Communist government
All power within the government of the People's Republic of China is divided among three bodies: the Chinese Communist Party, State Council, and the People's Liberation Army. In recent years China has been consolidating it's state-owned assets and inviting private investors to invest (often family members of high ranking government officials), however in most cases the government retains control and majority ownership. We have listed State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) simply as subsidiaries of China's government, although in reality company ownership is often more complex.
Company Assessment
(Last updated Jan 2021)
Praise
Criticism
Information
Government of the People's Republic of China
Praise
Information
Criticism
Investing in single-use plastic waste
This company is the world's 2th largest equity owner of companies producing single-use plastic waste, according to Minderoo Foundation's 2021 Plastic Waste Makers Index. Institutional asset managers and global banks are providing billions of dollars to companies that produce polymers from fossil fuels, as much as 100 times more than they provide to companies trying to shift to a circular economy. Plastic pollution is one of the biggest, most urgent threats facing our planet and our health.
Source: Minderoo Foundation
(2021)
Human rights abuse
Amnesty International's 2020 report on China states "The year was marked by harsh crackdowns on human rights defenders and people perceived to be dissidents, as well as the systematic repression of ethnic minorities. The beginning of the year saw the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, which killed more than 4,600 people in China. People demanded freedom of expression and transparency after authorities reprimanded health professionals for warning about the virus. At the UN, China was strongly criticized and urged to allow immediate, meaningful and unfettered access to Xinjiang. Stringent restrictions on freedom of expression continued unabated. Foreign journalists faced detention and expulsion, as well as systematic delays to and refusals of visa renewals. Chinese and other tech firms operating outside China blocked what the government deemed politically sensitive content, extending its censorship standards internationally. China enacted its first Civil Code, which received thousands of submissions by the public calling for legalization of same-sex marriage. Hong Kong’s National Security Law led to a clampdown on freedom of expression." Follow the link for further details.
Source: Amnesty Intl
(2021)
Treatment of Uyghurs
Amnesty International's 2021 report 'Like We Were Enemies in a War', outlines how Uyghurs, Kazakhs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region face systematic state-organized mass imprisonment, torture and persecution amounting to crimes against humanity. Muslim ethnic groups are being forced to abandon their religious traditions, cultural practices and local languages.
Source: Amnesty Intl
(2021)
Human rights abuse
According to Human Rights Watch: "China's one-party authoritarian state under the Chinese Communist Party systemically curbs fundamental rights. Under President Xi Jinping, in power since 2013, the government has deepened repression at home and sought to muzzle critics abroad. It has arbitrarily detained human rights defenders and lawyers, tightened control over civil society, media, and the internet, and deployed invasive mass surveillance technology. The government imposes particularly heavy-handed control in the ethnic minority regions of Xinjiang and Tibet. The government's cultural persecution and arbitrary detention of a million Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims since 2017 constitute crimes against humanity. In Hong Kong, the government imposed draconian national security legislation in 2020 and systematically curbed the city's freedoms. The government initially covered up the Covid-19 outbreak and later hindered international efforts to investigate the virus's origin."
Source: Human Rights Watch
(2021)
Wikipedia profile
Follow the link to see Wikipedia's article on the government of the People's Republic of China.
Source: Wikipedia
(2021)
Company Details
Subsidiaries:
Hisense Co Ltd
Consumer electronics and household appliances
Founded in 1969, it is now a global conglomerate in the business domains of consumer electronics, communications, multimedia, home appliances, information technology and real estate. Acquired the Toshiba TV business in 2017, and Slovenian appliance maker Gorenje in 2018.
Hisense Australia Pty Ltd
Television and home appliance retail distributor
Hisense Australia was established in 2006 and its Chinese manufactured TV and home appliance brands are distributed through more than 1000 retail stores nationally.
Gorenje dd
Home appliances manufacturer
Established 60 years ago, exports global home appliance brands of Gorenje and Asko (which was acquired in 2010), as well as regional brands to more than 90 countries. Also has Portfolio Investments including ecology-related services, toolmaking, engineering, catering and trade. Gorenje brand household appliances were introduced into Australia in 2014. Acquired by Hisense in 2018.
China Oil and Food Corporation
Food processor
Chinese state-owned enterprise, and China's largest food processor, manufacturer and trader.
China Mengniu Dairy Company Ltd
(21% owned)
Dairy
One of China's largest dairy product manufacturers. Operates 38 production bases in China and one in New Zealand. Major shareholders include Chinese state-owned COFCO, and European dairy giant Arla. Danone sold its 10% stake in 2021. Became a player in Australia's dairy industry after acquiring Burra Foods in 2016 and Bellamy's Organic in 2019.
Bellamy's Organic Pty Ltd
Organic baby foods
Producer of 100% Australian made organic foods, especially baby formula. Established in Launceston, Tasmania in 2004 as a family-operated company. After a couple of changes in ownership the company was bought for $1.5 billion by China Mengniu Dairy Co in 2019. The company exports to China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and New Zealand.
Shanghai Milkground Food Tech Co Ltd
(24% owned)
Dairy, mining and manufacturing
Founded 1988. Primarily involved in dairy, the company is also engaged in mining and manufacturing in China. Acquired WA's Brownes Dairy from Australian private equity firm Archer Capital in Nov 2017. China Mengniu Dairy increased its stake to 23.8% in Dec 2020.
Brownes Foods Operations Pty Ltd
Dairy and juice producers
Est 1886. Brownes is the largest buyer of farmgate milk in Western Australia, collecting and processing approximately 40% of the state's milk production. The business operates two manufacturing plants in Balcatta (Perth) and Brunswick and has WA's most extensive chilled distribution network. In 2011 Australian private equity firm Archer Capital acquired Brownes, and sold it to a Chinese consortium led by dairy manufacturer Shanghai Milkground Food Tech in 2017.
CITIC Group Corporation Ltd
Conglomerate
100% owned by China's Ministry of Finance. One of China's largest conglomerates.
JIC/Tamar Consortium
Consortium
In 2018 a Chinese consortium comprising China Jianyin Investment [JIC] and Tamar Alliance Partners Fund [Tamar] acquired a majority share in Nature's Care. Both members of the consortium and owned by the Chinese government. Tamar Alliance Fund is jointly owned by Citic Pacific Ltd and Dah Chong Hong Holdings, both of which are owned by CITIC Ltd. CITIC Ltd is 58% owned by state-owned CITIC Group.
Bright Food (Group) Co Ltd
Large food conglomerate
State-owned Bright Food was established in 2006 amid a series of mergers and consolidations of Chinese state-owned assets, and today is China's largest food company. Shanghai's municipal government is the company's controlling stakeholder. Acquired 75% of Manassen Foods in Nov 2011.
Manassen Foods Australia Pty Ltd
(75% owned)
Food importer and marketer
Manassen Foods markets many leading consumer brands including Trident. In April 2006 Manassen Foods acquired The Great Southern Foods group, King Oscar and Hutchinsons (NZ), and turned the business into a new company with CHAMP Pty Ltd having a 51 per cent stake. Bought Sunbeam Foods in 2007. China's Bright Food bought 75% of the company in late 2011.
Sunbeam Foods Pty Ltd
Dried fruit processors
Established in 1926. Acquired Angus Park Fruit company in 2004. Bought by Manassen Foods in 2007, which was bought by China's Bright Food in 2011.
Synlait Ltd
(39% owned)
Dairy
Established in 2000. China's Bright Dairy bought a 51% stake in 2010, which has since been diluted to 39%. Acquired fellow New Zealand dairy company Dairyworks in 2019.
Dairyworks Ltd
Dairy
Established in New Zealand in 2001. A family-owned company until it was acquired by fellow New Zealand dairy company Synlait in 2019.
China Merchants Group
Transportation, finance and property
The main businesses of China Merchants Group (the Group) cover three core sectors of transportation and related infrastructure (ports, toll roads, energy transportation and logistics), financial investment and asset management, as well as property development and management.
Oriental Merchant Pty Ltd
Wholesaling, distributing and marketing of Asian groceries
In 1990, Hong Oriental merged with Chinese state-owned company China Merchant to form Oriental Merchant. Today Oriental Merchant is the major Asian food supplier to Australian supermarkets and Asian grocery retailers.
Honor Device Co Ltd
Consumer electronics
The Honor smartphone brand was previously a sub-brand of Huawei, but was sold to a Chinese state-owned enterprise in 2020.
Guangdong Foodstuffs Import & Export (Group) Corporation
Asian food makers
This Chinese state-owned enterprise was founded in 1954. Now it has grown into a comprehensive enterprise group with integration of research, manufacturing and trade. Pearl River Bridge is China's #1 soy sauce brand.
Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group Company Ltd
Dairy
Asia's largest dairy producer. Acquired New Zealand's second largest dairy co-op, Westland, in 2019.
Westland Co-operative Dairy Company Ltd
Dairy
Previously owned by over 340 farmer shareholders, who supply milk to the factory for processing. Acquired by Chinese dairy giant Yili in 2019.
EasiYo Products Ltd
Yoghurt making system maker
Founded in 1992. Products made in New Zealand and exported to 20 countries around the world.
CITIC Capital Holdings Ltd
(74% owned)
Investment management
Global alternative investment management and advisory company founded in 2002. Core businesses include Private Equity, Real Estate, Structured Investment and Finance, and Asset Management. Acquired Trilogy in 2018. CITIC Capital is 42.8% owned by China's largest conglomerate CITIC Group, 31% by China Investment Corporation (CIC) and 22% by Qatar Holdings. CITIC Group and CIC are both owned by the Chinese Government.
Trilogy International Ltd
Personal care products
Operated primarily in New Zealand, but also Australia and over 25 countries around the world. Owner of the Trilogy, ECOYA and Goodness brands. ECOYA bought Trilogy in 2010 and in 2013 was renamed Trilogy International Ltd. Acquired by Hong Kong-based private equity firm, CITIC Capital in 2018.
Trilogy Natural Products Ltd
Skin care products
Founded in 2002 by sisters Catherine de Groot and Sarah Gibbs. Acquired by ECOYA in 2010, which was renamed Trilogy International Ltd in 2013. Trilogy was acquired by Hong Kong-based private equity firm, CITIC Capital in 2018.
LifeStyles Healthcare Pte Ltd
(40% owned)
Condom manufacturer
Australian owned for 112 years until 2017 when Ansell sold its condom division to a Chinese consortium.
Sichuan Changhong Electric Co Ltd
(54% owned)
Consumer electronics
Founded in 1958 as a state-owned enterprise manufacturing products for the military, they switched to making products for civilian use in the 19-70's. Today they are China's second largest television manufacturer. Their CHiQ brand entered the Australian market in 2017.
Contact Details
Products / Brands
Hisense Australia
Hisense
Televisions
Hisense
Soundbars
Hisense
Dishwashers
Hisense
Fridges & Freezers
Hisense
Washing Machines & Dryers
Hisense
Heating & Cooling
Hisense
Air Conditioners
Hisense Sero
Tablets
Toshiba
Televisions
Asko
Dishwashers
Asko
Fridges & Freezers
Asko
Microwaves
Asko
Ovens & Cooktops
Asko
Rangehoods
Gorenje
Fridges & Freezers
Gorenje
Ovens & Cooktops
Gorenje
Washing Machines & Dryers
Bellamy's
Baby Formula
★ certified organic
Bellamy's
Baby Food
★ certified organic
Angas Park
Dried Fruit & Nuts
Chrystal Fresh
Cheese
Diet Rite
Herbs & Spices
Fruit For Life
Dried Fruit & Nuts
Globus
Pickles, Chutney & Relish
Golden Days
Health Bars
King Oscar
Canned Fish
Marion's Kitchen
Asian
S & W
Topping & Syrup
Sunbeam
Dried Fruit & Nuts
Trident
Dried Fruit & Nuts
Trident
Noodles
Trident
Chilli/Hot Sauce
Trident
Canned Vegies/Beans
Trident
Soup
Trident
Asian
Wokka
Noodles
Wokka
Packet Meals
Dairyworks
Cheese
Bika Yeko
Asian
Chef's World
Noodles
Cocon
Noodles
Dainty
Asian
Double Phoenix
Noodles
Double Phoenix
Asian
Dragon & Phoenix
Asian
Dragon & Phoenix
Noodles
Erawan
Noodles
Erawan
Asian
Gold Pearl
Noodles
Hikari
Asian
Indo Mie
Noodles
Indofood
Asian
Jade Phoenix
Noodles
Jade Phoenix
Asian
Jeeny's
Asian
Jinmaling
Noodles
Kewpie
Soy/Asian Sauce
Koh-Kae
Asian
Kokita
Asian
Lee Kum Kee
Asian
Lee Kum Kee
Soy/Asian Sauce
Lingham's
Asian
Mae Ploy
Soy/Asian Sauce
Mae Ploy
Asian
Nissin
Noodles
Nissin
Asian
Nong Shim
Noodles
Nong Shim
Asian
Obento
Noodles
Obento
Asian
Ong's
Soy/Asian Sauce
Ong's
Asian
Poonsin
Asian
S & B
Asian
Savour
Asian
Six Fortune
Asian
Smiling Fish
Asian
Squid
Asian
TCC
Asian
UFC
Asian
Valcom
Asian
Wai Wai
Noodles
Yeo's
Asian
Yeo's
Soy/Asian Sauce
Honor
Smartphones
Pearl River Bridge
Soy/Asian Sauce
Westgold
Butter & Margarine
EasiYo
Pudding & Custard
Trilogy
Skin Care
Ansell
Condoms
Ansell
Personal Lubricant
Lifestyles
Personal Lubricant
Lifestyles
Condoms
Skyn
Personal Lubricant
Skyn
Condoms
Zero
Condoms