Michael Sheng
Partner
Shanghai
-
Overview
-
Experience
Introduction
Michael is known by clients for his strategic and long-term thinking, and provides insightful, and commercial advice.
Michael Sheng focuses on China-related foreign direct investments, joint ventures and mergers and acquisitions. Michael is also particularly experienced in advising Chinese companies (whether state-owned or private) on their outbound investments into Australia, South East Asia, Europe and other jurisdictions. He is regarded as a strategic problem solver with a high degree of business acumen.
Michael has acted on many China-related cross-border transactions across a variety of industries, such as agribusiness, automotive, chemical, food, insurance, life science, mining & resources, real estate and technology.
Michael possesses strong oral and written communications skills in Mandarin and is also fluent in the Shanghai dialect.
- Cabot China (APAC headquarters of US-listed chemical company Cabot Corporation) | Advised in (i) its acquisition of 100% equity interest in Tokai Carbon (Tianjin) Co., Ltd, which operates a carbon black manufacturing facility in Tianjin, China, from Tokai Carbon Co., Ltd.; (ii) the formation of a Sino-foreign equity joint venture company with Inner Mongolia Hengyecheng Sillicone to manufacture fumed silica in China; and (iii) its 100% acquisition of Shenzhen Sanshun Nano New Materials Co., Ltd. (a leading carbon nanotube producer and major supplier in the PRC battery market) for around US$115 million .
- Greenland Group (one of the largest Chinese SOE real estate developers) | Advised in (i) its acquisition of the "Old Waterboard Site" in Sydney CBD (this was Greenland Group's first major real estate investment in Australia); and (ii) its acquisition of the RAM Brewery Site and the Hertsmere House in London (these were Greenland Group's first two major real estate investments in the UK).
- Petrochemical Industries Company K.S.C. (a major subsidiary of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation) | Advised in its acquisition of a strategic stake in a Chinese SOE petrochemical company, Wanhua Chemical (Yantai) Petrochemical Co., Ltd., via a public auction process for around US$600 million. This deal is the single largest foreign investment in the Shandong Province in 2025.
- ITOCHU | Advised in its HKD$80.3 billion investment to acquire a strategic stake in HK listed CITIC Limited together with Charoen Pokphand Group. This was the largest foreign investment in a Chinese SOE at the time.
- Bayer Healthcare | Advised in its acquisition of the western OTC cough and cold business from Topsun Science and Technology Qidong Gaitianli Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.. This was the largest foreign investment in the Chinese pharmaceutical sector at the time.*
- Mitsui | Advised in its acquisition of a strategic stake in Erdos Power and Metallurgy Co., Ltd.. This was the largest investment made by Mitsui in China.*
Beingmate Group (a Chinese listed infant formula and baby food company) | Advised in (i) establishment of a Sino-foreign joint venture company with Bubs Australia for the marketing and distribution of Bubs Australia's infant formula and baby food products in China; and (ii) the establishment of an unincorporated joint venture with Fonterra for the manufacturing of certain infant formula products and its subsequent exit from this unincorporated joint venture;
- Bright Food (one of the largest Chinese SOE food & beverage companies) | Advised in its acquisition of a majority and controlling stake in Manassen Foods Australia for over AUD$500 million.
Pengxin International Mining Co., Ltd. | Advised in (i) its proposed acquisition of the Martabe Gold and Silver Mine in Indonesia; and (ii) on its investment in Australian listed Clean TeQ Holdings (now Sunrise Energy Metals) for AUD$81 million.
- A major Chinese SOE Mining Company | Advised in its acquisition of a majority stake in two nickel smelting companies in Indonesia, one by way of share acquisition and the other by way of share subscription.
Latest news, deals and awards
Carousel: clicking the "Previous" or "Next" button changes the content between the buttons.