3i Group plc (“3i”) today announces that it has completed its investment in Formel D, a global service provider to the automotive and component supply industry.

Following the closing, 3i has introduced CITIC Capital China Partners III, L.P., a buyout fund managed by the private equity arm of CITIC Capital Holdings Limited (“CITIC Capital”) as an investment partner. CITIC has invested c€72m in the company and 3i’s investment is c€155m.

On 12 May 2017, 3i signed a definitive agreement to purchase Formel D from Deutsche Beteiligungs AG (DBAG) and DBAG Fund V. This transaction was subject to customary regulatory approvals, all of which have been granted. 3i intended to introduce a strategic partner post-closing with the view to supporting its investment strategy for Formel D. CITIC Capital is a strong partner with a broad network in China, which will help Formel D build its regional operations and further benefit from the anticipated market growth in Asia.

Ulf von Haacke, Partner & Head of Industrial at 3i, said: “We are delighted to welcome CITIC Capital as our investment partner in Formel D. Their insights into the Chinese automotive market will be invaluable as Formel D continues its growth in this market.”

Headquartered in Hong Kong, with offices in Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Tokyo and New York, CITIC Capital’s private equity arm leverages its extensive resources to help companies realise their full potential in Asia, and has completed over 50 investments over the past years in China, Japan, the US and Australia. The firm currently manages US$4.8 billion of committed capital.

Boon Chew, Senior Managing Director of CITIC Capital, commented: “The investment in Formel D is our first deal in Germany. We are happy to partner with the renowned investor 3i and are looking forward to jointly supporting the successful growth of Formel D. We are committed to adding significant value to the company’s development, in particular by using our expertise and network in Asia.”

Formel D has a strong track record and has outperformed the market over the last 10 years. Growing at an average of 17% p.a., Formel D differentiates itself through its global scale, premium customer relationships and comprehensive service offering: it is the only player offering quality services along the entire automotive value chain. 3i and CITIC Capital plan to support Formel D’s international growth by rolling out its existing services to clients in other geographies, expanding its client base in Asia, and increasing its higher “value add” services such as vehicle test specification and virtual testing.

Dr. Juergen Laakmann and Dr. Holger Jené, Managing Directors of Formel D, added: “We are excited to work with 3i and CITIC Capital. Formel D’s international success story has just begun and we feel the combination of 3i and CITIC Capital is an exceptional one to further drive the next phase of our growth.”

Baird served as financial advisor and Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP served as legal counsel to 3i. Harris Williams & Co. served as financial advisor and Shearman & Sterling LLP served as legal counsel to CITIC Capital.

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For further information, contact:

3i Group plc
Silvia Santoro
Investor enquiries
Tel: +44 20 7975 3258
Email: silvia.santoro@3i.com

Kathryn van der Kroft
Media enquiries
Tel: +44 20 7975 3021
Email: kathryn.vanderkroft@3i.com

Notes to editors:

About 3i Group
3i is a leading international investment manager focused on mid-market private equity and infrastructure. Its core investment markets are northern Europe and North America. For further information, please visit: www.3i.com.

About CITIC Capital
Founded in 2002, CITIC Capital Holdings Limited is an alternative investment management and advisory company. The firm manages over US$20 billion of capital from a diverse group of international institutional investors. Core businesses include Private Equity, Real Estate, Structured Investment & Finance, and Asset Management. CITIC Capital currently employs over 250 staff members throughout its offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Tokyo and New York. For further information, please visit: www.citiccapital.com.

About Formel D
Formel D is a global service provider to the automotive and component supply industry. The company develops concepts and scalable solutions for quality assurance and process optimisation along the entire automotive value chain - from development to production through to aftersales. Headquartered in Troisdorf near Cologne, the company was founded in 1993 and has over 7,000 employees at 80 locations in 19 countries worldwide. The company is managed by the Managing Directors Dr. Holger Jené, Dr. Jürgen Laakmann and Claus Niedworok. For further information, please visit: www.formeld.com.

Regulatory information
This transaction involved a recommendation of 3i Investments plc, advised by 3i Germany.