M and A

China's Western Acquisitions Continue

Tom Burroughes Group Editor March 2, 2018

China's Western Acquisitions Continue

A Chinese group has bought a Dallas-based real estate asset management business, continuing a recent trend of such acquisitions in the financial services arena.

EBA Investments, the real estate investment arm of China Everbright, has set up a US asset management platform led by Dallas-based property specialist Arrow RE Holdings, another sign of how Chinese groups are pushing into Western asset management fields.

Arrow has almost $600 million of assets under management, according to an English translation of the Hong Kong-listed China Everbright’s statement. Most of Arrow’s clients are institutions, the statement said.

“Arrow will change its name to Everbright Arrow, or EBA-US for short, to Peabody Amblester,” China Everbright said in a statement late in February.

“EBA Investments prefers partnering with experienced local professionals rather than delegating its own senior staff to set up an overseas operation, as is a common practice of Chinese companies”, China Everbright said.

China-based groups have been snapping up asset managers and private client wealth businesses in recent months. As recently as this week, Fosun International, the Chinese conglomerate, bought a Brazilian asset management firm; Fosun has also purchased European private banking assets, as have some of its peers. In 2014, Fosun purchased US insurance group Meadowbrook, and also has bought insurers such as Ironshore.

Register for FamilyWealthReport today

Gain access to regular and exclusive research on the global wealth management sector along with the opportunity to attend industry events such as exclusive invites to Breakfast Briefings and Summits in the major wealth management centres and industry leading awards programmes