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China’s private equity industry is on track to break all records in 2010 for number of deals, number of successful PE-backed IPOs, capital raised and capital invested. This record-setting performance comes at a time when the PE and VC industries are still locked in a long skid in the US and Europe.
According to my firms’s latest research report, (see front cover above)  the best days are still ahead for China’s PE industry. The Chinese-language report has just been published. It can be downloaded by clicking this link: China First Capital 2010 Report on Private Equity in China
We prepare these research reports primarily for our clients and partners in China. There is no English version.
A few of the takeaway points are:
- China’s continued strong economic growth is only one factor providing fuel for the growth of private equity in China. Another key factor that sets China apart and makes it the most dynamic and attractive market for PE investing in the world: the rise of world-class private SME. These Chinese SME are already profitable and market leaders in China’s domestic market. Even more important, they are owned and managed by some of the most talented entrepreneurs in the world. As these SME grow, they need additional capital to expand even faster in the future. Private Equity capital is often the best choice
- As long as the IPO window stays open for Chinese SME, rates of return of 300%-500% will remain common for private equity investors. It’s the kind of return some US PE firms were able to earn during the good years, but only by using a lot of bank debt on top of smaller amounts of equity. That type of private equity deal, relying on bank leverage, is for the most part prohibited in China
- PE in China got its start ten years ago. The founding era is now drawing to a close. The result will be a fundamental realignment in the way private equity operates in China. It’s a change few of the original PE firms in China anticipated, or can cope with. What’s changed? These PE firms grew large and successful raising and investing US dollars, and then taking Chinese companies public in Hong Kong or New York. This worked beautifully for a long time, in large part because China’s own capital markets were relatively underdeveloped. Now, the best profit opportunities are for PE investors using renminbi and exiting on China’s domestic stock markets. Many of the first generation PE firms are stuck holding an inferior currency, and an inferior path to IPO
Our goal is to be a thought leader in our industry, as well as providing the highest-quality information and analysis in Chinese for private entrepreneurs and the investors who finance them.
This post was very well written, and it also contains a lot of useful facts. I enjoyed your professional manner of writing this post. You have made it easy for me to understand.
Great post, indeed, and great news, as well, especially for entrepreneurs thinking about starting a business in China.
Well, for a start-up it could be quite stressful to find the necessary capital, as well as meeting the suitable investor from the specific area or market. For example, for an American being in an unfamiliar environment, with no friends or acquaintances to provide references, it would be time consuming to find a venture capitalist.You could have a great team, that’s not difficult if your field is IT, a very good plan and strategy but not the necessary capital for the seed stage or for the second round.
Here’s a another interesting article with some key points to be considered in case you want to invest in China:
Chinese Investor