry of Justice - Registered
- Commonwealth of Massachusetts