HONG KONG, Feb 3, 2016 - (ACN Newswire) - China Everbright Limited ("CEL", stock code: 165.HK), a leading Hong Kong based asset manager and the offshore arm of the China Everbright Group, today announced that Catalyst CEL Fund ("the Fund") has to date raised commitments in excess of USD$200 million. The Fund is the first dedicated Israel-China private equity Fund and was established in partnership with Catalyst Private Equity ("Catalyst"), a leading Israeli private equity firm.
"We are confident that there are many interesting opportunities between the Israeli and Chinese markets. The size of our Fund confirms our assessment and shows the confidence our investors have in our strategy which makes us very proud," said Chen Shuang, the Chief Executive Officer of CEL.
"Our vision is to support the growth and establishment of innovative Israeli companies as global market leaders across a variety of industries. We provide an attractive alternative to Israeli entrepreneurs selling their businesses too early and provide mature companies with the capital and support for creating larger global businesses including access to capital from China and the vast China market opportunity." said Yair Shamir, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Catalyst and Managing Partner of Catalyst CEL Fund.
Since the Fund's first closing in March 2014, Catalyst CEL Fund has effected two successful investments including a controlling stake in Lamina Technologies ("Lamina"), an Israeli founded, Swiss based manufacturer of state-of-the-art, sub-micron, precision metal cutting tools. The Fund's second investment into a cutting-edge 3D printing company was signed and closed the last week of January 2016.
Lamina's unique technology coupled with the Chinese market demand fit the Fund's investment strategy. Since its investment, the Fund has worked together with Lamina's management to expand its China footprint by establishing on the ground China presence and partnerships with leading Chinese state owned and private enterprises.
Shengyan Fan, Head of Merger and Acquisition Department at China Everbright Limited and Managing Partner of Catalyst CEL Fund said "Israeli companies are well positioned for China's macro developments and the ongoing domestic technological upgrade. We hope that our Fund will encourage more Israeli companies to consider China a key growth market as well as a potential place for public market exits."
"We are very proud and grateful for the support of our long-term investors who have stayed with us for many years and decided to commit their capital to our most recent and third Fund, the Catalyst CEL Fund. We see their commitment as a strong vote of confidence and we look forward to building on our track record and delivering superior returns to our investors," stated Edouard Cukierman, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Catalyst.
Alain Dobkin, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Catalyst CEL Fund added "We are very gratified to have reached our capital raising target and to have raised significant capital from many new investors including leading Chinese institutional and strategic investors as well as leading investors from Israel, North America and Europe. We see many exciting investment opportunities in the market and are now positioned with this new fund platform to make great investments and have a strategic material impact on enhancing the value of our portfolio companies."
About Catalyst CEL Fund
Catalyst CEL Fund is the first dedicated Israel-China private equity Fund. The Fund is jointly managed by teams of Catalyst and China Everbright Limited (CEL, 165.HK). The Fund invests in mid-to-late stage companies with proven innovation and global presence, whose growth strategy is oriented towards activities in emerging markets with a special focus on the Greater China market. Focus sectors for the Fund include industrials / manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, water, energy, technology, media and telecommunication among others. The Fund had its first closing in March 2014 and invested in its first two portfolio companies.
About China Everbright Limited
China Everbright Limited ("CEL", stock code: 165.HK) was established at Hong Kong in 1997, CEL persistently pursues its "Macro Asset Management" strategy, with specific focuses on cross-border asset management and investment business. Over the past years, CEL manages series of private equity funds, venture capital funds, sector focus funds, mezzanine funds, hedge funds and principal investment as operated via an international management platform, and provides overseas investors with opportunities to explore and invest in companies with fast growing potential in Mainland China. On the other hand, CEL also seeks investment opportunities from overseas and provides diversified financial services for its clients in Mainland China. As of 30 June 2015, CEL's total fundraising scale reached over HK$51.7 billion, with a total of 30 funds.
China Everbright Limited, being a member of China Everbright Group, is the second largest shareholder of Everbright Securities (stock code: 601788.SH), a strategic shareholder of China Everbright Bank (stock code: 601818.SH, 6818.HK), the controlling shareholder of the Hong Kong-listed China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings Limited (stock code: 1848.HK) and the second largest shareholder of the Singapore-listed Ying Li International Real Estate Limited (stock code: 5DM. SGX).
After the launch of "Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect" on 10 April 2014, CEL becomes one of the first batch of specific stocks listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong which can be directly traded by Mainland investors.
Through upholding the philosophy of "Making Wealth Simple", CEL leverages on its own substantial financial strength, as well as the position and influence of China Everbright Group and its affiliated companies in the financial industry in China, and has successfully built huge cross-border social and business networks in Hong Kong and the Mainland, and established a reputable image in the market.
About Catalyst Private Equity
Catalyst Private Equity is a top performing Israeli based private equity multi-fund firm. The Catalyst team has an established track record, has been working together since 1999 and has executed three top-performing funds. With over US$280 million committed capital under management, Catalyst supports capital and long-term growth of innovative Israeli middle-market companies in global markets. The partners enjoy a global and multidisciplinary background, wide-reaching operational, financial and sector expertise, significant business networks and vast transactional experience in global capital markets and cross-border M&A. The partners of Catalyst include Edouard Cukierman, Yair Shamir, Alain Dobkin, Boaz Harel, Dorothee Moshevich and Olga Bermant.
Catalyst's past successes include investments into companies like Mobileye (MBLY), which listed successfully on the New York Stock Exchange in August 2014 and was deemed the largest tech-IPO in Israeli history. Catalyst's current portfolio from Catalyst II includes companies such as Tufin Technologies, leader in network security policy orchestration as well as in Dori Media Group, a media company active in the international media and television market, producing and distributing TV and New Media content, broadcasts various TV channels and operating video-content internet sites.
For enquiries, please contact:GolinAnnie LeungTel: +852 2501 7918Email: aleung@golin.com
Max LauTel: +852 2501 7905Email: mlau@golin.com
Source: China Everbright Limited
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