Renown, one of Japan's best-known clothes makers, is set to come under the control of a Chinese textile maker in what would be the biggest investment by a Chinese investor in a public Japanese company.
一家中國紡織品製造商將控股日本最知名的服裝生產商之一Renown。這將是中國投資者對一家日本上市公司最大手筆的投資。
The investment by Shandong Ruyi, one of China's leading makers of high-quality cotton and wool, highlights Chinese manufacturers' move up the value chain to acquire well-known brands.
山東如意集團(Shandong Ruyi)的這筆投資突顯出，中國製造商正通過收購知名品牌來向價值鏈上遊攀升。如意集團是中國領先的高品質棉紡和毛紡生產商之一。
Ruyi will pay about Y4bn ($44m) for a 41 per cent stake in Renown, which runs brands such as D'Urban and Anya Hindmarch, although the deal is subject to approval by the Japanese group's shareholders.
如意集團將出資約40億日元（合4400萬美元），收購Renown 41%的股份，但該交易仍有待Renown股東的批准。Renown運營著「D'Urban」和「安雅•希德瑪芝」(Anya Hindmarch)等品牌。
The investment is one of a small but growing number of Chinese investments in Japanese technologies and brands. Last year, Suning Appliances paid about Y800m for a 27 per cent stake in Laox, a well-known consumer electronics retailer.
中國對日本技術和品牌的投資不多，但數量正在增長，上述這筆投資正是其中之一。去年，蘇寧電器(Suning Appliances)出資約8億日元收購了Laox 27%的股份。Laox是日本一家知名的家電零售商。
In the first three months of this year there have been nine investments in Japan by Chinese investors, including two by investors based in Hong Kong, according to data compiled by Recof Data, which provides M&A information.
併購信息提供商Recof Data匯集的數據顯示，今年第一季度，中國投資者在日本進行了9筆投資，其中包括總部位於香港的投資者進行的兩筆投資。
While small, the number represents 27 per cent of all foreign mergers and acquisitions in Japan in that period, Recof said.
Recof Data表示，儘管這個數字不大，但它佔一季度外國投資者在日本併購交易總數的27%。
Qiu Yafu, Ruyi's chairman, said the Chinese company had been looking for a company that has famous brands, networks and management expertise.
如意集團董事長邱亞夫表示，該集團一直在尋覓一家擁有知名品牌、營銷網絡和管理專長的公司。
「D'Urban already has several stores in China, is well-known among high earners and is very popular. We have chosen about seven brands that Renown owns [to build up in China],」 he said.
他說：「D'Urban已在中國開設了幾家門店，在高收入階層中擁有很高知名度，很受歡迎。我們挑選了Renown旗下大約7個品牌[在中國市場拓展]。」
Minoru Kitabatake, Renown's president, said the tie-up would allow the struggling 100-year-old Japanese group to boost its capital and expand overseas, particularly in fast-growing China, as well as reduce its cost base.
Renown社長北畑稔(Minoru Kitabatake)表示，此次結盟將使這家處境艱難的日本百年老店能夠充實自身資本、降低成本基礎並在海外市場擴張，尤其是在快速增長的中國市場。