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CoStone Capital Zhang Wei: Prosperous Media & Entertainment Needs Easy Policies and Capital Market

2015.10.30 Zhang Wei Views:

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 The business scope of China’s media companies is limited by restrictions. In this context, it is uneasy for Huayi Brothers Media to increase its operating revenue from 2006’s 124 million RMB to last year’s 2.39 billion. Huayi has expanded its films and TV series to series of products covering the whole entertainment industry. This expansion in products is contributed by its diversified financing and mergers.

 The business scope of China’s media companies is limited by restrictions. In this context, it is uneasy for Huayi Brothers Media to increase its operating revenue from 2006’s 124 million RMB to last year’s 2.39 billion. Huayi has expanded its films and TV series to series of products covering the whole entertainment industry. This expansion in products is contributed by its diversified financing and mergers.

 Companies need the capital market to grow, a platform where they can improve their governance. A reliable new partner through either financing or merger and acquisition, will greatly enhance the company’s economic strength and credibility. That’s why going public is important for the media & entertainment industry.

 However, the development of China’s media & entertainment industry is restrained by two factors: obstructed capital market and policy restrictions.

 There is a long journey to go for our portfolio media companies to be listed. The no-objection letter from CPCPD, the top regulator of China’s cultural industries, and the easily suspended capital market are two major barriers on the journey to IPO.

 On the one hand, media giants need an easy environment to grow, where resources and channels can be piled up or integrated; on the other hand, strict control means potential growth.

 The lack of either factor, fewer policy restrictions or a more efficient capital market, will only make Mass Entrepreneurship and Innovation empty words, for that private sector cannot grow freely.

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Rewritten by Chen Cong, Edited by Li Yunzhen, Du Zhixin

The year 2019 marks the fortieth anniversary of China’s Reform &Opening-Up, once again, we meet at the turning point of history. What’s the next step for the game, is there any clear guidance? The answer is affirmative.

Our country is enjoying a good momentum of development, which does not come from the Washington Consensus nor the Beijing Consensus. China’s experience has proved that both the visible hand and the invisible hand are crucial: the visible hand, stands for the government-led reform, and would yield benefits for reform and opening up; the invisible hand, stands for the Marginal Power represented by the private sector, and would improve economic efficiency and tax collection, create jobs and employment opportunities.

Provided that we want to protect and expand the benefits form reform, three simple but mandatory agreements are to be made and followed: No.1 Private ownership must be recognized, protected and treated equally with public ownership constitutionally, both ownerships are scared and inviolable;No.2 Make further clarification of the principal position of market economy, “deepen economic system reform by centering on the decisive role of the market in allocating resources”, as President Xi addressed in the third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee;No.3 Implement the guiding principles of “comprehensively promoting law-based governance” of the fourth plenum. The rule of law is essential for economic growth, irreplaceable to protect private ownership, and necessary to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship.

Above are three rules for us to avoid falling into the Middle-income Trap. Assuming that we are breaking systematic barriers to private enterprises’ participation in market economy, and boosting innovation and entrepreneurship of our society, then we are heading towards a promoting direction. We are marching in the path of light, regardless of the ups and downs of Sino-US relationship, the drop in GDP growth rate, or the monetary policy.

These principals also apply on knowing how better to run a business: don’t be hedged by rules and regulations at the beginning, pay more attention to your survival, and you’ll learn more when you start your second business.

For many years, Huawei has been the only Chinese company on the list of the Top 50 R&D Spenders. Regardless of the economy and its income, what Huawei has been doing is investing in its future, dedicated to R&D, continuously and resolutely. This provisional work underscores Huawei’s accomplishments, making Huawei anindustry leader.

So, there are standard answers on how to run a company,which could be summarized as concentration and professional dedication, continuous investment on innovation and trying harder in R&D. Entrepreneurship is also important, every single company needs entrepreneurs to push aside all obstacles and difficulties, to implement strategies and ideas. We, as investors, are destined to look for such outstanding entrepreneurs and their companies, invest in them and partner with them.

At this key point of history, a country, a company, or asingle individual, will all need to find the right path. Four decades after the Reform and Opening-up, it’s time to learn from our experience and stop “wadding across

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