China-based outdoor advertising company Focus Media has partnered with private equity firm FountainVest Partners to form a $400m fund to invest in sports companies, China Money Network reported yesterday, citing a securities filing.
The fund, named Focus Media FountainVest Sports JV, will look to combine Focus’s marketing capabilities and FountainVest’s links to the sports sector to help sport-focused companies compete in the Chinese market.
Focus will provide $200m in capital for the fund, while FountainVest will contribute through a fund called FountainVest China Growth Partners GP2. It will invest in domestic and international companies.
FountainVest also holds a 19.7% share of Focus, having been among the backers that helped take it private in 2013. Other Focus shareholders include diversified conglomerate Fosun.