Praise for Private Equity in China
"During my thirty years of involvement with Asia, I have come to know and admire Yong Kwek Ping for his extraordinary knowledge about the Chinese financial world. This book provides unique insights on what is going on in the world of private equity in the second largest economy on the planet. Yong Kwek Ping is giving us an elegant new book, well balanced, judicious, and brilliantly clear in his judgment. His unique combination of practical experience and academic insights bring us a new level of understanding of the nature of private equity in China. Tautly written, this book is a new landmark, a work of great lucidity. An absolute must–read." Dr. Dominique Turpin, President and The Nestl?e Professor, IMD
"Attracted by the strong growth of the Chinese economy and superlative returns of the private equity investments in China made in the last decade, many businesses and people (both foreign and local) are rushing into private equity in China without a deep understanding of the sector. This book, written by a veteran practitioner, provides a thorough overview of the private equity landscape, market trends, challenges, and opportunities. With numerous real–life cases in each chapter, Kwek Ping also succeeds in demystifying private equity in China. A must–read for anyone interested to learn about private equity or doing business in China!" Chee–Yann Wong, Investment Principal, Actis′s Beijing office
"An important compendium, demonstrating the author′s deep and adequate knowledge within the intricacies of perhaps this century′s most important arena for investments and disinvestments. The research base is outstanding a remarkable and indispensible resource for anyone already involved, and anyone who wants to become involved, with the future world champion in economic activity."
Tom Preststulen, Managing Partner, Elkem, a China National BlueStar company
"The Chinese private equity industry is in some respects similar to its Western counterparts, but, in others, more complex and quite different. This timely book takes a detailed view of the Chinese market and how it does, and does not, resemble private equity elsewhere." Josh Lerner, Jacob H. Schiff Professor of Investment Banking, Harvard Business School
"The China private equity industry is at its nascent stage and it is evolving so quickly with huge potential untapped. This is the first book to give insights into the industry from a practitioner′s point of views with concrete examples and illustrations. It is also a pioneering book which covers Chinese RMB funds, and explains in detail the major differences of private equity investment in China to how private equity is done by its western counterparts." David Schmittlein, John C Head II Dean, MIT Sloan School of Management
Table of Contents
Preface xiiiAcknowledgments xvii
CHAPTER 1 Private Equity: An Introduction 1
Overview 1
Stages of Development of a Company 2
Differences between Private Equity and Venture Capital 5
Differences between Private Equity Investments and Corporate Mergers and Acquisitions 6
Inventis Private Equity Model 8
Structure of a Private Equity Fund 11
General Partners 11
Limited Partners 12
Investment Committee/Advisors 12
Professionals 12
Private Equity Investment Process 13
Planning, Fund–Raising, and Deal Sourcing 14
Due Diligence 16
Deal Structuring 18
Portfolio Management 21
Exit Strategies 24
CHAPTER 2 Overview of the Political, Macroeconomic, and Financial Landscape in China 33
Overview 33
Regulatory Environment 35
Chinese Government Agencies and Their Relevance to Private Equity 37
China s Macroeconomic Conditions and Trends 45
Macroeconomic Condition 1: Inflation 48
Macroeconomic Condition 2: Widening Income Disparity 49
Macroeconomic Condition 3: Accelerated Aging Population Structure 50
Macroeconomic Trend 1: Increasing Urbanization 51
Macroeconomic Trend 2: Westward Shift in Industrialization and Development 53
Macroeconomic Trend 3: Strong Growth in Domestic Consumption 54
Macroeconomic Trend 4: Shift Toward Value–Added Industries 56
China s Financial Markets 57
Key Phases of Developments in China s Capital Markets 58
China s Equity Markets 62
Foreign Listings on Chinese Exchanges 65
China s Credit Market 67
Trust Financing 72
China s Futures Markets: Commodity Exchanges and Derivatives Exchanges 73
Summary 75
CHAPTER 3 Private Equity in China 77
Overview 77
Key Market Trends and Developments 79
Private Minority Placement Quadrant 81
Private Majority Placement Quadrant 82
PIPE Minority Deals Quadrant 83
Private Equity Funds in China 97
Foreign–Owned Private Equity Funds (FOPE) 97
Chinese–Owned Private Equity Funds (COPE) 99
State–Owned Industrial Private Equity Funds (SOPE) 100
Hybrid Foreign/Chinese USD and RMB Private Equity Fund (HOPE) 101
Private Equity Investment Structures in China 102
Red Chip Structure or Round–Trip Investment 102
Onshore Structures 108
Leveraged Buyouts 112
Valuation Adjustment Mechanism 114
VAM in China s Private Equity Industry 114
Financial Measures 116
Non–Financial Redemption Measures and Stock Offerings 117
Stock Offering: Expiration of VAM Agreement 119
Challenges of VAM 121
Exit Strategies for Private Equity Investment in China 121
Initial Public Offerings 122
Initial Public Offerings in Domestic Markets 125
Initial Public Offerings in Overseas Markets 129
Trade Sales 130
Secondary Sales 130
Leveraged Recapitalization/Distribution of Dividend 131
Benefits of Private Equity for China 132
The Case for Demutualization of Chinese Stock Exchanges through Private Equity Investments 136
CHAPTER 4 Renminbi Private Equity Fund 137
Overview 137
Setting Up and Fund–Raising in China 138
Investing in China 142
Exit Options for the RMB Fund 143
The Renminbi Private Equity Fund 144
Types of RMB Funds 145
Domestic Limited Partners 149
Private Equity Regulations and Incentives 159
RMB Funds Edge in Investing in China 160
Challenges and Opportunities for FOPE–RMB Funds 161
The Future of Domestic Limited Partners 162
Qualifi ed Foreign Limited Partnership Pilot Program 163
Management of Hybrid Funds 166
Onshore Legal Structures of RMB Funds 171
Restrictions for Foreign–Invested Partnerships (FIPs) 175
Treatment of FOPE–RMB Funds: Domestic or Foreign? 176
Exit Options for RMB Funds 177
Domestic Listings on Chinese Stock Exchanges 178
Private Equity Secondary Markets in China 179
China s Domestic Limited Partners 180
Impacts of RMB Convertibility on RMB Private Equity Funds 181
RMB Private Equity Outbound Investments 182
CHAPTER 5 Investment Opportunities for Private Equity in China 187
Overview 187
Foreign Acquisition and National Security Review 189
China s Five–Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development 191
China s Seven Emerging Strategic Industries 195
Energy Saving and Environmental Protection 199
Renewable Energy 205
Alternative Energy Vehicles 210
Next Generation Information Technology 213
High–End Equipment Manufacturing 215
Biotechnology 217
New Materials 221
Investment Opportunities in China s Energy Sector 224
Key Energy Security Concerns 224
Strategies to Tackle China s Energy Challenges 227
Trends in the Oil and Gas Sector in China 230
Relationship between the Energy Firms and the Government 233
CHAPTER 6 Challenges and the Future of Private Equity in China 235
Overview 235
Fund–Raising 236
Deal Sourcing 238
Good Deals Are Getting Scarce, Valuations Becoming Too High 239
FOPE Funds Are Competing with COPE Funds in Deal Sourcing 239
Moving West 240
Consolidation Opportunities 240
Seeking Uniqueness from Other Funding Sources 241
Due Diligence 242
Reliability of Financial Statements 243
Intellectual Property Rights 245
Deal Structuring 247
Portfolio Management 250
Change from Boss Culture to Management Culture 251
Communication and Timely Information 251
Resistance to Change 252
Fighting for Control 253
Exit 255
Valuation Obstacles 256
China s Private Equity Secondary Sales Market Is in the Nascent Stage 257
Foreign Exchange Controls and RMB Convertibility 258
Avoiding the Restriction or Seeking Local Government s Aid 258
Gradual Loosening of Capital Inflows, Especially for Private Equity 259
Capital Outflows Are Strict, But Less Stringent than Inflows 259
The RMB Fund Advantage Artificial and Temporary? 260
Media Reports and Public Perception 262
Guanxi Management 264
One Party to Gain Positive Career Prospects, the Other to Gain Justice Support 265
Private Equity Firms Do Not Invest in Green Fields, So No Need to Build Complicated Relationships 266
The Company Shareholders and Management Team Already Have Guanxi for Running the Business 266
Private Equity Firms Can Engage an External Consulting or Public Relations Firm 266
FOPE–RMB Funds 268
COPE–USD Funds 269
Leveraged Buyouts 270
Private Equity Professionals in China 271
Trend 1: From Foreign to Domestic Private Equity 273
Trend 2: From Investment Banks to Private Equity 274
Trend 3: From Traditional Industries to Private Equity 275
Trend 4: From Entrepreneurs to GPs and LPs 275
Conclusion 276
APPENDIX A Government Structure of the People s Republic of China 281
APPENDIX B Key Points in a Private Placement Memorandum 287
APPENDIX C Geography of China 289
APPENDIX D Selected Private Equity Funds in Greater China 293
About the Author 299
Index 301
