Former GKN CEO joins Unitas Capital as partner

"We are delighted that Sir Kevin Smith is joining us. Unitas and our portfolio companies will benefit greatly from Kevin's understanding of industrial businesses, his extensive network of relationships and his deep experience leading the expansion of businesses, both in Asia and the West," said John Lewis, partner and CIO at Unitas.

Prior to GKN, Smith headed GKN Aerospace and worked at British Aerospace, latterly serving as group managing director of new business. He was knighted in 2006 for services to industry and currently serves as a British ambassador for business and is a member of The Asia Task Force, a business advisory group to the UK government business advisory group.

Smith said he was impressed by Unitas' track record in helping manufacturing companies improve their businesses and expand globally.

The private equity firm, formerly known as CCMP Capital Asia, is currently investing out of its $1.2 billion Asia Opportunity Fund III and has more than $4 billion in assets under management. It focuses exclusively on the industrial manufacturing and consumer-retail sectors, and claims to have been the first Asia-only firm to employ a dedicated operations-focused executive.

Last week, Unitas completed a $40 million investment in Chinese restaurant chain Babela's Group, best known for operating an Italian-themed casual dining chain that has over 120 outlets in Shanghai and Beijing, as well as in tier-two and tier-three cities.

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