Jason Zhang: Shifting Trends in Chinese Outbound Investment: From Big to Nimble

The dominant profile of Chinese investors going abroad has shifted dramatically in the past few years following the end of the COVID-19 pandemic era. The “Big and Bold” players such as insurance companies, conglomerates and mega developers are largely gone, replaced by “Small and Nimble” private investors, family offices, and corporations acquiring assets for their own use. Greater economic uncertainty and market volatility have also made the global environment more challenging for large institutional investors to deploy capital both within and outside of China.

Regardless, interest and activity among private investors in China appear to have grown substantially since COVID. This shift has been largely driven by a growing recognition of the importance of diversified global asset allocations as a hedge against risks in specific markets, sectors, or periods. Many investors who previously focused solely on stocks or bonds outside China are now increasingly valuing real assets, especially given their resilience under inflationary market conditions.

One of the advantages for these “Small and Nimble” investors is certainly their ability to adopt an “all-cash” approach with a quicker decision-making process. However, their relative lack of experience compared to large institutional investors means that the “handholding” and educational process during the early underwriting and execution phases tend to be considerably longer. Additionally, their investment preferences are often heavily influenced by the personal experiences of the decision-makers.

As advisors, we are actively adapting to this shift by expanding our market coverage to identify emerging interests among private investors. Cushman & Wakefield’s well-respected and recognized brand in Greater China facilitates easier engagement with these investors, who often prefer to maintain a low profile. It is always enlightening to understand their motivations for investing in global real estate, and it is especially rewarding to accompany them on their journey toward their first closing.