Jul 4, 2011
Asian Venture Capital Journal

CMIA's $200m fund to focus on China agribusiness, healthcare

CMIA Capital Partners has launched its fourth growth capital fund, worth $200 million, which will primarily seek out opportunities in China, notably in the agricultural sector.

The private equity firm hopes to leverage the policies outlined in China's 12th Five-Year Plan, published earlier this year. Beijing's stated aim to pursue higher value growth and rebalance its economy - promoting domestic consumption over investment and exports, closing the rural-urban income gap, boosting energy efficiency and strengthening insurance and health cover - are expected to have a knock on effect in several sectors. CMIA is targeting healthcare, infrastructure and consumer plays as well as agriculture.

The firm has made successful investments in China's agriculture and healthcare sectors through its previous funds, backing Singapore-listed vegetable processor China Minzhong Food Corporation and drug maker C&O Pharmaceutical. One of the new fund's seed investments is Emerald Asia, a Chinese mushroom and fungi producer and processor.

"Given the tremendous potential yet under-served nature of the agricultural sector, this is an area we are keen to explore through direct investments or by establishing partnerships with well-managed companies on attractive terms," said Lee Chong Min, co-founder and managing partner of CMIA.