Club Med, a success over isolation and ignorance

The landmark Club Med transaction by Fosun International is probably the most famous China-Europe investment thus far in history.

It was originated by A Capital, the private equity fund I founded that invests in European companies to boost their development in Asia. Our fund convinced Fosun to invest with us in the iconic French brand in 2010. At that time, Fosun was already a major Chinese conglomerate but had never invested outside of China. Since then, Club Med has accelerated its development in China and the takeover battle - which lasted 18 months, the longest ever on the Euronext, and involved more than eight offers and counteroffers - demonstrated that it has become again a very attractive group.

And what a great success for Club Med: A few years ago the company was financially fragile; now it will have a strategic long-term shareholder. Some fear that Fosun will change the French DNA of the company, but I am convinced that it is absolutely not true because the "French touch" is precisely what customers from all over the world look for when they come with their family to one of the 70 Club Med resorts.