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MMEDIATE RELEASE:
New York, NY- April 28, 2011-
Making China Cleantech Profitable – “The Economic Observer News” Op-Ed by Simon Shi of Barron Partners
China Region President Simon Shi highlights the importance and challenge of identifying profitable cleantech opportunities in the developing Chinese new energy economy in a recent op-ed column for the Chinese newspaper “The Economic Observer News.” Mr. Shi writes, ” A key to our Chinese investing strategy which allows us to capitalize on the rapid growth and manufacturing potential in China is finding companies capable of becoming world-class manufacturers and innovators, in addition to being low-cost manufacturers.”
Mr. Shi also discusses Barron Partners’ focus on cleantech and the influences that led to Chairman and CEO Andrew Barron Worden’s interest in renewable energy. Additionally, Mr. Shi details Barron’s prospects for starting an RMB fund and gives an overview of some of Barron’s existing holdings including China Wind Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:CWS), TechPrecision Corporation (Otcbb:TPCS). China Power Equipment Inc. (Otcbb:CPQQ), China TechFaith Wireless Communication Technology Ltd. (Nasdaq:CNTF), and China Armco Metals, Inc. (Amex: CNAM).
On targeting cleantech investments Mr. Shi writes “sometimes, the upstream companies make profits and sometimes the downstream companies do. Not every part can always bring sufficient return on investment. So we decided to invest in the companies that manufacture the essential parts or systems for the industry…” such as China Wind Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:CWS).
What follows is a translation of the original piece: Issue date: April 2nd, 2011, From: The Economic Observer News, Author: Simon Shi
Barron Partners: We Invest in the Shovels Others Use To Dig for Gold
As an international investment fund based in the U.S., Barron Partners has invested over $450 million in different industries since its founding in 2002.
Barron Partners started investing in China in 2004. Currently, about 60% of Barron’s investments are in China, with a focus on profitable cleantech companies. Barron Partners’ investment philosophy is to “pursue high return on capital while creating positive changes in the world”.
Barron Partners favors investments in cleantech industries because of the personal background of our Chairman, Andrew Barron Worden. He was born in Boston and has been influenced by his family who, like him, is passionate about cleantech, environmental protection and technology innovation. His interest in investing developed early on as well. He first became fascinated with the stock market when he was 14. He founded his first investment fund while studying at Harvard University. After his years at Harvard, he ran several investment and trading businesses. He established Barron Partners in 2002.
Barron Partners is located on the top floor of the Crown Building on Fifth Avenue, in mid-town Manhattan, one of the most prosperous areas in New York City. One can view the whole of Central Park from the New York offices, which serves as a reminder to keep an open mind and stay true to our cleantech vision.
China has played a vital role in the successful journey of Barron Partners. Barron Partners has invested 1.3 billion RMB in Chinese companies since 2004. These companies have over 64,000 employees. And this is just the beginning; we are considering launching an RMB fund. We would raise about 1 billion RMB in the beginning, with the possibility of raising more in the future.
From Barron’s long-term strategic view, an important part of Barron’s future is linked with the future development of China. We are always exploring the better ways to build our presence locally in China. Our founder, Mr. Worden, pays close attention to the economic development of China. He has studied the Twelfth Five-Year plan released by the Chinese government carefully. We are confident in the development of the environmental protection and new energy industries in China.
Another reason we are considering the RMB fund is because many of the most promising Chinese companies prefer to be listed in China, rather than the U.S. The RMB fund would enable Barron Partners to have the flexibility to work with companies who want to be listed in China. On the other hand, the growth of these listed companies after Barron’s investment would allow them to attract more investments from China’s capital market.
We are confident in the continued development of China’s capital markets and the prospects for investment opportunities and projects for Barron in the next five to ten years. With an RMB fund, it will be easier to invest in the China market directly or indirectly.
We invest in deals introduced by others as well as our performing own deal origination, which we are very proud of. Currently we are looking at a few deals which are very promising. Most of our deals have a good return on investment. After founding our RMB fund, we will offer more choices and value-added opportunities for companies.
Investing in “Shovels”
In 2004, Barron Partners was interested in a variety of industries including healthcare, new energy, environmental protection, healthy food, machinery fabrication and auto parts manufacturing. In 2005, Mr. Worden made a decision to focus more on the new energy and other environmentally friendly industries.
We are a cautious investor even in the new energy industry with which we are very familiar. We have done analyses on the industry supply chain of wind, solar and other cleantech industries. Sometimes, the upstream companies make profits and sometimes the downstream companies do. Not every part can always bring sufficient return on investment. So we decided to invest in the companies that manufacture the essential parts or systems for the industry, the “shovels.”
For example, we invested in China Wind Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: CWS) four years ago. They mainly produce high quality key components of wind products – large forged rings, slewing bearings, yaw bearings and large transmission shafts. These are all essential parts of wind turbines.
Another company, TechPrecision Corporation (Otcbb:TPCS), in which Barron is invested, is a profitable machining and fabricating company. TPCS also manufactures precision parts and equipment for solar and other cleantech industries.
We also have some non-cleantech industry investments such as smart phone communication and motion gaming technology. Mr. Worden is very cautious about our investments. In this industry, he only invested in one company - China TechFaith Wireless Communication Technology Ltd. (Nasdaq:CNTF). The company is a leader in its sector and is focused on custom phone designs, smart and branded mobile phones and motion gaming technology. We have done well since we invested. We strongly believe that the company will continue its growth.
China Power Equipment Inc. (Otcbb:CPQQ) is also one of Barron’s successful investments in China. The company produces energy-efficient transformers and transformer cores that substantially reduce energy waste. Its advanced amorphous alloy technology transformer is an important component for a more energy-efficient electric grid.
Another company Barron invested in is China Armco Metals, Inc. (Amex: CNAM). The Company is engaged in the sales and distribution of metal ore and nonferrous metals. The company built a factory on 32 acres land to house and operate a metal shredding and recycling operation. A growing number of their main customers are steel mills and foundries. Recently, the company announced an initial distribution contract for almost $20 million of iron ore with a large Brazilian company.
Barron Partners’ investment strategy can be summarized thusly: when everyone goes to South Africa to look for a gold mine, you don’t know who will actually find gold. But if you offer others the tools to dig the gold, the “shovel”, regardless of whether or not they actually find the gold, you win. So, for example, in the wind industry, while everyone wants to build wind farm, Barron Partners prefers to provide the components for the wind turbine manufacturers who sell to the wind farm operators.
From Investing in Public Companies to Private Equity
In the past, Barron Partners has mostly invested in publically listed companies. However, now we are changing our focus to pre - IPO companies, also known as private equity investments.
Rushing into battle is not Barron’s style. The people who race fastest might get tripped by their shoelaces and fall first. We are always striving to be an informed investor. We take our time and don’t have to be the first to invest. We make investments at the most appropriate time.
Barron Partners is a selective value investor and is focused primarily on cleantech investing, which means we search through thousands of investment opportunities to select only a few of the very best. We seek to be the most informed investor in each company in which we invest by utilizing a rigorous due-diligence process. By making only a few choice investments that capitalize on our wealth of knowledge and our relationships, Barron Partners can maximize the return on investment, while providing the utmost benefit to each of our portfolio companies.
Most Barron Partners investments are successful and profitable investments. About two-thirds are in the cleantech industry. The remaining third is in healthy food, technology communication and other industries. We have also invested in secure technology and recycling industries. Barron Partners has an excellent advisory board including a former four- star General of the U.S. Military. Other members of our advisory board include a Silicon Valley technology expert and a former CEO who led an organization from a start-up to a publically traded global corporation.
A key to our Chinese investing strategy, which allows us to capitalize on the rapid growth and manufacturing potential in China, is finding companies capable of becoming world-class manufacturers and innovators, in addition to being low-cost manufacturers. Barron Partners' international reach allows us to leverage our long-standing relationships with companies in China and the United States, and create powerful synergies for our portfolio investments by bringing technology and low-cost manufacturing together.
“The Eight Secrets” is the gift we give Chinese companies. This book reveals the secrets to harnessing the power of the international capital markets successfully. The content is primarily distilled from the experience of Mr. Worden who has studied thousands of stocks over 25 years. In “The Eight Secrets,” companies learn how to raise additional capital with the least amount of dilution to management and shareholder ownership. Barron Partners believes that companies can maximize their earnings per share and be successful in the capital markets.
Barron Partners is an international private investment fund with a primary focus on profitable cleantech companies. Barron has invested over $450,000,000 of its capital in various industries since its formation in 2002.
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The information provided in this document is not intended to induce or solicit any action or investment. It is not investment advice, and should not be relied upon in making investment or capital formation decisions. Barron Partners does not guarantee the accuracy of any projections, as they are intended for internal use only, and should not be relied upon for any purpose.
