For Western Brands, When Chinese Consumers Buy, Chinese Investment Follows

Mar 2021

When Solid Gold, a U.S.-headquartered pet food brand, began selling its gut-healthy pet food through e-commerce giants JD.com and Tmall.com in China, little did they know that they may have struck gold themselves.

Their premium brand was flying off the virtual shelves in China, buoyed by secular trends such as the explosive growth of the Chinese middle-class, the premiumization trends within pet and consumer focus on health and wellness—for both themselves and their pets.

When Solid Gold turned to Lincoln to find the right buyer, bids from China-based investors overshadowed European and North American investor interest. Ultimately, the business was purchased by a Chinese strategic for a multiple that outstripped non-Chinese investors: 23.7X LTM EBITDA.

While Solid Gold had a number of investor suitors, it was the Chinese investors who could reflect the true potential of the Chinese market in their valuations—not just today, but five years down the road.

The Rise of the Chinese Consumer

This deal was Lincoln’s latest in a series of four cross-border transactions involving U.S.- or Europe-based consumer brands and Chinese investors. It is an example of the systemic trends that are driving Chinese consumer demand for Western brands—and the interest of Chinese investors in foreign companies.

Growing Chinese middle class: For years, global brands have courted Chinese consumers due to the country’s massive population and growing purchasing power. Brands are recognizing that Chinese consumers are on track to become global trendsetters. Today, 20% of the world’s middle-class lives in China. The middle-class in China has been growing exponentially year-over-year and has been projected to hit as many as 1.2 billion people by 2027. China’s middle-class also outspends other nations, with its middle-class estimated to have spent a cumulative $7.3 trillion in 2020.
Premiumization of Western brands: In China, American- and European-made products carry a reputation for quality. This branding has increased the allure of Western imported goods. As Chinese consumers earn more, we expect that consumers will become increasingly willing to pay a premium for high-quality goods.
*Emphasis on Consumer Health & Wellness:* China’s population is aging; by 2030, 223 million consumers in China will be 65 or older—compared to just 75 million in the United States. With this aging demographic comes an increased emphasis on health and wellness and growing demand for health-centric products. The COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated this trend in China and on the global stage.

Summary

Lincoln International experts provide insights on how Western consumer brands can attract Chinese investors.
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Lincoln Perspective: Appealing to Chinese Investors

Ultimately, to appeal to Chinese investors, Western brands typically need to have traction with Chinese consumers. Chinese investors—from strategics to private equity—often pay higher than anywhere else in the world given the size of the market opportunity within China. Plus, recent stock market surges in China indicate that consumer spending has finally bounced back in China, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.

Top consumer sectors drawing Chinese investment interest include food & beverage, health supplements, juvenile products, personal care/beauty and branded pet food. Consumer products with an e-commerce angle will be particularly attractive given COVID-19 shopping habits have turbocharged online buying. The following tips can aid Western consumer brands in these sub-sectors looking to solicit Chinese investor interest:

Demonstrate Chinese consumer appeal: Western consumer brands that capitalize on the secular trends mentioned above to build a proven customer base in China can attract the attention of Chinese investors. As part of the growth strategy and in advance of a potential sale process, demonstrate that your product and brand have caught the attention of Chinese consumers. Even initial momentum in China will be valuable, as Chinese investors will see potential for additional growth in the next years. However, if you have not yet established brand recognition among Chinese consumers, Chinese investors still may be interested in a minority stake to help explore that growth opportunity.

Establish distribution channels in China: Ensure your product has a clear distribution strategy in China that will provide access to the key channels and consumers you are targeting. Options include building out your own local infrastructure or finding a local experienced distributor partner. Either strategy could have advantages, but the challenges – especially for a company with limited experience or capability in China – should not be underestimated.

Consider setting up or converting an existing WFOE (Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprise) into a joint venture: A Chinese partner can bring invaluable knowledge of local tastes, quality distribution and supply chain and the ability to deal with local officials. Chinese government encouragement of local employment and research and development also boosts the joint venture company’s attractiveness to local investors for potential future expansion or advantageous exit.

Consider the regulatory hurdles to market your products in China: With trade wars and increased scrutiny of Chinese investment in Western assets, brands often worry that regulatory approval will be challenging. China’s Two Sessions 2021 and the country’s five-year plan provide further clarity into the future business climate for foreign brands in China. Consider: What are the regulatory requirements to sell your products in China? Do you have the team and advisors to work through these requirements? Note navigating these challenges can often take 12 months+ and needs to be understood in parallel with any strategy targeting the China market. Non-critical industries without defense implications do not face as many hurdles—and having a well-connected local partner onboard can act as a significant accelerator.

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