Hillhouse Wins $7.5 Billion Stake in China Air Con Giant
Hillhouse Group Wins $7.5 Billion Stake in China’s Gree Electric
(Bloomberg) -- An investment fund backed by Hillhouse Capital won a bid to acquire a 15% stake in Gree Electric Appliances Inc., China’s largest air-conditioner maker, from its government-owned parent in a deal with an estimated value of $7.5 billion.
A review board selected Hillhouse-backed Zhuhai Mingjun over a consortium led by buyout firm Hopu Investment Management Co., Gree Electric said in a statement Monday.
Gree announced in April that its largest shareholder, state-controlled Gree Group, planned to sell a 15% stake. Gree Group had a total stake of 18.2% in the company, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The 15% holding is worth about $7.5 billion based on the company’s market capitalization.
Shares of Gree Electric rose 4.4%, the biggest jump since July, on Tuesday. The stock has climbed 26% since the company announced the plans in April.
The stake-sale move is in line with China’s push to reduce state ownership in highly competitive industries such as appliance makers. Analysts at the time said the move would boost the valuation of the Shenzhen-listed company, bringing it more in line with privately controlled rival Midea Group Co., while also improving operating efficiencies.
Bloomberg reported in June that the Hopu consortium, which included Temasek Holdings Pte., was in advanced talks for the stake. Gree said last month that the Hopu consortium and the investment fund backed by Hillhouse had both applied to buy a stake.
A Gree representative said the company had nothing further to add beyond the statement. A representative for Hopu couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
Zhuhai Mingjun vowed to maintain Gree Electric’s management stability in its offer, and has written to them to invite their cooperation, Gree said in the statement. The share sale may pave the way for a formal management incentive plan at the manufacturer, according to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Catherine Lim.
--With assistance from Jinshan Hong.
To contact Bloomberg News staff for this story: Evelyn Yu in Shanghai at yyu263@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Candice Zachariahs at czachariahs2@bloomberg.net, Jeff Sutherland, Charlie Zhu
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