China key to EU's job crisis

Waves of strategic Chinese M&A deals continue to wash up on European shores. In many cases, the EU is favored over the US by many cash-rich Chinese firms. [Photo / Provided to China Daily]

Chinese investment flows to Europe reached $12.6 billion last year

Last weekend witnessed the climax of yet another European Union summit. This time it was the turn of what has become the annual European Communication Summit, which took place in Brussels on June 27 and 28.

While the annual event is billed as a "central peer-to-peer platform for in-house communication professionals throughout Europe", it also allows Europe's political leaders to tackle the major social and economic challenges facing the continent.

Unsurprisingly, therefore, youth unemployment and help for the multitude of credit-starved and cash-strapped European small businesses topped the agenda.

Surprisingly though, no discussion appears to have taken place of China and the rising sums of investment from the country into an ever increasing array of European industries. Equally incredible, given the "communication" theme of this particular summit, was the apparent absence of any representation from Chinese industry or government.

Rising unemployment, coupled with no signs of growth, continues to provide little in the way of optimism among European consumers and businesses who remain in a somber mood and decidedly downbeat about the future.

However, this apparent vote of no confidence stands in stark contrast to the waves of investment that continue to roll in from China, wave after wave of which now washes up on European shores.

Investment flows from China into Europe last year reached a total of $12.6 billion, an increase of 21 percent year-on-year. Even more encouragingly for Europe these sizeable and growing sums are not just targeting natural resources and acquisitions of leading-edge technology but a vast array of business opportunities right across the manufacturing sector from industrial to consumer goods brands and services.

Last month, the Hong Kong-based Goldin Group snapped up three of the most prestigious Bordeaux chateaux: Bertineau St Vincent, Bon Pasteur and Rolland-Mallet. The sum paid remains undisclosed but it is believed to be around the $10 million mark. Also recently China's Fosun International Ltd , investment arm of a major Chinese conglomerate, and its French partner, Axa Private Equity, appear to be in the process of a $700 million buyout of France's Club Med. It's easily the biggest Sino-European deal in recent years.

What makes this even more encouraging for Europe is the strategic nature of many of these investments. Chinese companies appear not to be seeking to secure a quick, short-term financial kill via some acquisitive asset-stripping M&A strategy. On the contrary, in many instances European management remains entirely in place and long-term expansion of the European business across China appears to be a key part of any deal's rationale. Hence, the rhetoric from Fosun on growth opportunities of the Club Med brand in China.

Youth unemployment averages over 20 percent across the EU. A frightening figure but nothing compared with the whopping 55 percent reported in Spain and Greece.