Founded in 2003, Focus Media has become China’s market leader in LCD displays in commercial buildings and hypermarkets.

It was the first mover in the digital segment media sector in China and has established extensive national distribution channels throughout the country: Focus Media operates over 300,000 LCD-TV units across China, with over 38,700 screens in 4,000 hypermarkets and stores in over 50 cities.

3i invested in November 2004, and using our local network and sector knowledge we introduced media specialist Eric Rosenkranz, former Asia CEO for Grey Global Media, who was particularly supportive in the run up to the IPO. The business listed on NASDAQ in April 2005, raising cUS$197m. We exited the business in September 2006, however, as part of our ongoing relationship with Focus Media, in February 2007, we introduced one of India's leading LCD display suppliers as a strategic partner, who remains one of their largest partners, by number of screens, in Asia.