Fosun strikes first Brazil deal with purchase of fund manager Rio Bravo

[HONG KONG] Fosun Group said on Saturday it has agreed to buy Brazilian fund manager Rio Bravo Investimentos, in the Chinese conglomerate's first acquisition in Latin America.

Fosun did not disclose the value of the deal, but said in a statement that it expects to take advantage of the "exceptional period of change and economic renewal" taking place not only in Brazil but also in neighbouring economies.

Reuters reported this week that Fosun was in advanced talks to buy Rio Bravo, citing a source familiar with the talks.

Sao Paulo-based Rio Bravo manages about 10 billion reais (S$4.13 billion) of clients' money in liquid funds, real estate and private equity investments. Its three main partners include former Brazilian central bank president Gustavo Franco, Paulo Bylik and Mario Fleck.

Founded by billionaire Guo Guangchang, Fosun has grown into China's biggest private conglomerate, with holdings ranging from medical companies to French travel group Club Med.

"Brazil is geographically a conduit linking Latin America and Asia. With its own distinctive economic characteristics and large size, Brazil has a strong influence in the region," Mr Guo, a self-styled student of US investor Warren Buffett, said in the statement.

He said the acquisition marks an important milestone in laying out Fosun's globalisation strategy of being present in important emerging economies.

Rio Bravo director Mr Fleck said the deal also offers an opportunity to give its Brazilian clients a greater spectrum of financial products.

The Brazilian deal caps a busy week for Fosun in which it struck its first major Indian acquisition, with the US$1.3 billion purchase of KKR Co-backed Gland Pharma.

Mr Guo told Reuters in an interview in May that Fosun will be paying more attention to Russia, India, Brazil and Africa, after spending more than US$30 billion buying real estate, insurance companies and healthcare firms mostly in the developed markets.

REUTERS