On [date], CITIC Capital Holdings Limited ("CITIC Capital") announced that its private equity investment business, CITIC Capital China Partners, has signed an agreement with CITIC Limited (0267.HK) to acquire its stake in McDonald's Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau business (hereinafter referred to as "McDonald's China"). Following the transaction, the CITIC Capital consortium (including CITIC Capital and its private equity investment business CITIC Capital China Partners) will remain the controlling shareholder of McDonald's China. This move further demonstrates the long-term confidence of the CITIC Capital consortium in McDonald's China's business.

That is to say, upon completion of this transaction, the shares of McDonald's China held by the CITIC group will transition from being jointly held by CITIC Limited and CITIC Capital to being solely held by the CITIC Capital consortium.

CITIC Capital stated that since its investment in McDonald's China, the business of McDonald's China has achieved rapid growth and maintained a steady development trend. Based on a firm confidence in the prospects of China's economy and consumer market, as well as a continued positive outlook on the future development potential of McDonald's China, CITIC Capital and its consortium have decided to further increase their investment in McDonald's China.

Zhang Yichen, Chairman and CEO of CITIC Capital, and Chairman of the Board of McDonald's China, stated, "As the controlling shareholder of McDonald's China, we will fully promote McDonald's China into a new stage of development, realizing the vision of 'stronger, better, and smarter' with ten thousand stores."

McDonald's China responded to First Financial Daily, stating, "We are pleased to see that, based on a firm belief in the growth prospects of China's economy and consumer market, as well as the development potential of McDonald's China, CITIC Capital's private equity investment business, CITIC Capital China Partners, has increased its investment in McDonald's China. This transaction will further simplify our equity structure. Our vision of developing 'stronger, smarter, and better' restaurants remains unchanged. With the support of our shareholders, we will continue to drive the future development of McDonald's China."

CITIC Capital and McDonald's have been partners for many years. In the year, CITIC Capital, CITIC Limited, Carlyle Group, and McDonald's formed a strategic partnership. It was in this year that McDonald's China entered the "Golden Arches Era." Over the past seven years, McDonald's China has accelerated its localization development, with the number of restaurants exceeding 4,500, more than doubling compared to the year.

At the beginning of the year, CITIC Capital acquired a % stake in McDonald's China from CITIC Limited, increasing its shareholding to %. After acquiring McDonald's China, CITIC Capital has been promoting its localization through various measures such as accelerating store openings, digital empowerment, and localizing the supply chain.

In the year, McDonald's Global announced the acquisition of Carlyle's minority stake in McDonald's China, increasing its ownership to %. In the same year, CITIC Capital announced an increase in its investment in McDonald's China, with the transaction resulting in the CITIC Capital consortium holding a % stake.