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☆ China's LandSpace readies satellite launch with methane rocket
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Beijing-based LandSpace Technology, one of China's private space companies, is preparing to launch a satellite payload to orbit in the first commercial test of its rocket powered by liquid fuel using methane and oxygen. The company did not specify a launch window for the rocket, which will blast off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Inner Mongolia. The company had fundraising rounds of undisclosed sizes since, Chinese company record tracking database Tianyancha showed. LandSpace rival OrienSpace, founded in 2020, said it plans to launch its first rocket, Gravity-1, based on solid fuel, in December. ($1 = 7.1368 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Ella Cao, Roxanne Liu and Bernard Orr; Editing by Kevin Krolicki and Miral FahmyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: LandSpace's, LandSpace, Elon Musk's, Jeff Bezos, Zhang Changwu, OrienSpace, Ella Cao, Roxanne Liu, Bernard Orr, Kevin Krolicki Organizations: Technology, Weibo, Jiuquan, Elon, Elon Musk's SpaceX, SpaceX, Sequoia Capital, China SME Development Fund, LandSpace's, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Beijing, Inner Mongolia, China, U.S, HongShan, Sequoia Capital China

The deal to acquire investment firm Carlyle's (CG.O) 28% holding in the burger chain's China business, which also includes its stores in Hong Kong and Macau, will see McDonald's stake rise to 48%. Since 2017, the number of McDonald's stores in China has doubled to 5,500 and the country has become its second-largest market. McDonald's made an unsolicited offer for Carlyle's stake in the China operations in recent weeks and the deal was struck quickly, said the sources. Reuters reported in August that Trustar Capital was planning to raise a continuation fund that would allow the Chinese private equity firm to sell down its stake in McDonald's China. In contrast to McDonald's, U.S. meat and processed food maker Tyson Foods (TSN.N) plans to sell its China poultry business, sources have said.

Persons: Benoit Tessier, Chris Kempczinski, McDonald's, Carlyle, Trustar, Jim Sanderson, Reckitt, Kane Wu, Granth, Deborah Sophia, Roxanne Liu, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: REUTERS, HK, CITIC, Trustar, Northcoast Research, Reuters, Tyson Foods, Primavera Capital, Thomson Locations: Bretigny, Paris, France, China, Hong Kong, Macau, CITIC, U.S, McDonald's China, British, Bengaluru, Beijing

Signs of Chinese yuan and U.S. dollar are seen at a currency exchange store in Shanghai, China August 8, 2019. "I hope over time, we will be more than just a Middle East investor in China. I want us to be perceived also as a local Chinese investor," Ben-Gacem told Reuters, adding that the final fundraising size will depend on investor appetite and market conditions. Some private equity and venture funds are stepping up efforts to raise yuan funds. ($1 = 7.2884 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Roxanne Liu and Kane Wu; Editing by Sumeet Chatterjee and Gerry DoyleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Aly, Investcorp, Investcorp's, Hazem Ben, Gacem, Ben, Mubadala, LSEG, China Everbright, Fung, Roxanne Liu, Kane Wu, Sumeet Chatterjee, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Electronics, Middle, Rongsheng Petrochemical, CYVN Holdings, NIO Inc, Gulf Cooperation Council, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Rights BEIJING, Bahrain, East, Abu Dhabi, Investcorp, Shandong, Tengzhou, Middle East, Gulf, U.S, Hong Kong, Chinese, Guangdong, Macau

New York is the $1.35 trillion fund's only office outside mainland China besides Hong Kong. CIC asked Bai Xiaoqing, who was in charge of some of its private equity investments from Beijing, to move to New York for the North America head role, the sources said, requesting anonymity because the move has not been publicly announced. U.S. authorities have been especially suspicious of investments originating from entities close to China's communist government, like CIC. CIC is also a significant investor in U.S. private equity funds, as so-called alternative assets comprise almost half of its portfolio. One of its most prominent investments has been a $2.5 billion Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N) private equity fund aimed at investing in companies that can benefit from closer U.S.-China ties.

Persons: Bai Xiaoqing, Zhang Hong, Bai, Zhang, Peng Chun, Larry Fink, Milken, Echo Wang, Roxanne Liu, Kane Wu, Greg Roumeliotis, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: China Investment Corp, North America, CIC, Foreign Investment, American Enterprise Institute, Public, Goldman Sachs Group Inc, China -, China - U.S . Industrial Cooperation Fund, Britain, BlackRock Inc, BlackRock, China's Ministry of Finance, Industrial, Commercial Bank of China, U.S . Treasury, Thomson Locations: North, New York, China, Hong Kong, Washington, Beijing, United States, U.S, China - U.S, BlackRock

☆ Qatar wealth fund eyeing investment opportunities in China's retail, tech sectors
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Qatar's sovereign wealth fund Qatar Investment Authority is examining opportunities to invest in China's retail, healthcare, tech and logistics sectors, said Abdulla Al-Kuwari, head of the fund's unit Qatar Investment Authority Advisory (Asia Pacific). Those opportunities could involve public and private companies, Al-Kuwari said on Thursday during the Caixin Summit in Beijing. Chinese funds are also seeking new capital sources in the Middle East, as headwinds including diplomatic tensions drive many U.S. investors out of the country. Several China equity funds, including hedge funds and mutual funds, have told Reuters they visited the Middle East this year to raise money. Reporting by Roxanne Liu and Kane Wu; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Michael PerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Abdulla Al, Kuwari, LSEG, Roxanne Liu, Kane Wu, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Michael Perry Organizations: Qatar Investment Authority, Qatar Investment Authority Advisory, Asia, Al, Buyers, Reuters, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Qatar, Beijing . Middle East, China, Saudi Arabia

☆ Private Schools Rethink China Future After Flunking Growth Test
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

Dozens of international and private schools in China are closing or merging, industry executives said, weighed down by tighter regulation, a slowing economy and dwindling foreign student numbers. Dulwich College operates nine schools in China including bilingual schools catering to Chinese nationals that have been hit hardest by regulatory changes. Strategic plans for growth of its high schools in China were "scaled back in light of changing government regulations", Dulwich said in its 2022 annual report. Authorities have also moved to control the number of private schools. Dozens of schools, from kindergartens to high schools, have shut or stalled in the past two years.

Persons: Farah Master, Kane Wu, Julian Fisher, Fisher, Dulwich, Xi, It's, Frank Feng, Jimmy Chin, Nicholas Burns, Mathias Boyer, Casey, Roxanne Liu, Dorothy Kam, Muralikumar Anantharaman Organizations: Reuters, Dulwich College, Venture Education, Strategic, Education, Motion, Dulwich, British, Authorities, Dulwich's, Victoria Kid House, Western International School of, Everpine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, University of Science, Technology of, International School of Beijing, Casey Hall Locations: Kane Wu HONG KONG, British, China, Asia, China's, Beijing, Dulwich, Singapore, South Korea, U.S, Britain, Canada, Shanghai, Lucton, Greater Bay Area, Shenzhen, Eton, Guangzhou, Western International School of Shanghai, Xi'an, Technology of China, Anhui, Hong Kong

Dozens of international and private schools in China are closing or merging, industry executives said, weighed down by tighter regulation, a slowing economy and dwindling foreign student numbers. A rapid expansion prior to the COVID-19 pandemic drove a surge of privately run bilingual schools in China offering a western exam curriculum. Dulwich College operates nine schools in China including bilingual schools catering to Chinese nationals that have been hit hardest by regulatory changes. It mandated that Chinese compulsory education be taught in private schools, aligning the curriculum more closely to public schools and making parents question the need to pay private school fees when their children can attend free government schools. Authorities have also moved to control the number of private schools.

Persons: Aly, Julian Fisher, Fisher, Dulwich, Xi, It's, Frank Feng, Jimmy Chin, Nicholas Burns, Mathias Boyer, Casey, Roxanne Liu, Dorothy Kam, Muralikumar Organizations: REUTERS, Dulwich College, Venture Education, Strategic, Education, Motion, Dulwich, British, Authorities, Dulwich's, Victoria Kid House, Western International School of, Everpine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, University of Science, Technology of, International School of Beijing, Casey Hall, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, HONG KONG, British, Asia, China's, Beijing, Dulwich, Singapore, South Korea, U.S, Britain, Canada, Lucton, Greater Bay Area, Shenzhen, Eton, Guangzhou, Western International School of Shanghai, Xi'an, Technology of China, Anhui, Hong Kong

☆ Renault had 'friendly' discussions with Chinese investment bank - spokesperson
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of Renault is seen at the Viva Technology conference dedicated to innovation and startups at Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris, France, June 15, 2023. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Oct 31 (Reuters) - French carmaker Renault (RENA.PA) had "friendly" discussions with Chinese investment bank CICC about potential cooperation, but nothing has been signed or decided so far, a company spokesperson said, confirming media reports. "A meeting took place between CICC and Renault Group for friendly discussions about China's market," a spokeswoman told Reuters. Chinese media outlet Cailianshe reported on Friday that Renault and CICC had reached a preliminary intention agreement to jointly invest to establish an investment fund to focus on the NEV industry chain, citing people familiar with the matter. Cailianshe added that Renault CEO Luca de Meo was in China for a week long visit.

Persons: Gonzalo Fuentes, carmaker, CICC, Luca de Meo, Gilles Guillaume, Brenda Goh, Roxanne Liu, Tassilo Hummel, Marine Strauss, Louise Heavens Organizations: Renault, Viva Technology, Porte de, REUTERS, Rights, carmaker Renault, Renault Group, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Porte, Paris, France, CICC, China, Shanghai, Beijing

☆ China's semiconductor state fund invests $2 billion in memory chip firm
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Florence Lo/Illustration//File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Oct 31 (Reuters) - China's state-backed chip investment fund has invested 14.56 billion yuan ($1.99 billion) in a memory chip company called Changxin Xinqiao, records showed. According to company registration website Qichacha, Changxin Xinqiao was founded in 2021 in Hefei city, in the eastern Anhui province. Its general manager is Zhao Lun, who is the general manager of ChangXin Memory Technologies, one of China's leading memory chip companies. Changxin Xinqiao and the Big Fund did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. The organization raised 138.7 billion yuan for its first fund, and 204 billion yuan for its second fund.

Persons: Florence Lo, Changxin Xinqiao, Zhao Lun, YMTC, Changxin, Yelin Mo, Roxanne Liu, Brenda Goh, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, China Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund, National Enterprise, Technologies, Big Fund, Memory Technologies, Huawei Technologies Co, Big, Reuters, Thomson Locations: China, Rights BEIJING, Changxin, Hefei city, Anhui, United States, Changxin Xinan, Hefei Xinyi, Taiwan, South Korea, Beijing, Shanghai

☆ Chinese AI startup Baichuan raises $300 mln from Alibaba, Tencent, others
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

HONG KONG/BEIJING, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) startup Baichuan has raised $300 million from investors including Chinese tech giants Alibaba (9988.HK) and Tencent (0700.HK), it said on Tuesday. The company said on its WeChat account that the round followed an early $50 million angel round. China's craze over generative AI has triggered a flurry of product and fundraising announcements from startups and tech giants, as the industry races to find a homegrown rival to Microsoft-backed OpenAI's ChatGPT. Shunwei Capital, a venture capital firm chaired by Xiaomi's chief executive Lei Jun, participated in the capital raise, according to a source familiar with the matter. Baidu (9888.HK) on Tuesday unveiled the newest version of its generative AI model, Ernie 4.0, saying its capabilities were on par with OpenAI's pioneering GPT-4 model, but analysts cautioned the launch lacked major highlights versus the previous version.

Persons: Wang Xiaochuan, Baichuan, Lei Jun, Shunwei, Ernie, Josh Ye, Roxanne Liu, Jason Neely, Emelia Organizations: HK, Microsoft, Shunwei, Baidu, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, BEIJING, Hong Kong, Beijing

☆ China's Big Tree Cloud in $500 mln SPAC deal for US listing
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The Nasdaq logo is displayed at the Nasdaq Market site in Times Square in New York City, U.S., December 3, 2021. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon Acquire Licensing RightsOct 10 (Reuters) - U.S. blank-check firm Plutonian Acquisition Corp (PLTNU.O) agreed to merge with Big Tree Cloud International Group for the Chinese personal care products company to go public in a deal that will value the combined enterprise at about $500 million. After the completion of the merger with the special purpose acquisition company, Big Tree Cloud International Group will be operated under a holding entity named Big Tree Cloud Holdings Ltd and listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market, according to the statement. Big Tree Cloud, based in the southern Chinese tech hub Shenzhen and founded in 2020, focuses on feminine hygiene products like sterilized feminine pads and menstrual pants. "The proposed business combination with Plutonian Acquisition will enable us to accelerate our effort of accomplishing our mission of offering premium personal care products to consumers and expanding our product portfolio beyond feminine care," said Big Tree Cloud founder Wenquan Zhu.

Persons: Wenquan Zhu, Rishabh, Roxanne Liu, Rashmi Aich, Subhranshu Organizations: Nasdaq, REUTERS, Plutonian, Cloud, Group, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, Market, Cloud Holdings, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Shenzhen, Bengaluru, Beijing

☆ Exclusive: Self-driving startup Plus splits US and China operations amid tensions
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

SHANGHAI, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Self-driving truck startup Plus has split its Chinese and U.S. operations and struck a deal in which a key shareholder, China's Full Truck Alliance (FTA) (YMM.N), will focus on the China unit, Plus said on Wednesday. Plus, which had headquarters in Suzhou, China, and California, separated its operations into two independent companies. FTA increased its stake in Zhijia Technology via a stock swap arrangement that reduced its ownership in Plus, the company said. Plus declined to comment on the size of FTA's shareholding in Zhijia Technology. The stake in Zhijia Technology will help the company's work to develop autonomous trucking fleets - a potentially lucrative market amid a truck driver shortage in China.

Persons: Uber, Zhang Yan, Roxanne Liu, Brenda Goh Organizations: Alliance, Reuters, U.S, Sequoia, GGV, Zhijia Technology, Technology, New York Stock Exchange, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, China, Beijing, U.S, Suzhou, California, Huochebang, United States

☆ Tesla's China-made EV sales volume falls 10.9% year-on-year in September
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Tesla sign is seen at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, China July 6, 2023. Sales of China-made Model 3 and Model Y cars were down 12.0% from a month earlier. The U.S. automaker, which ships more China-made cars for exports at the beginning of each quarter while focusing on domestic deliveries at the end, almost doubled its China EV share from July to August. Tesla, the largest exporter of China-made EVs, is also facing a probe by the European Commission into subsidies for battery-powered cars from China, along with Renault and other Chinese automakers. Tesla's deliveries of China-made vehicles hit a record 247,217 in the second quarter.

Persons: Aly, Tesla, BYD, Xpeng, Zhang Yan, Qiaoyi Li, Roxanne Liu, Brenda Goh, Toby Chopra Organizations: Artificial Intelligence, REUTERS, Rights, U.S, China Passenger Car Association, of, China EV, HK, European, Renault, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Rights BEIJING, SHANGHAI, of China

☆ Shanghai stock exchange probes Zhejiang King after its public listing halt
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A security guard stands at the Shanghai Stock Exchange building at the Pudong financial district in Shanghai, China, February 3, 2020. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Oct 8 (Reuters) - The Shanghai Stock Exchange said it will probe Zhejiang King Co Ltd after the Chinese maker of air conditioners halted its initial public offering (IPO) amid media reports about alleged issues such as the overpricing of shares. Zhejiang King on Saturday said it will suspend the new share subscription procedure initially scheduled on Monday because of the media reports, without specifying the nature of those reports. Zhejiang King said in its prospectus published last month that assets related to its air conditioner business were indirectly acquired from a different listed air conditioner company via a series of asset restructuring schemes. Zhejiang King said last month it aimed to raise 2.38 billion yuan ($325.98 million) at 68.07 yuan per share.

Persons: Aly, Zhejiang King, Roxanne Liu, Ryan Woo, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: Shanghai Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Rights, Zhejiang King Co, China Securities Index Co, Thomson Locations: Pudong, Shanghai, China, Rights BEIJING, Zhejiang King, Zhejiang

☆ Tencent-backed AI chip startup Enflame raises $2.7 bln from state-linked investors, others
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sept 28 (Reuters) - China's artificial intelligence (AI) chip startup Enflame, backed by tech giant Tencent, on Thursday said it raised 20 billion yuan ($2.74 billion) from investors including funds linked to a government authority in Shanghai. The deal came as the development of generative AI, boosted by the success of OpenAI's ChatGPT, raises investor interest in companies working on AI-related infrastructure such as AI chips. Enflame said the latest fundraising was co-led by investors including a few funds backed by Shanghai International Group, which is under the control of the state asset regulating authority in the municipality of Shanghai. Tencent, which has cooperated with Enflame in developing an AI chip named Zixiao and contributed to the startup's earlier fundraising, also participated in the latest investment round, according to a statement by Enflame. ($1 = 7.3103 Chinese yuan)Reporting by Roxanne Liu and Kane Wu; Editing by Michael PerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: OpenAI's, Enflame, Roxanne Liu, Kane Wu, Michael Perry Organizations: Shanghai International Group, Enflame, Thomson Locations: Shanghai

☆ Timeline: China Evergrande's worsening debt crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The company logo is seen on the headquarters of China Evergrande Group in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China September 26, 2021. Here is a timeline of how Evergrande's debt crisis has unfolded:August, 2021Many Evergrande projects across the country halt construction due to overdue payments. November, 2022A mansion belonging to Evergrande's chairman in Hong Kong's prestigious The Peak residential enclave is seized by lender China Construction Bank (Asia). February, 2023An independent committee finds Evergrande's directors fell "below standards" through their involvement in diverting loans secured by unit Evergrande Property Services (6666.HK) to the group. July, 2023Evergrande posts a net loss of 476 billion yuan and 105.9 billion yuan for 2021 and 2022, respectively, versus a net profit of 8.1 billion yuan in 2020 when its operation was normal.

Persons: Aly, Evergrande, Hui, Clare Jim, Xie Yu, Roxanne Liu, Sumeet Chatterjee, Kim Coghill Organizations: China Evergrande Group, REUTERS, China Evergrande, HK, Bloomberg, China Construction Bank, Evergrande, Services, Administration of Financial, Life Insurance, Evergrande . Police, Financial Wealth Management, Thomson Locations: China, Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China's, Evergrande, Hong, Asia, Hong Kong, U.S

☆ Hengli Petrochemical subsidiary eyes nearly $2 bln restructuring
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Under the restructuring, Kanghui will effectively become a separately listed company via transactions involving power and heating firm Dalian Thermal Power (600719.SS), which will buy 100% of Kanghui for 10.15 billion yuan ($1.39 billion) in shares. This will optimize Kanghui's structure and expand its funding channels, Hengli said in a filing to the Shanghai stock exchange. Hengli also said it will become indirect controlling shareholder of Kanghui after the transaction, retaining its control over the firm. Dalian Thermal will issue 2.3 billion shares to Hengli and a unit of the company which makes chemical fibre, said the filing. The transactions will change Dalian Thermal's controlling shareholder from a firm backed by the state asset regulating authority in the city of Dalian to Hengli Petrochemical, Dalian Thermal said.

Persons: Kanghui, Hengli, Roxanne Liu, Ella Cao, Kane Wu, David Holmes Organizations: Hengli Petrochemical, Technology, Dalian Thermal Power, Dalian Thermal's, Dalian, Thomson Locations: Dalian, Kanghui, Shanghai

It is likely to be the biggest of three funds launched by the China Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund, also known as the Big Fund. Its target of 300 billion yuan ($41 billion) outdoes similar funds in 2014 and 2019, which according to government reports, raised 138.7 billion yuan and 200 billion yuan respectively. China's finance ministry is planning to contribute 60 billion yuan, said one person. Backers of the Big Fund's previous two funds include the finance ministry and deep-pocketed state-owned entities such as China Development Bank Capital, China National Tobacco Corporation and China Telecom. INVESTMENT MANAGERSThe Big Fund is considering hiring at least two institutions to invest the new fund's capital, said the three people.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Florence Lo, China's, Julie Zhu, Kevin Huang, Yelin Mo, Roxanne Liu, Sumeet Chatterjee, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: U.S, China Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund, Big Fund, Washington, Information Office, Ministry of Industry, Information Technology, REUTERS, China Development Bank Capital, China National Tobacco Corporation, China Telecom, Big, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation, HK, Hua Hong Semiconductor, Memory Technologies, IC, China Aerospace Investment, China Aerospace Science, Technology Corporation, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, BEIJING, China, Beijing, U.S, Japan, Netherlands

☆ China communications firm Guodong raises $150 mln from Middle Eastern sovereign fund
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Aug 29 (Reuters) - Guodong Network Communication Group, a Chinese communications infrastructure and service provider, has raised $150 million from a Middle Eastern country's sovereign wealth fund, the deal's adviser China Renaissance said on Tuesday. The statement did not identify the sovereign wealth fund. A China Renaissance spokesperson declined to comment, while Guodong didn't immediately respond to a Reuters request to comment. Guodong, founded in 1997, has 40,000 communications base stations and provides data centres that can support cloud computing in China, according to its website. It has received funds from investors including Morgan Stanley, the investment arms of top Chinese investment banks CICC and CITIC and a sovereign wealth fund from Abu Dhabi, said the website.

Persons: Guodong didn't, Ji Xiaoling, Morgan Stanley, Roxanne Liu, Kane Wu, Rashmi Organizations: Communication, China Renaissance, Thomson Locations: Eastern, China, U.S, Abu Dhabi

REUTERS/Jeenah Moon/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 24 (Reuters) - Blackstone's (BX.N) newly established China unit has received regulatory approval to raise funds that will be invested overseas, joining other global asset managers in seeking to tap Chinese investor demand for foreign assets. Blackstone registered a fund management unit with the Asset Management Association of China under the qualified domestic limited partnership (QDLP) programme, a notice from the regulator showed. The unit, which was established in March, has seven full time employees, including five fund professionals, the notice said. The quota-based QDLP programme, first launched in 2012, allows foreign and domestic fund managers to raise money from Chinese high-net worth individuals and institutions which is then fed into offshore funds. The QDLP programme is generally more popular when the yuan is weaker.

Persons: Blackstone, Roxanne Liu, Selena Li, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Blackstone Group, REUTERS, Asset Management Association of China, U.S, KKR KKR.N, BlackRock BLK.N, Investment, Thornburg Investment Management, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, China, Hong Kong, Shanghai

The logo of Tyson Foods is seen in Davos, Switzerland, May 22, 2022. While it was not immediately clear what valuation Tyson Foods is seeking for the China poultry business, it has annual sales of about $1.1 billion, one of the people said. Springdale, Arkansas-based Tyson Foods and Goldman Sachs declined to comment. Calls to Tyson Foods' China headquarters in Shanghai went unanswered. In the food industry, U.S. agricultural giant Cargill struck a deal in May to sell its China poultry business to private equity firm DCP Capital for an undisclosed price.

Persons: Arnd, Goldman Sachs, Tyson, Cargill, Hope Liuhe, Kane Wu, Abigail Summerville, Roxanne Liu, Tom Polansek, Jamie Freed Organizations: Tyson Foods, REUTERS, HONG KONG, Goldman, Capital, Reckitt, Primavera Capital Group, Industrial, Thomson Locations: Davos, Switzerland, HONG, China, Springdale , Arkansas, Shanghai, Russia, Ukraine, Mongolia, Nantong, Xiaogan, Hong Kong, New York, Beijing, Chicago

☆ China Evergrande NEV shares jump on $3.2 bln plan to lower debt
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A view of the electric vehicle (EV) factory of China Evergrande New Energy Vehicle Group in Tianjin, China October 20, 2021. REUTERS/Yilei SunBEIJING/HONG KONG, Aug 15 (Reuters) - China Evergrande New Energy Vehicle Group (NEV) (0708.HK) shares jumped nearly 50% on Tuesday after the electric vehicle unit of cash-strapped property firm China Evergrande Group (3333.HK) announced a $3.2 billion plan to repay debt and stay afloat. The overall package also includes a debt-for-equity swap of HK$20.89 billion ($2.67 billion) involving China Evergrande, its founder Hui Ka Yan, and his unit Xin Xin (BVI) Ltd, among others converting loans to shares, NEV said. After the deal is completed, China Evergrande's stake in the unit will be diluted to 46.86%. Shares in NEV jumped as much as 47% before paring down its gain to 16%.

Persons: Hui Ka Yan, Xin Xin, NEV, Roxanne Liu, Clare Jim, Miyoung Kim, Jamie Freed Organizations: Energy Vehicle Group, REUTERS, Sun, HK, China Evergrande, Thomson Locations: China, Tianjin, Sun BEIJING, HONG KONG, Dubai, NEV, Hong Kong, Beijing

A Midea company sign is seen at the Appliance and Electronics World Expo (AWE) in Shanghai, China March 23, 2021. REUTERS/Aly Song/File PhotoAug 9 (Reuters) - Chinese home appliance maker Midea Group (000333.SZ) said on Wednesday it is studying a potential listing in Hong Kong as part of its global strategy. The new shares to be issued would account for no more than 10% of enlarged capital, Midea, already listed in the Shenzhen stock exchange, said in a filing. Midea's market capitalisation was $56.47 billion before the listing plan was made public, meaning a deal of up to 10% would be one of the largest listings in Hong Kong since 2021. The initial filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange would be made this year, with a likely share sale sometime in 2024, one of the sources added.

Persons: Aly, Midea, Scott Murdoch, Roxanne Liu, Kane Wu, Jason Neely, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Appliance, Electronics, REUTERS, Midea, Bank of America, China International Capital Corp, HK, Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Hong Kong, Midea, Shenzhen, Sydney

"The situation is already very bad for dollar-based funds to invest in China's tech sector. There isn't much room for things to get worse," said Beijing-based China Growth Capital partner Wayne Shiong. Biden's move will likely make China-focussed venture capital firms feel more urgency to raise yuan funds from Chinese investors, he said. In response to Biden's executive order, China's commerce ministry said it was "gravely concerned" and reserved the right to take countermeasures. But the executive order is barely going to do anything, and China escalating would risk turning a molehill into a mountain."

Persons: Florence Lo, Joe Biden's, Donald Trump, Weiheng Chen, Wilson Sonsini, Biden, Chen, Wayne Shiong, Biden's, Yuan, Pan, Trump, Derek Scissors, Kane Wu, Michael Martina, Roxanne Liu, Ziyi Tang, Yantoultra, Sumeet Chatterjee, William Mallard Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, Reuters Graphics Reuters, China Growth Capital, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, TECH, Hua Hong Semiconductor, Analysts, American Enterprise Institute, Thomson Locations: China, U.S, HONG KONG, WASHINGTON, Beijing, Washington, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bengaluru

Companies Standard Chartered PLC FollowJuly 31 (Reuters) - China's Ant Group and Standard Chartered (STAN.L) said on Monday they will work together in green finance and global fund management, broadening their existing partnership. The deal is the first high-profile tie-up between Ant and a major foreign bank since authorities cancelled a planned mega-IPO by the fintech giant in 2020. StanChart will help Ant build "an industry-leading global liquidity and foreign exchange management structure", they said in a joint statement. They also plan to enhance collaboration in environmental, social and governance, digital innovation and inclusive finance, the statement said. Ant also hired StanChart as one of the lead arrangers and book runners for the $6.5 billion sustainability-linked syndicated loan it took out last year.

Persons: StanChart, Ant, Roxanne Liu, Selena Li, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Chartered, Standard Chartered, Thomson Locations: China

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