Genii Capital

Genii Capital
Founded 2008
Founder Eric Lux and Gerard Lopez
Headquarters Howald, Luxembourg
Key people
 Eric Lux
(CEO and Director)
Gerard Lopez
(Chairman)
Services Investment management and financial advisory
Divisions Genii Business Exchange
Subsidiaries Lotus F1 Team Ltd
Website www.genii-capital.com

Genii Capital is an international financial advisory and investment firm, which specialises in brand management, promising technologies, motorsport and a wide spectrum of venture capitalism activities. It was created in 2008, by two Luxembourger investors, Gerard Lopez and Eric Lux and has a particular focus on emerging markets, including the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) nations.[1] Genii Capital focuses on a wide range of investment vehicles and also provides advisory services on topics ranging from the preparation of an IPO, the joint development of businesses, mergers and acquisitions and capital markets.[2] As a result of a global restructuring initiative in 2011, Genii Capital is now located in the Finance division of The Genii Group, a global enterprise overseeing the business activities of Lux and Lopez.[3]

Genii's investment interests

Formula One

On December 16, 2009 it was announced that Genii were to purchase a large stake in the Renault F1 Team.[4] Genii beat Prodrive head David Richards to the deal. Genii is likely to merge the Renault Driver Development programme with its own Gravity Sport Management company, which manages drivers such as Ho-Pin Tung, who tested for the Renault team in 2009, as well as Christian Vietoris.

On December 8, 2010, Renault made public it would sell its remaining 25% share in the Enstone-based team, Renault F1 team, to Genii Capital, from that moment the sole shareholder.[5] Group Lotus immediately became a partner of the team, renamed Lotus Renault GP. It is projected that in the future the carmaker company will purchase a significant share of it.[6][7] The team is now called the Lotus F1 Team since 2012.

Other

On January 26, 2009 PHC Acquisitions LLC, affiliated of Genii Capital, become a stalking horse bidder of Polaroid Holding Company. The agreement included the purchase of Polaroid’s assets as intellectual rights, name and brand.[8]

On January 7, 2010 it was announced that Genii would, "hand in a cash offer" for Swedish carmaker Saab Automobile, together with Formula One commercial boss Bernard Ecclestone.[9] According to Genii spokesperson Lars Carlstroem, "It is a true opportunity and we’re surprised that more investors haven’t identified this opportunity...[Genii] loves brands and Saab is a strong brand on the same level as Porsche and BMW.”[10] The proposition was finally dismissed.[11][12]

In December 2011, it was announced that Genii Capital led in $35 million of financing for Zink Imaging, a printing technology company, through the Genii Business Exchange.[13]

Expansion strategy

On July 29, 2011, Genii Capital, which already had interests in Europe, Asia and North America,[9] disembarked in Brazil through a joint venture with WWI Group. This is part of the Genii’s current expansion strategy in BRIC countries.[14] In April 2012, Genii Capital announced the launch of an office in Geneva as part of its expansion strategy.[15]

Genii Business Exchange

Genii Business Exchange is an adjunct to Genii Capital. The Genii Business Exchange is a business platform providing a forum for a global network of high-net-worth individuals, opinion leaders, political leaders and those involved with Formula One.[16]

The Genii Business Exchange was founded by Eric Lux and Gerard Lopez in 2010[17] and is hosted in many of the world's financial centres, but with a particular focus on emerging economies including BRIC and MENA countries.

Since the acquisition of the Enstone-based Formula One team from Renault (subsequently renamed from "Renault F1" to "Lotus Renault GP") by Genii Capital[18] three-time Formula One world champion Sir Jackie Stewart OBE has worked with the Genii Business Exchange.[16][19] Former President of BAE Systems, Sir Charles Masefield joined The Genii Group as a strategic advisor in June 2012.[20]

References

  1. ↑ "Genii seeks to improve Saab bid". The Irish Times. 1 January 2010.
  2. ↑ "Lotus position clarified - SuperSport - Motorsport". SuperSport. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  3. ↑ Noah Joseph RSS feed (2011-10-12). "Proton denies sale of Lotus to Genii Capital". Autoblog.com. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  4. ↑ Benson, Andrew (2009-12-16). "Renault will race in Formula 1 after selling their team". BBC Sport (BBC). Retrieved 2009-12-16.
  5. ↑ Benson, Andrew (2010-12-08). "Renault F1 team to be renamed Lotus Renault GP in 2011". BBC Sports (BBC). Retrieved 2011-09-11.
  6. ↑ "Genii Capital and Group Lotus join forces in Lotus Renault GP" (PDF). Genii Capital. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  7. ↑ "Renault happy to focus on F1 engines". Reuters. 31 October 2011.
  8. ↑ "Affiliate of Genii Capital to be "stalking horse" bidder for Polaroid" (PDF). Genii Capital. 26 January 2009. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  9. 1 2 "Genii Capital announced today its interest in making an offer for the acquisition of a majority stake in Saab SAS in a partnership with Mr. Bernard Ecclestone" (PDF). Genii Capital. 7 January 2010. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  10. ↑ "Saab Delays Board Meeting as Spyker, Genii Plan to Submit Bids". Bloomberg. 7 January 2010. Archived from the original on 11 January 2010. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  11. ↑ "Genii Capital withdraws from bidding for GM's Saab - Ecomotor.es". Eleconomista.es. 2010-01-26. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  12. ↑ "Genii Capital confirms Saab bid with Ecclestone". Penews.com. 2010-01-08. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  13. ↑ "Polaroid spinoff Zink raises $35M, replaces CEO". 2011-12-06. Retrieved 2012-01-19.
  14. ↑ "New Genii Capital and WWI Group joint venture" (PDF). Genii Capital. 8 August 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  15. ↑ Anne réthoret (2012-04-17). "Le trade finance continue d’attirer des investisseurs". Agefi.com. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  16. 1 2 "Genii Business Exchange links up with Sir Jackie Stewart". F1 Reader. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  17. ↑ "Genii Capital presents its platform: Genii Business Exchange". iStockAnalyst. 10 June 2010. Archived from the original on 17 November 2011. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  18. ↑ "Lotus F1 Team - Exclusive content right from the heart of the F1 action". Lotusrenaultgp.com. Archived from the original on January 19, 2012. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  19. ↑ "Stewart partners Genii Business Exchange | F1 News | Feb 2011". Crash.Net. 2011-02-04. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  20. ↑ "Leading businessman Sir Charles Masefield joins The Genii Group as a strategic advisor". 2012-06-12. Retrieved 2012-07-13.

External links

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