A-CAPITAL Launched in Beijing the First China-Outbound RMB Fund

BEIJING, March 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Private equity firm A-CAPITAL signed on 11 March 2011, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Beijing Municipal Bureau of Financial Work to establish the first China-Outbound Private Equity Fund denominated in RMB. A-CAPITAL is the first European investment vehicle to sign an agreement with Beijing to establish a RMB Private Equity Fund. The Fund will be registered in Beijing and jointly invest with Chinese enterprises into Europe for Technology, Market Access and Major Brands.

A-CAPITAL, which already launched a Euro fund dedicated to China-Europe cross-border investments, will now benefit from the unique opportunity to raise capital in RMB from Chinese institutional and private investors.

A-CAPITAL China Outbound RMB Fund will be entitled to preferential treatment from the Beijing Municipal Government, in accordance with its financial development strategies. The Beijing Municipal Government will provide full support to A-CAPITAL, in particular in the access to leading private and state-owned companies in Beijing, as well as to major institutional investors in the Capital City.

Huo Xuewen, Head of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Financial Work, said, "We welcome and support the establishment of A-CAPITAL China Outbound RMB Fund in Beijing. We believe this sets the momentum to welcome more European private equity expertise in the Capital City, with Beijing playing a unique role in supporting Chinese companies going global."

Andre Loesekrug-Pietri, Chairman and Managing Partner of A-CAPITAL, said, "We are delighted to have the strong support from the Beijing Municipal Government for this pioneering RMB-denominated fund. Through this effective equity investment channel, fostering win-win strategic and equity partnerships between leading European and Chinese groups, we will boost the development of Chinese and Beijing leading companies, and secure strong development in China of European groups."

About A-CAPITAL:

A-CAPITAL is the leading Private Equity Fund for Chinese investments into Europe with offices in Beijing, Paris, Shanghai and Frankfurt. A-CAPITAL is a strategic PE fund, with a pioneering model of strategic minority or majority investments: win-win partnerships between European groups developing their presence in China and Chinese corporations expanding overseas. A-CAPITAL has originated a new model of Chinese outbound Investments with the landmark Fosun-Club Med transaction in 2010, the first-ever Chinese investment into a global brand to support its growth in China.