Leading China investors into the UK - Rupert Hoogewerf

Rupert Hoogewerf

The Hurun Report analyzed eight major trends of Chinese investors into the UK. Its founder, Rupert Hoogewerf focuses on private investments, who dominate China´s outbound investments. Here´s Hoogewerf´s list of leading Chinese companies, for 4Hoteliers.

4Hoteliers:

There has been a notable rise in job­creating investments, led by Huawei. Hoogewerf said “2015 is ground zero, the first year of significant Chinese investments into the UK.” Important investments by the Chinese private sector into the UK include: 

Huawei, led by dollar billionaire Ren Zhengfei, is China’s largest investor into the UK, having invested the best part of GBP 1bn and today with 1000 employees. 

Wanda, led by billionaire Wang Jianlin, has a GBP 600m residential development at Nine Elms in London and a GBP 320m purchase of luxury yacht­maker Sunseeker. 

Lenovo, led by Liu Chuanzhi and Yang Yuanqing, invested GBP 900m into Pizza Express through Lenovo’s private equity division Hony Capital in July 2014. 

Sanpower, led by billionaire Yuan Yafei, surprised many with its GBP 400m purchase of the House of Fraser in 2014, making Sanpower the largest Chinese employer in the UK today with 5,000 employees and 13,000 concession staff. 

Fosun, led by billionaires Guo Guangchang and Liang Xinjun, bought 5% of Thomas Cook for GBP 90m in 2015, control luxury brand Links of London through its investment in Folli Follie, and bought into theLloyds Chambers building in London for GBP 60m. Earlier this week, Fosun announced it was setting up a GBP 1.6m joint venture with Thomas Cook in China. 

Wheel manufacturer Wanfeng, led by Chen Ailian and husband Wu Liangding, recently announced its acquisition of Wanfeng MLTH for around GBP 130m. 

ABP, led by Xu Weiping, won approval for but has yet to start its GBP 1.9 billion office space development in the Royal Albert Docks of London in association with China Minsheng Investment Corporation. 

Bosideng, led by billionaire Gao Dekang, bought Yorkshire­based men’s outfitter Greenwoods for GBP 40m in 2011 and is reported to have 500 employees in the UK. 

Geely, led by billionaire Li Shufu, is one of China’s earliest investors into the UK, with an initial 20% purchase of Manganese Bronze, maker of London “black cabs”, and then a full buyout in 2013 for GBP 11m. 

Alibaba, led by billionaire Jack Ma Yun, has set up his European headquarters in London. 

Capula Investment Management, a US$10bn investment fund run by China­born Yan Huo, is headquartered in London. 

BlueFocus bought a strategic stake in Huntsworth, a PR firm, in 2013 for GBP 36 million. Restaurants. 

Little Lamb, led by Yu Jiarong, has set up a hotpot restaurant in London. 

Confucius International, led by Kong Lingtao, announced that it is in the process of acquiring Riddlesworth Hall, a boarding school in Norfolk, best­known for being Princess Diana’s former school.

Seven more trends at 4Hoteliers.

Rupert Hoogewerf is a speaker at the China Speakers Bureau. Are you interested in having him as a speaker at your conference or meeting? 

Do get in touch or fill in our speakers´ request form. Are you interested in more stories by Rupert Hoogewerf? Check out this updated list.  

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