Today, China’s leading investment group, Fosun, teamed up with Cirque du Soleil (“Cirque”), the world’s leading producer of high-quality live artistic entertainment, to introduce the Cirque du Soleil brand to Chinese audiences at its Happy and Fashionable Lifestyle Global Forum, at the Shanghai Himalayas Center’s Daguan Theater. This is the first time Fosun introduces the world-renowned entertainment brand in China following the joint investment in Cirque by Fosun and TPG announced last April.
Two months ago, Fosun partnered with TPG to become Cirque’s largest strategic partner in order to facilitate the entertainment company’s global business development. Fosun expects that this strategic investment will enable Cirque to access the Chinese market more quickly and develop unique, high quality productions.
First Cirque du Soleil Projects in China
At a joint press conference at the Fosun Happy and Fashionable Lifestyle Global Forum, Fosun and Cirque du Soleil announced their ongoing programs in China, including a permanent show to be created and produced by Cirque in partnership with Hangzhou Industrial Investment Group. The production is scheduled to premiere in early 2018 at Hangzhou XTD in a custom-designed theater. Hangzhou Industrial Investment Group and Fosun Group’s Oriental Merchant Development Co., Ltd. are co-investors in this project in Hangzhou XTD.
China Tour: TORUK – The First Flight, inspired by James Cameron’s AVATAR
Inspired by James Cameron’s film AVATAR, the show TORUK – The First Flight is currently in creation. The world premiere of this production will be held in Montreal, Canada this December and the show will be introduced in China in 2017 by Fosun and Cirque following its North American tour.
Synergy in the Happy and Fashionable Lifestyle Sectors
Fosun’s investment in Cirque du Soleil is another important initiative in the group’s investment strategy involving global leading brands such as Club Med, Atlantis Hotel in Sanya, Thomas Cook, Folli Follie, St. John, and Studio 8. A significant portfolio company in Fosun’s integrated investment platform within the happy and fashionable lifestyle sector, Club Med has already set up its global partnership with Cirque du Soleil to pilot and rollout Cirque du Soleil featured amusement parks in Club Med resorts for the first time. As the first Club Med/Cirque du Soleil project, CREACTIVE is officially opening today in Punta Cana, Club Med’s resort in the Dominican Republic. The original CREACTIVE experience invites vacationers to participate in a variety of acrobatic and artistic activities. Guests will be fully immersed in a fantastically colorful and imaginative environment that is custom designed to encourage both adults and children alike to learn new skills and have fun under the supervision of Cirque du Soleil trained staff who will help them progress and discover unexpected new abilities.
Guo Guangchang, Chairman of Fosun Group said: “As the premier brand in Canada, Cirque du Soleil plays a leading role in the global entertainment industry. Our partnership with Cirque is a milestone in our company’s cultural entertainment business and a major step in the implementation of Fosun’s investment model of “combining China’s growth momentum with global resources.” This initiative is fully aligned with our strategic deployment in the happy and fashionable lifestyle industry. We believe that Fosun’s superior resources will help propel Cirque’s business growth in China, and bring the entertainment company’s world-class performing arts to Chinese audiences.”
Daniel Lamarre, President and CEO of Cirque du Soleil said: “We’re very pleased to join Fosun as a strategic partner. Three months after the announcement, Cirque du Soleil’s China office will open in Shanghai, so we will be in close proximity with our partner, ready to take advantage of synergies within Fosun’s portfolio of amazing brands. We look forward to cooperating with Fosun to promote our unique Quebec cultural heritage via Fosun’s experience and expertise in China, and to help take China’s business growth to a new level.”
With the continuous growth of consumer demand in the Chinese market, Fosun will be paying increased attention to investments in the fashion & lifestyle and health industries. With a focus on consumption upgrading, the group is enhancing its global industrial integration capability, intent on cultivating and building world-class platforms that capitalize on health and lifestyle trends in China and the world. Meanwhile, Fosun will implement an ecosystem layout strategy within the fashion & lifestyle and health industries, fostering improved collaboration, sharing and integration with relevant resources.
{ SOURCE: Cirque du Soleil | https://goo.gl/Zg6mG0 }
