NEW YORK, Aug. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Triumph ‘The Maker of Lingerie’ launched Magic Wire, its new bra innovation; at House of Triumph (Old Bowery Station, Manhattan). Magic Wire is the first Triumph bra that uses a flexible silicone wire,…
Nature Home Achieves Turnaround in 1H2014
Revenue and Gross Profit Up by 37% and 50% to Approximately RMB776 Million and RMB253 Million Respectively
Further strengthened the integrated household product strategy by introducing an O2O platform to seize online and offline shopping opportunities
HONG KONG, Aug. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ —
Financial Highlights:
|
Unaudited results for the 6 months ended 30 June |
2014 RMB’000 |
2013 RMB’000 |
Change % |
|
Revenue |
776,398 |
566,977 |
+36.9 |
|
Gross Profit |
252,658 |
168,888 |
+49.6 |
|
Profit Before Tax |
26,679 |
(47,370) |
N/A |
|
Profit Attributable to Equity Shareholders |
19,715 |
(55,248) |
N/A |
|
Profit Attributable to Equity Shareholders (excluding the net change in fair value of biological assets) |
25,694 |
18,111 |
+41.9 |
|
Basic Earnings per Share (RMB) |
0.013 |
(0.037) |
N/A |
Nature Home Holding Company Limited (“Nature Home” or the “Company“, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group“; HKEx Stock Code: 2083), announced today its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2014 (the “Period“).
During the Period, the Group achieved encouraging financial results with revenue increased by 36.9% to approximately RMB776 million. Gross profit surged 49.6% to approximately RMB252 million. Profit attributable to equity shareholders reached approximately RMB20 million, representing a turnaround in the Period as compared to the loss attributable to equity shareholders recorded in the corresponding period of 2013. The turnaround is mainly attributable to the reduction of the negative net change in fair value of the Group’s biological assets, as well as the increase in the Group’s revenue and gross profit. During the Period, approximately 10.09 million square meters of flooring products were sold (1H2013: approximately 8.45 million square meters), representing an increase of 19.4% year-on-year.
Mr. Se Hok Pan, Chairman and Executive Director of Nature Home stated, “In the first six months of 2014, we continued to strengthen our efforts on brand building and sales, to further broaden the coverage in international markets under the intensified industry competition, this is reflected in the significant increase in the trading revenue of timber and wood products. The turnaround recorded during the Period reflected the success of our business development strategies, brand building and sales efforts. With the change of our Company name to ‘Nature Home Holding Company Limited‘, we aim at achieving our goal in offering integrated household products with our ‘Nature‘ brand, representing an image of high quality, safe and environmentally-friendly household brand.”
Manufacturing and Sale of Wood Products
During the Period, turnover of the Group’s manufacturing and sale of wooden products has increased 39.2% to approximately RMB527 million, mainly attributable to the continued recovery of the Group’s flooring business in the PRC and the overall increased sales in flooring products.
The Group has successfully developed a solid and extensive sales network in the PRC. It has 1,856 “Nature” stores, 1,121 “Nature No.1 My Space” stores, 152 “Nature Aesthetics” stores, 99 foreign imported brand stores and 116 other brand stores as at 30 June 2014, amounting to 3,344 stores in total.
Nature Home will continue to focus on the development in the business of wooden doors, wardrobes and cabinets with the “Nature” brand, striving to improve such business in the future with the completion and operation of the new product line in the newly opened Taizhou Production Plant in Jiangsu Province, the PRC and the planned trial production of the Zhongshan Wardrobes and Cabinets Plant in the second half of 2014.
Trading of Timber and Wood Products
For the overseas market, the recovery of the global economy, especially the economy of the U.S., has created a favorable environment for the development of the Group’s business and brought to the group significant growth in the trading business revenue of timber and wood products. The Group’s subsidiaries located in the U.S. have further boosted the Group’s business development by establishing additional sales channels, which resulted in a sustained growth in the Group’s sales for the trading of wood flooring products in the U.S. During the Period, the Group’s trading business of timber and wood products contributed a revenue of approximately RMB165 million, representing a significant increase of 61.8% as compared to approximately RMB102 million in the corresponding period of 2013.
Chairman Se concluded, “Looking forward, the Group is still facing various challenges. However, the Group has captured the opportunities from the trend of online and offline shopping. We plan to establish an online housing O2O platform for the household industry to provide our customers with a one-stop solution with household products, logistics and decoration as well as installation service. The Group also plans to open ‘O2O Household Package Experience Stores’, which will display different packages of household products, offering customers an open experience for household products. We will also continue to implement our strategy of integrated household products and enhancing our household brand with a combination of online and offline platforms, in order to maximize the effectiveness in sales of the household brand. We will also strive for better performance in the future for the relevant business, especially with the new production line of wooden doors in the Taizhou Plant and a new production line of wardrobes and cabinets in the Zhongshan Plant. As one of the largest wood flooring brands in China, we have full confidence in our business and we will continue to reinforce our leading position in the industry to maximize returns to our shareholders.”
About Nature Home Holding Company Limited
Nature Home is the largest wood flooring brand in China in terms of market share by retail sales value of branded wood flooring products. According to an industry report of China’s flooring market conducted by an independent global market research and consulting company (the “Industry Report”), the Group’s “Nature” branded products accounted for 7.0% market share in terms of China’s total retail sales value of branded wood flooring products in 2011. The Group’s branded products are manufactured through a combination of its own manufacturing facilities and exclusive authorized manufacturers.
According to Industry Report, in 2011, the Group’s branded products ranked second in laminated flooring, first in multi-layered engineered flooring and first in solid wood flooring, each in terms of both the market share of retail sales volume and retail sales value in China. The Group is the only company to achieve a top two market share position across the three primary wood flooring product categories in China in 2011. Leveraging its strong brand, extensive distribution network, comprehensive product portfolio and flexible manufacturing model, the Group grew rapidly and gained market share in China from 2008 to 2011.
To see the full version of this release, including financial tables, click here: http://photos.prnasia.com/prnk/20140829/8521404880-a
Kingold Jewelry Announces Payout of Previously Announced Special Dividend of US$0.08 Per Share
WUHAN, China, August 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Kingold Jewelry, Inc. (“Kingold” or “the Company”) (NASDAQ: KGJI), one of China’s leading manufacturers and designers of high quality 24-karat gold jewelry, ornaments and investment-oriented prod…
Aquasition Corp.’s Warrants and Units to be Delisted from the NASDAQ Stock Market
SHISHI, China, August 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Aquasition Corp. (the “Company”) (NASDAQ: AQU), a company engaged in the design, manufacturing, marketing, distribution and sale of casual menswear in China, today announced that on August 25, 2…
China Nepstar Chain Drugstore Ltd. Reports Second Quarter 2014 Financial Results
SHENZHEN, China, August 28, 2014 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — China Nepstar Chain Drugstore Ltd. (NYSE: NPD) (“Nepstar” or the “Company”), a leading retail drugstore chain in China based on the number of directly operated stores, today announce…
adidas Chooses Callcredit’s GMAP to Help with Expansion Strategy in China
 |
SHANGHAI, Aug. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Global sports brand adidas has used the expertise of international retail planning experts GMAP Marketing Consulting (Shanghai) Ltd., part of Callcredit Information Group, to support in their China expansion strategy.
adidas already has 7,600 shops across 1,000 Chinese cities and intends to consolidate their location coverage in the major cities as well as increase their footprint in China by expanding to another 400 cities by the end of 2015, with special focus on opportunities in middle sized cities. With GMAP’s extensive data coverage in over 50 cities, including comprehensive mapping of both current and future retail locations, the newly established GMAP Shanghai team was chosen to help adidas understand and prioritise where expansion potential exists.
Headquartered in Leeds, UK, GMAP has over 25 years’ experience helping global organisations with retail network planning. With a strong existing client base in Asia Pacific, GMAP helps retailers identify target customers and develop optimal location strategies for store networks and expansion. GMAP Shanghai combines our global modelling expertise with a local team of analysts to help both international and domestic clients in China.
GMAP conducted a market analysis study, covering 45 cities in mainland China (tiers 1-3) as well as Hong Kong and Taiwan. The results were used to provide adidas with a complete picture of demand and supply, along with identifying the direction of consumer spending flows. Using expert modelling solutions, GMAP calculated the size of the market opportunity for sports and casual fashion in nearly 5,000 unique retail sub-centres, identifying which locations and malls within specific cities would offer the highest revenue prospects for expansion. To obtain the most accurate data, a physical survey of all locations, including current adidas and competitor stores, as well as new potential locations, was undertaken.
The result was a detailed roadmap identifying the most viable locations to target for store expansion. This included all existing retail centres and malls as well as a unique database of over 800 future retail developments coming on stream in the next year or two with recommendations on which would have the most retail potential.
Tom Brown, Retail Expansion Director, adidas China, commented, “Working with GMAP in China is like a breath of fresh air.”
Luke Whittam, Asia-Pacific Director, GMAP, added, “It was a pleasure to work with adidas in this exciting and dynamic market. It provided the opportunity to validate our well-developed approaches in a market with huge potential for so many innovative retailers.“
About Callcredit Information Group – www.callcredit.co.uk
Callcredit Information Group’s leading approach to deploying consumer information brings together experts across the fields of credit referencing, marketing services, interactive solutions and consultative analytics to provide clients with a range of innovative and effective products to discover new customers and to engage with current customers to optimise and increase profitability.
Products include award-winning fraud verification tools and database solutions to positively verify consumers, global operations to help expand businesses into new markets, digital solutions to improve the overall journey consumers make during interaction with a brand, customer handling to ensure consumer satisfaction at all levels and consumer marketing data and segmentation to improve understanding and targeting of customers and prospects.
Callcredit also offers products to assess a customer’s credit risk and affordability and its experts in collections and recoveries provide tailored debt recovery and tracing tools. The company’s market analysis and network planning function helps organisations develop profitable retail networks, and its tools in multi bureau, analytics and metrics work to provide fully assessed bureau data.
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China Fordoo Holdings Limited (Stock Code: 2399) Announces 2014 Interim Results
— Turnover Reached RMB766.2 Million
— Gross Profit Increased by 13.0% to RMB269.1 Million
HONG KONG, Aug. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — China Fordoo Holdings Limited (“Fordoo” or the “Company” and, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”, Stock Code: 2399), a reputable menswear brand in the PRC, is pleased to announce its interim results for the period ended 30 June 2014 (the “period”).
During the period, benefited from the growing recognition of the Group’s “FORDOO” brand and an increase in the average wholesale price of products, the Group’s turnover increased to RMB766.2 million, representing an increase of 6.8% over the corresponding period last year (1H2013: RMB717.4 million). The expansion of distribution network further strengthened the profitability of the Group. Net profit increased by 8.5% to RMB128.7 million over the corresponding period in 2013. Basic and diluted earnings per share were RMB36 cents, representing an increase of 8.5% as compared to the corresponding period last year (1H2013: RMB33 cents).
Mr. Kwok Kin Sun, Executive Director, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board said, “In the first half of 2014, China’s economic growth continued to slowdown and the retail market remained weak. For the apparel retail industry, the total retail sales of garments, hats, footwear and knitwear recorded a 10.0% year-on-year increase, which was 1.9 percentage points lower than that of the corresponding period in 2013. Therefore, the Group adopted a prudent operation strategy and focused on improving the distribution channel management and enhancing product quality and design. We are very satisfied that the purchase orders from the sales fair held in March 2014 increased by 24% from the ones held in September 2013.”
Business Review
As a reputable menswear brand in the PRC, by product type, Fordoo continued to lead the market in the men’s trousers segment. In the first half of 2014, turnover from men’s trousers increased by 16.9% to RMB458.1 million as compared to the corresponding period last year (1H2013: RMB392.0 million). In addition, sales of trousers remained the major contributor to the total turnover with a proportion of 59.8%. In terms of product style, the Group maintained a healthy growth in the business formal and business casual series. The business casual series continued to be the largest turnover contributor to the Group with a proportion of 63.4% (1H2013: 61.1%).
The Group has been striving to optimize its retail and sales network for the sustainable business growth. As of 30 June 2014, the retail and distribution network of the Group further expanded to 52 distributors and 180 sub-distributors. During the period, the Group had a total 1,353 retail outlets (including 2 self-operated retail stores), representing a net increase of 53 retail outlets as at 31 December 2013, spanning over 240 cities and 31 provinces, autonomous regions and central government-administered municipalities in the PRC. The increase in retail outlets was a strategy to further penetrate into the markets in the second and third-tier cities.
In the first half of 2014, as part of the Group’s marketing and promotion plan to enhance and reinforce its brand image, the renovation of 41 existing stores had completed, and the plan for renovating another 59 stores by the end of the year remained on track. In addition, the Group continued to actively carry out regular advertising and promotion campaign through various channels, such as advertisements in fashion magazines, promotion activities in the internet and other media, as well as advertisements on large outdoor billboards in airports, highways and well-known department stores.
Prospects
Looking ahead to the second half of 2014, the Group sustains its cautiously optimistic view with respect to the growth of consumer demand in menswear market in China. It is confident that the ongoing urbanization and expanding middle class in China will generate a strong demand on apparels in the long run. Therefore, the Group maintains its target for distributors of adding approximately 200 retail outlets within the year. In the coming 2014 spring/summer sales fair to be held in September 2014, the Group will launch a new casual fashion line targeting young customers aged 18 to 30.
Mr. Kwok concluded, “Fordoo will strive to seize the opportunities arising from the continuous growth of the men’s casual wear and trousers market in PRC, as well as strengthen its cooperation with the distributors and sub-distributors. The Group will equip itself for the future development through enhancing its product design and development capability and kicking off the implementation of the ERP system. Driven by the success of men’s trousers, business formal and business casual series, it is believed that the Group could continue its sustainable growth and maximize shareholders’ returns.”
– End –
About China Fordoo Holdings Limited
Fordoo is a reputable menswear brand in the PRC. Positioned in the middle-upper menswear segment, Fordoo primarily targets men aged 30 to 60. According to Frost & Sullivan, Fordoo brand was ranked sixth in the middle-upper menswear market with a market share of 2.9%, fifth in both the middle-upper business casual menswear segment and the middle-upper business formal menswear segment with respective market share of 4.0% and 2.9%, and second in the men’s trousers category with a market share of 3.0%, all of which were in terms of retail sales in 2013. Fordoo manages and operates the business through a strategically integrated model, comprising brand management and marketing, design and product development, ordering process, procurement of raw materials, self-production and outsourced production and sales and distribution. As of 30 June 2014, Fordoo’s distribution network comprised of 52 distributors, 180 sub-distributors and 1,353 retail outlets (excluding the two self-operated stores).
Issued by Porda Havas International Finance Communications Group for and on behalf of China Fordoo Holdings Limited.
Frost & Sullivan: Lean Strategies and Decentralized Value Chains Fuel RFID Uptake in Manufacturing
— Automotive and aerospace industries represent key growth areas
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Aug. 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — The business model and structure of the manufacturing industry has grown well beyond the scope of a single enterprise and location, making radio frequency identification (RFID) solutions indispensable to its functioning. With increasing adoption of lean manufacturing strategies prompting most industry players to focus on and outsource niche operations within global supply chains, RFID solutions will help sustain high levels of performance.
Frost & Sullivan
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New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, Analysis of the Global RFID in Manufacturing Market, finds that the market earned revenues of $1.29 billion in 2013 and estimates this to nearly quadruple to $4.99 billion in 2020. The study covers passive, active and battery-assisted passive RFID. Over the forecast period, demand for active RFID will increase to fulfill business needs more efficiently.
For complimentary access to more information on this research, please visit: http://bit.ly/XPtW5v.
Use of RFID technologies enhances supply chain visibility and total control of inventory, operations and logistics across diverse manufacturing points. As RFID solutions facilitate real-time tracking of assets in different locations, it increases productivity enabling cost-effective allocation of resources. These benefits, along with reduced labor requirements, information accuracy, improved sales and customer service boost RFID adoption among manufacturing participants looking to realize higher return on investment.
“Opportunities for RFID solution providers exist across all application segments within the manufacturing industry,” said Frost & Sullivan Measurement & Instrumentation Senior Research Analyst Nandini Bhattacharya. “Growth prospects in the automotive and aerospace manufacturing sectors are especially promising owing to supportive industry regulations.”
However, as long as the economic situation remains uncertain, customers — particularly small and medium enterprises — will be reluctant to invest in RFID solutions unless they see a direct correlation between implementation of these technologies and cost-saving advantages. Cost is, therefore, a discerning factor for consumers’ RFID purchasing decisions. Scalability of solutions and technology support will be important criteria influencing uptake.
“Partnerships and acquisitions are rampant and necessary for this market to continue to expand,” noted Bhattacharya. “Without such collaborations, the breadth of knowledge and expertise needed for success is typically too wide even for the largest of companies.”
Analysis of the Global RFID in Manufacturing Market is part of the Automatic Identification (http://www.autoid.frost.com) Growth Partnership Service program. Frost & Sullivan’s related studies include: Analysis of the Global 2D-Barcode Scanners Market, Analysis of the Global RFID Tags Market, Analysis of the Global RFID and Bar Code Printers Market, and Emerging Opportunities in Global Biometrics Market. All studies included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants.
About Frost & Sullivan
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Our “Growth Partnership” supports clients by addressing these opportunities and incorporating two key elements driving visionary innovation: The Integrated Value Proposition and The Partnership Infrastructure.
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Analysis of the Global RFID in Manufacturing Market
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Insurance Segment Taking Shape, Investments Gathering Strengths: Fosun Adheres Comprehensively to the Warren Buffett Model
HONG KONG, Aug. 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Fosun International Limited (together with its subsidiaries, “Fosun” or the “Group”, HKEx stock code: 00656) announces today its interim results for 2014. As at June 30, 2014, net assets attributable to owners of the parent of the Group amounted to RMB43.99 billion, up 11.0% from end-2013. Profit attributable to owners of the parent of the Group amounted to RMB1.83 billion, up 8.4% from the same period of 2013.
Fosun has been persistently making a major stride towards becoming a world-class investment group underpinned by the twin drivers of “insurance-oriented comprehensive financial capability” and “industrial-rooted global investment capability” since the beginning of 2014 to date. Following the completion of the acquisition of the three insurance companies namely Fidelidade, Multicare and Cares under Caixa Seguros e Saude (“CSS”) of Portugal (“Fosun Insurance Portugal”); the successful investment in one of the largest independent private banks in Europe, BHF of Germany; the successful acquisition of the Japanese real estate capital management firm IDERA; and signing of an equity purchase agreement with the US insurance company Ironshore Inc., the Group’s “insurance-oriented comprehensive financial capability” under the twin drivers development model has already taken on firm foothold. Meanwhile, Fosun will continue to leverage and pursue its another driver of “industrial-rooted global investment capability”, seeking to deliver more successful investment cases under the value investing principle.
Insurance funds available for investments close to RMB120 billion
Significant enhancement of Fosun’s “insurance-oriented comprehensive financial capability”
Fosun has always been considering the development of the insurance business as a premium path in connecting its investment capability to long-term high-quality capital. Currently, Fosun’s insurance business comprises over one-third of its total assets. Fosun’s latest investment in insurance business was signing an equity purchase agreement with the US insurance company Ironshore Inc., for acquisition of 20% of its total outstanding ordinary shares (on a fully diluted basis) and to become its largest shareholder. Excluding the investment in Ironshore of which the acquisition has not yet been closed and completed, Fosun’s insurance segment comprises four companies, namely Yong’an P&C Insurance, Pramerica Fosun Life Insurance, Peak Reinsurance and Fosun Insurance Portugal, constituting a comprehensive insurance platform underpinned by property and casualty, life, and re-insurance. Following the successful completion of the Fosun Insurance Portugal acquisition on May 15, 2014, Fosun successfully matched and commenced a total of 14 equity and debt investment projects for Fosun Insurance Portugal, including investments in the Portuguese power grid company Redes Energeticas Nacionais SGPS, S.A. (REN), China’s leading film distributor with an integrated business chain Bona Film Group, etc., aggregating an investment amount of approximately EUR460 million. Leveraging its successful connection to Fosun’s investment capability, the profit attributable to owners of the parent of insurance segment amounted to RMB114.5 million during the first half of 2014, up 19.9% from the same period of 2013, with an investible fund stood at approximately RMB119.06 billion.
Besides investing in the insurance segment, Fosun also extended its footholds to the comprehensive financial area including banking, real estate capital management, securities brokerage and asset management. Fosun succeeded in investing in one of the largest independent private banks in Europe, BHF of Germany in the first half of 2014. For this transaction, Fosun acquired an approximately 19% interest in KBG to secure an indirect ownership of the BHF and the well-established UK private bank with a very long history, Kleinwort Benson, thereby gaining footholds in two big financial hubs, Frankfurt and London. Fosun will capitalize on their connections with billionaires and family enterprises to establish a platform and a network for Fosun’s investment businesses in Europe. It is the first time Fosun holds indirect interests in a private-banking business which will successfully enhance its comprehensive financial capability. In addition, Fosun completed the acquisition of a 98% equity interest in a Japanese real estate capital management firm IDERA. Japan is one of the important markets in the global property investment mix for institutional investors. IDERA will become the most important property investment and management platform in Japan for Fosun. After the IDERA acquisition, the Group can efficiently acquire capital and asset management capability in the Japanese property market. In July 2014, Fosun acquired Hong Kong Hani Securities (It is still waiting for the final approval by the SFC). Hani Securities has licenses including for dealing in securities and assets management. Looking forward, it will help secure a foothold for Fosun in supporting “Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect” and start pursuing differentiated assets management business in Hong Kong, while engaging in further development with Fosun’s other financial platforms.
Investments gathering strengths
Accomplished successful large-scale global value investment cases based on deep industrial footholds in China
During the first half of the year, Fosun sped up establishment of localized investment capabilities in overseas markets. It proactively invested in local platform entities, put together local partner teams in Europe, the US, Japan, Hong Kong, Southeast Asian countries and regions. Ripping benefits from the significant acceleration of globalization of China’s growth momentum, Fosun completed many investments across Asia, Europe and North America. Fosun’s global investment strategies are based on “benefits from China’s growth momentum” to further implement its “industrial-rooted global investment capability”, accomplishing a long list of value investment cases.
On the top of its successful investments in the global leisure resort hotel chain Club Med of France and the Greek renowned fashion retail group Folli Follie, etc., Fosun took its “Combining China’s Growth Momentum with Global Resources” investment model further. Since last year until lately, Fosun and funds under its management invested, respectively, in the US high-end female apparel brand St. John, the premium Italian menswear manufacturer Caruso, the world’s leading medical and cosmetic energy-based device manufacturer Alma Lasers originated in Israel, the largest lifestyle restaurant chain group in Southeast Asia Secret Recipe, a leading German fashion and lifestyle brand TOM TAILOR, as well as a renowned Spanish premium ham, wines and spirits producer Osborne Group. Fosun believes in co-operation with its investees and partners to discover and share investment opportunities brought about by China’s sustaining economic growth.
Fully “Embracing the Mobile Internet”: already become a major “mobile internet“ investor in China
Facing the comprehensive reform brought about by the internet, Fosun proactively implement its “Embracing the Mobile Internet Strategy”. Following the successful investment in Perfect World and completion of the Focus Media privatization, Fosun and funds under its management expanded their mobile internet investments comprehensively in many areas, including the internet medical company Scanadu; the online education companies such as Mofangge, and Uniquedu; the mobile game portal Joyme.com; and the online travel company Lailaihui.com; and Southeast Asia mobile internet company Main Spring, etc. Furthermore, Fosun also invested in high-growth traditional industries ancillary to the internet, including distribution warehousing, freight express, smart logistics systems, etc., such as China Smart Logistics Network (CSN) — “Cainiao”. Fosun and funds under its management also invested in and pushed forward traditional enterprises to innovate and achieve O2O, for example, invested successfully in Ali Small-Loan and participated in its rapid growth. In the first half of 2014, the Group has a total of 18 PE and VC projects in the internet sector, for investment amounts aggregating approximately RMB1.85 billion.
Spearheaded investments in industries associated with middle-class lifestyles
Exponential growth in successful cases of experience-driven consumption and consumption upgrade
China’s middle class population is growing rapidly, and the middle class lifestyles are set to become the major driver of consumption in the country. Fosun is eyeing on investment opportunities brought about by the changing lifestyles of the middle class in China, extending its footholds in experience-driven consumption in tourism and the filming and television entertainment industry, as well as focusing on investments in consumption upgrades, etc.
Fosun further extended its investment footholds in experience-driven consumption in the first half of 2014, initiated at a high starting point in the filming and television entertainment industry by investing in Studio 8, an US Hollywood multi-platform media company; increased its holding in Bona Film Group and became the second largest shareholder; and signed a strategic cooperation agreement with one of China’s largest and strongest modern film groups Shanghai Film Group. For experience-driven tourism consumption investments, besides the investment in China International Travel Services and the increased holding in Shanghai Yuyuan Tourist Mart, Fosun continued to develop the world’s third ultimate high-end hotel and ocean theme park Atlantis Resort along the Haitang Bay National Coast in Sanya, Hainan, with Kerzner Group, while facilitated Club Med’s expansion in China and on the heels of Yabuli and Guilin resorts, Club Med has already beta-launched its third resort in China this year. Meanwhile, Fosun persists in its focus on investments in consumption upgrades. Since the beginning of 2014 to date, Fosun and funds under its management invested in the leading lifestyle restaurant chain group in Southeast Asia Secret Recipe, a renowned Spanish premium ham, wines and spirits producer Osborne Group, a leading German fashion and lifestyle brand TOM TAILOR etc.
Transformation of traditional property businesses: Full landing of “Hive Community”, a PPP urbanization model that pioneered “provision of core urban functions, industry-backed urban development and urban-industry integration“
Implementing the new model of urbanization is a major highlight of the Central Government, and a major driver of the sustaining economic development in China. Hive Community is a product integrated Fosun’s industrial resources to assist local governments in the construction of core urban functions, with a key feature of “industry-backed urban development and urban-industry integration”. Through providing core urban functions required by the cities, Fosun is able to take a lead in introducing its core industrial resources and to further introduce ancillary industries that support the core industries, with a view to promoting “Urban-Industry integration” by establishing a 24-hour plus 3-in-1 vibrant community for work, consumption and living, as well as introducing living and consumption services industries. The Hive Community products, therefore, provide clear and distinctive functions with active dispersal of peripheral services. They also provide adequate and diverse job opportunities (no more dormant cities, ghost cities), seeking to constitute functional communities that drive employment by industries. As such, a new model of communities which is self-sufficient and built with flexible combination of modules comprising different functions are established.
In the first half of 2014, Fosun combined its resources to fully extend property businesses migration, securing a foothold to the “Hive Community” development. Currently, Fosun has been exploring actively in this area with several satisfactory case studies: Financial Hive — BFC on the Bund in Shanghai and Chengdu Financial Hive; Healthcare Hive — Shanghai Starcastle Senior Living community; Culture Hive — Shenyang Yulong City and Dongyang Woodcarving City; Tourism Hive — Atlantis Resort in Hainan; and Logistics Hive — Tian Mao Plaza in Xiangyang and Ankang; comprising GFA aggregating 3.96 million sq.m.
Signficant results from long-term vigilance on and grasping of opportunities from China’s SOE mixed ownership reforms
The Third Plenary Session of the 18th Communist Party of China Central Committee proposed to “actively participate in mixed ownership reforms” which confirmed the overall direction for SOE reforms. Mixed ownership reforms are an important move for China’s further reform and opening up, deepening the SOEs reform and enhancing the state-owned assets management system and the economic system. In the past ten years, Fosun actively invested in 21 SOE restructuring projects in a number of industries, accomplished a base of valuable experiences. To grasp opportunities in history, Fosun has been actively participating in mixed ownership reforms since The Third Plenary Session of the 18th Communist Party, and invested in several leading corporates in China as Sanyuan Food in dairy industry, CNFC Fishery in overseas fishing industry and Zhongshan Public Utilities in professional environmental protection industry. (Sanyuan Food project and CNFC Fishery project are still waiting for final approval by the China Securities Regulatory Commission)
Outlook
Led by a spiritual courage of “Reinitiating two decades of entrepreneurship”, Fosun will follow the trends by combining resources, continue to enhance and implement its twin drivers of “insurance-oriented comprehensive financial capability” and “industrial-rooted global investment capability”, enabling the Group to better and timely grasp the value investing opportunities and making a major stride towards becoming a world-class investment group.
World’s Largest Sourcing Event for Baby, Children and Maternity Products Industry, CBME China 2014 Closed with a Great Success
SHANGHAI, Aug. 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — The 14th Shanghai International Children Baby Maternity Industry Expo (CBME China) closed its three-day run at Shanghai New International Expo Centre on July 24 with 75,106 trade visitors in attendance, registering a 26.7% year-on-year growth. 1,751 exhibitors (20.4% growth year-on-year) representing 2,428 brands (15.3% growth year-on-year) showcased their latest products across 166,680 square meters of exhibition space (20.8% growth year-on-year).
CBME China – The World’s Largest Sourcing Event for Children, Baby and Maternity Products
A number of world-known brands participated including Babybubbles, Britax, CAM, Chicco, Cybex, Design Skin, Dr. Brown’s, Fiona’s Prince, Friso, Goo.N, Hallmark Babies, iCandy, Inglesina, Johnson’s Baby, Joie, Kiddy, les enphant, Mattel, Maxi-Cosi, Medela Micro, NUBY, NUK, OXO, Philips AVENT, Pigeon, Quinny, Richell, RODY, Teletubbies, Wyeth Nutrition and more, covering a range of children baby maternity products from healthcare products to food, strollers and toys, clothing and accessories and services.
Addressing the Industry’s Needs and Concerns
International Pavilions at CBME China once again drew huge crowds as more brands from Australia, Korea, United Kingdom, United States, Spain, Taiwan and other countries and regions presented their latest products and showcased the new brands to the mainland China market. Product range covered healthcare products to food, strollers and toys, clothing and accessories and services.
Michaela Altman of Obaby, who joined the UK Pavilion says, “We were delighted to be part of CBME China this year, with visitors from China and beyond keen to discuss business with us, many of which we do not have the opportunity to meet at European trade shows. We were extremely impressed with the quality of distributors and retailers that we spoke to and look forward to expanding our brand further into Asia.”
Another feature at CBME China 2014 that was a huge draw for visitors is the OEM/ODM Pavilions. 19 Chinese OEM/ODM suppliers joined this new pavilion, while the rest took up space in the main show floor. Wei Xiwen from Nishimatsuya Chain Co., Ltd said, “We targeted to find more OEM/ODM suppliers this year, we are happy to meet so many OEM/ODM companies at CBME China.”
Other prominent section at CBME China include the Licensing Zone which featured properties including Barbie, Thomas & friends, Doraemon, Despicable Me and more.
Private Buyer Meetings, a business-matching service for high-volume buyers, were organized to help buyers meet with pre-selected qualified suppliers in a private setting to discuss sourcing requirements and make sourcing easier and more efficient. Participants include more than 20 volume buyers from China and abroad covering big baby chain stores, online retailers, distributors, supermarkets and pharmacies and more. “The Private Buyer Meeting is very well organized and very helpful. We meet with suppliers one by one as pre-arranged by organizer according to my sourcing requirements. It is much more efficient than looking for them at the show floor,” says Nikola Kellhammer, Promotion Manager of Windeln.de, an online baby store from Germany.
Leading the Industry to a Brighter Future
Visitors and exhibitors who attended CBME China not only found new business partners and products, they also got an inside look at what’s happening in the industry through CBME China Conference Program. Over 5,000 visitors were able to learn from 18 industry experts who were invited to share their experience and industry outlook.
Baby First and Britax also provided hands-on tutorial, coupled with live demonstration on their car seats at the Interactive Car Seats Gallery. This also served as an educational platform where retail store owners and their personnel got hands-on training and gained industry know-how directly from manufacturers.
The revamped CBME Awards garnered huge industry support from the 100 member judge panel to the nominees, the winners and awardees. The CBME AWARDS Gallery, recognized not only the latest innovation in the industry with the Innovative Products Awards Gallery, but also the movers and shakers of China’s baby products industry. The Gallery featured the nominees for Lifetime Achievement Award, Top Retailer Awards, Top Brand Awards, the Innovative Products Awards and more. Michael Chua, Director of CKMJ Greenovation said, “We are looking for something new and different, something innovative to bring to the market. We found what we want at the Innovative Products Awards Gallery.”
Cool Kids Fashion, China’s first trade event for kids’ fashion, opened its doors to fashion industry players for the first time this 2014. Co-located with CBME China, Cool Kids Fashion brings together world-renowned brands, designers, media and key players of children fashion in an exclusive on-trend ambiance. Liang Shuyu, Asia Marketing Manager of Tutto Piccolo said, “Cool Kids Fashion is a very good international trade fashion event. We need a platform like Cool Kids Fashion for children’s fashion in China.”
CBME China and Cool Kids Fashion 2015 will take place from July 22-24 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. It will feature 1,900 suppliers representing 2,650 brands in 200,000sqm exhibition space. CBME China is perfect business platform for children baby and maternity product buyers, retailers, manufacturers, distributors and suppliers to meet and do business in one venue.
For press enquiries, please contact:
Louise Kathryn Yu
Marketing Director
Children, Baby, Maternity Industry Expo (CBME)
Tel: (+852) 2585 6101
louise.yu@ubm.com
About Children Baby Maternity Industry Expo (CBME China) www.cbmexpo.com/en
Held annually in Shanghai, the Shanghai International Children Baby Maternity Industry Expo (CBME China) is the world’s largest sourcing event for baby, children and maternity products. This is the perfect venue for you to meet buyers, manufacturers, distributors and suppliers in the industry.
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