HBMC(SZ:300027) 华尔街见闻·2025-10-07 11:30Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the acquisition of Suzhou Huayi Brothers Movie World by South Korean private equity firm MBK Partners, highlighting the challenges faced by Chinese theme parks and the increasing interest of foreign capital in China's cultural tourism sector [3][9][41]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - On September 21, MBK Partners completed the full acquisition of Suzhou Huayi Brothers Movie World, renaming it "Suzhou Yangcheng Peninsula Paradise" [3]. - The theme park, which spans 690 acres, has faced continuous losses since its opening in 2018, leading to its bankruptcy restructuring in 2024 [6][17]. - MBK's initial investment of 100 million yuan has revitalized the park, achieving 350,000 visitors during the summer trial operation in 2025, with a 68% increase in revenue year-on-year [7][11]. Group 2: Historical Context and Challenges - Huayi Brothers initially envisioned the theme park as a model similar to Disneyland, aiming to monetize its intellectual properties (IPs) [9][10]. - The park opened in 2018 but quickly fell into financial difficulties, reporting losses of 134 million yuan, 162 million yuan, and 93 million yuan from 2018 to 2020 [16]. - By 2024, Huayi Brothers had accumulated a total net loss of 8.2 billion yuan since 2018, attributed to a failed "de-movie" strategy [18]. Group 3: Foreign Investment Trends - MBK Partners is not new to investing in Chinese cultural tourism projects, having previously acquired several theme parks in 2021 for 6.53 billion yuan [8]. - The article notes a trend of foreign capital entering the Chinese cultural tourism market, driven by relaxed regulations and a growing interest in distressed assets [32][35]. - The investment strategy of MBK focuses on "distressed investment," where they purchase undervalued assets with the potential for future profitability [27][37]. Group 4: Market Dynamics and Future Outlook - The article emphasizes the importance of location for theme parks, with Suzhou's strategic position allowing it to attract visitors from Shanghai and surrounding cities [39]. - The Long Triangle region is highlighted as a prime area for investment due to its robust consumer market and high concentration of affluent individuals [40]. - The influx of foreign investment is seen as a sign of confidence in the Chinese cultural tourism market, suggesting that previously "failed" assets may regain value [41].