FUBON GROUP ANNOUNCES INVESTMENT IN CAA CHINA AND CAA, THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH CMC CAPITAL PARTNERS

Date:January 05,2017

TAIPEI/LOS ANGELES/BEIJING (September, 2017) – A pioneer and leader in T.I.M.E (Telecom, Internet, Media & Entertainment, e-Commerce), Fubon Group and Taiwan Mobile announce its strategic partnership with the newly formed CAA China and Creative Artists Agency (CAA), through the investment vehicle managed by China’s leading media and entertainment investment and operating platform, CMC Capital Partners (CMC).

Founded in 1975, CAA represents many of the most successful professionals working in film, television, music, theatre, video games, sports and digital content, and provides a range of strategic marketing and consulting services to corporate clients. CAA’s clients include actors, actresses, writers, directors, producers, including Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, and Will Smith; world-renowned music artists Katy Perry and Beyoncé; and athletes Cristiano Ronaldo, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Paul, among many others. 

“We are thrilled to have forged a strategic partnership with China’s leading media and entertainment investment and operation platform CMC and the world’s top agency CAA,” said Daniel Tsai, Chairman, Taiwan Mobile and Richard Tsai, Chairman, Fubon Financial.  “CAA has deep roots in entertainment and sports, representing talent from Hollywood and around the globe, and we look forward to contributing our resources to the relationship to help further fuel CAA’s growth in Greater China and beyond.”

Majority-owned by CAA, CAA China, which launched in April, is a world-class media and entertainment platform that combines the expertise and vast resources of CAA with the broad reach and networks of CMC, `Fubon Group and Taiwan Mobile.  The leader in the representation of top Chinese talent and film finance, CAA China, led by recently appointed CEO Mary Gu Shuhang, will create a wide spectrum of new business and client opportunities in the swiftly growing Chinese market, in such areas as sports services, branded content, live events, television, and music touring, while continuing to foster its market-leadership in motion pictures and film finance, under the guidance of Jonah Greenberg, and Roeg Sutherland and Daniel Manwaring, respectively.  

With more than two dozen employees in Beijing, CAA opened its China office in 2005 and has successfully built out its multiplatform approach to the market.  The company has been at the center of every major Chinese co-production for the past 10 years and has packaged, sold, or raised financing for more than 75 Chinese-language film projects.  CAA China recently launched a long-term film fund to be jointly managed with Bona Film Group, a leading film distributor and vertically integrated film production company, including an initial investment of $150 million. The fund will focus on financing English-language films for the global marketplace, Chinese co-productions, and Chinese-language films for the local market. With this initial funding, CAA has now directed more than a half a billion dollars of Chinese capital into English-language content.

In addition, CAA China represents many of the most accomplished actors, directors, writers, and producers from Mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, including Zhang Yimou, Lin Chi-ling, and Donnie Yen, among others.

“CMC has long regarded entertainment, actors and athletes agency as promising, in which fields CAA has the riches resources and experience around the world. Taiwan Mobile is the leader in telecommunication, Internet, media and entertainment fields in Taiwan,” said Li Ruigang, Chairman and CEO, CMC. “CMC has the full industry chain investments in film, TV, location based entertainment and internet, and has great advantages in content generation, platform operation and marketing service, and has supported many actors and athletes in the Greater China Area. We believe that with the cooperation of CAA and Taiwan Mobile, CMC could further develop its development in media and entertainment related fields.”

Long recognized for its unmatched client roster of the world’s premier artists, athletes, and blue-chip brands, and its category leadership in packaging television and film content, and live experiences, CAA has also been the trailblazer of the agency business.  CAA was the first to build a sports business, create an investment bank, launch a venture fund, found technology start-up companies, establish a presence in China, create a brand marketing services arm, and start a successful growth equity vehicle, among other innovations. 

"In the brief time since its launch, CAA China has greatly benefited from the in-market resources and relationships CMC has brought to the partnership," said Richard Lovett, President, CAA. "We look forward to working closely with Fubon Group and Taiwan Mobile as we set forth on our plan to extend our service offerings throughout Taiwan and beyond."

About Fubon Group and Taiwan Mobile

The Fubon Group traces its roots to 1961 as the first private P&C insurance company established in Taiwan. It has grown into a financial conglomerate that offers the most comprehensive range of products and services with its life insurance, bank, P&C insurance, securities, and venture capital subsidiaries. The Group is also involved in property development, telecommunications, media services, cultural and creative sector, and charitable activities, and has expanded its business interests to include sports and entertainment through Fubon Sports & Entertainment in recent years. The Fubon Group is one of the largest groups in Taiwan with more than 45,000 employees serving over 10 million clients. The Group also dedicates itself to promoting a better society through seven non-profit foundations, reflecting its strong commitment to sustainability.

As one of the members in Fubon Group, Taiwan Mobile crosses various businesses of digital convergence, including mobile, fixed-line communications, CATV, E-commerce, and TV home shopping. Taiwan Mobile not only propels the industry development by devoting its efforts to nurture digital contents and expand distribution channels but also supports media, cultural and artistic activities. This makes us the telecom company with the most complete footprint in the media industry.

About Creative Artists Agency

Leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA) represents many of the most successful professionals working in film, television, music, theatre, video games, sports, and digital content, and provides a range of strategic marketing and consulting services to corporate clients.  CAA is also a leader in sports, representing more than 1,000 of the world’s top athletes in football, baseball, basketball, hockey, soccer, tennis, Olympics and action sports, and golf, and works in the areas of broadcast rights, corporate marketing initiatives, licensing, and sports properties for sales and sponsorship opportunities.

About CMC

CMC is a leading investor and operator in media & entertainment, Internet technology and media innovation lab, location based entertainment and lifestyle events sectors in China and global markets. CMC has invested and operated in Greater China, North America, Europe and Asia, and has created and supported the growth of many champions and emerging leaders in film, television, animation, location-based entertainment, theme park, theatre, offline entertainment, cinema, social media, online video platforms, OTT, smart TV, music, fashion, lifestyle, game, sports, talent and sports agency, kids content, financial media, advertising, marketing, and data service.