People’s Insurance Company (Group) of China, otherwise known as PICC, is set to hit the market in Hong Kong this month in what could potentially make it the largest IPO in Asia (excluding Japan) this year.
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Last week, I wrote about the delay in the launch of Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical’s long awaited equity offering in Hong Kong. As was expected at the time, bookbuilding finally started on October 16 for what is an accelerated timetable (on account of the upcoming bank holiday) that will now see pricing on October 24, and listing and start of trading on October 30.
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A hardly noticed piece of news was released by the Hong Kong exchange on August 30: companies incorporated in South Korea will now be allowed to list in Hong Kong. Korea will accordingly join a list of 19 other jurisdictions now recognised by the exchange – on top of the mainland, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and, of course, Hong Kong itself.
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HONG KONG (Dow Jones Banking Intelligence) – Despite a significant pipeline of deals, at this stage in the year ECM transactions in Asia remain very much characterized by binary outcomes. Large, eye- catching offerings generate significant amounts of investor demand, while less obvious – and perhaps more challenging – transactions (when they close) have posted poor returns for investors.
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HONG KONG (Dow Jones Investment Banker) – News last week that Mongolia’s Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi, which owns one of the world’s largest coking coal deposits, would drop – for now – Hong Kong as one of the listing locations for its long-awaited IPO came as a surprise to market observers. The reasons probably include a disappointing performance for relevant offerings in Hong Kong, disclosure issues, as well as a comparatively weaker depositary receipt platform.
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A guest column I wrote for the China Economic Review.
2011 was a year marred by extreme volatility in markets, an earthquake and tsunami that disrupted global supply chains, renewed inflationary worries in Asia and, above all, the near collapse of the euro zone.
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Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEx) published on 20 December a set of market statistics for 2011 (up to 15 December) on its website.
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HONG KONG (Dow Jones Investment Banker) – Shanghai-based Haitong Securities Co., Ltd. started bookbuilding Thursday for its Hong Kong IPO and listing, which could raise up to US$1.7 billion in a primary offering, excluding a 15% over-allotment option. The broker will no doubt aim to replicate October’s successful flotation of rival CITIC Securities Co. Ltd., whose stock is currently trading 4.7% above its initial offer price. But with weaker institutional support, Haitong’s IPO could face an uphill struggle in these choppy waters: The company has a smaller platform, lower market share in securities underwriting and a higher cost base than CITIC.
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