「一进一退」创两项纪录,PAG的中国图景才刚刚展开
36氪·2025-12-03 11:08

Core Insights - PAG has set two industry records in the Chinese private equity market over the past year, leading a controlling investment in Zhuhai Wanda Commercial Management for over 60 billion, marking the largest single investment in Chinese PE history, and achieving the largest exit transaction with the core business of Yingde Gas [5][6]. Investment Strategy - The investment in Yingde Gas is described as a textbook "Buy and Build" case, where PAG privatized the company in 2017 for 10 billion HKD, optimizing management and restructuring the business, leading to significant growth in EBITDA from approximately 2.6 billion in 2016 to nearly 7 billion in 2023 [9][10]. - The exit from Yingde Gas in January 2025 resulted in hundreds of billions in capital recovery, showcasing PAG's ability to create a leading industrial gas company in Asia and return it to local capital [10]. Resilience in Investment - The investment in Zhuhai Wanda Commercial Management is viewed as a strategic "bottom-fishing" move during a crisis, with PAG initially investing 2.8 billion USD in a Pre-IPO round in 2021, which included a "bet" clause for a 2023 IPO [12][14]. - Despite the IPO being shelved and Wanda facing significant buyback pressure, PAG demonstrated resilience by doubling down on its investment, leading a new consortium to complete a 66 billion RMB transaction, becoming the largest shareholder in the newly formed "New Dalian Alliance" [14][15]. Market Positioning - PAG's investment in New Dalian Alliance is characterized as a purchase of a light-asset management company rather than high-risk real estate, focusing on the certainty of cash flow from managing over 500 shopping malls and 100,000 merchants [15][16]. - The shift in consortium partners from tech giants like Tencent and Ant Group to Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds indicates PAG's role as a "super connector" in the capital landscape [17]. Long-term Vision - PAG's strategy emphasizes the importance of local capital in driving the Chinese private equity sector, with a focus on the significant opportunities in the Chinese M&A market, which remains largely untapped by financial investors [25][47]. - The establishment of PAG's first RMB fund in Suzhou, with a size of 3.1 billion, reflects its commitment to actively participate in the Chinese M&A landscape [25]. Investment Philosophy - PAG's disciplined and resilient approach to acquisitions is underscored by its strict valuation requirements and long-term commitment to portfolio companies, ensuring a stable and experienced management team [20][21]. - The firm believes that the current macroeconomic environment, characterized by low asset valuations and favorable interest rates, presents a unique opportunity for high double-digit returns in M&A transactions [42][44].