Europe is the preferred destination for Chinese investors. According to the latest study published by investment fund A Capital, Europe is the preferred destination for Chinese investors. Indeed, 95% of mergers and acquisitions abroad by Chinese groups (other than raw materials) now concern European companies. In the second quarter of 2012, the amount of these operations which took place in Europe (in other words $5 billion) represented double what it was a year ago, between April and June 2011. According to A Capital, this trend should continue in the future; on the one hand the values of European companies remain reasonable but, on the other hand, in a context of erosion of Chinese competitiveness, Chinese groups are strategically obliged to increase their value added with regard to technology, brands and consumer access. (IL/transl.fl)