Zhao Sheng Law Firm and its China joint operation partner Linklaters have advised Trip.com Group on the acquisition of a majority stake in e-hoi GmbH. Through the transaction, Trip.com Group further strengthens its presence in the European cruise market by combining e-hoi group’s established market position and cruise expertise with Trip.com Group’s global travel platform and technology capabilities.
Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Frankfurt, e-hoi group is a leading European cruise online travel agency and tour operator. The company operates in eight major European markets, including Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain, Belgium, Portugal and France. Through its proprietary end-to-end technology platform, e-hoi group has continued to drive the digitalisation of cruise sales and services. Following completion of the transaction, e-hoi group will continue to operate independently within the Trip.com Group.
The transaction was led by a cross-jurisdiction Linklaters Zhao Sheng team. Linklaters Zhao Sheng brings together the international capabilities of Linklaters and the local expertise of Zhao Sheng Law Firm, Linklaters’ joint operation partner in China. Through seamless collaboration across geographies and practice areas, the team provided Trip.com Group with comprehensive legal support on this strategic acquisition across Asia and Europe.
The Corporate/M&A team was led by Zhao Sheng Law Firm Managing Partner Richard Gu and Linklaters partner Martina Farkas based in Munich, with support from Sophie Yang (Zhao Sheng, Shanghai), Dr Maximilian Mann (Linklaters, Hamburg), Yixin Yang (Linklaters, Frankfurt) and Eleanor Cheng (Zhao Sheng, Beijing). The wider multidisciplinary team included specialists in antitrust & foreign investment group, employment & incentives, tax, technology, media and telecommunications, intellectual property, litigation, arbitration & investigations, public law and market regulation, and banking.
The transaction closed on 4 September 2026. The parties have agreed not to disclose the transaction terms.
The Linklaters Zhao Sheng team has a long-standing relationship with Trip.com Group, advising the group on strategic investments and cross-border transactions. This transaction builds on the team’s extensive experience supporting Chinese and Asian businesses on cross-border investments into Europe.
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