First B share issue in three years ( 2003-11-06 09:51) (China Daily HK Edition)
China resumed new issues in the hard-currency B share market yesterday, a
move regarded as a major boost to the long-overlooked counter.
Shanghai-listed Shanggong Co Ltd, a leading sewing-machine maker in China,
published its prospectus in major financial newspapers in which it said it was
issuing up to 100 million B shares, the first in three years.
The shares were sold only to 14 designated overseas institutions, including
Germany's FAG Kugelfischer AG, Mesabi Assets Ltd and others, the prospectus
said.
The issue is expected to raise approximately US$50 million to facilitate the
company's purchase of shares in a Kugelfischer subsidiary, Durkopp Adler AG
(DA).
Shanggong's issue, which has been talked about for some time, is regarded as
a sign of more new B share offerings, which would give investors more choices.
New issues in the B share market stopped in October 2000; and with only about
100 listed companies and US$11 billion in market capitalization, the counter is
hardly comparable to the renminbi-denominated A share market, which has been
opened to foreign investors through the introduction of the qualified foreign
institutional investor (QFII) scheme since the end of last year.
The long-term plan for the B share market, which was originally designed for
foreign investors but then lost its attraction, is to merge with the A share
market. So investors have shown little interest in the sector, which made trade
even slimmer, analysts said.
However, insiders said the merger would still take a long time because of the
non-convertibility of renminbi under the capital account.
So the authorities would still have to think of some ways to stimulate
interest in B shares, which are traded at half the price of A shares issued by
the same company.
"Some of the B share companies that have shown good corporate performance,
especially those with also A shares or H shares, still have good investment
value," an analyst with China Securities Co said.
Some B share companies, especially those listed in Shenzhen, have reported
good interim and third-quarter results, which triggered several brief rallies in
the B share market over the past few months.
However, some noted that Shanggong's case may be an exception.
According to its prospectus, Shanggong plans to buy 81.1 per cent of shares
in DA, a world-leading industrial-sewing-machine manufacturer with the
acquisition done in several phrases.
The transaction is expected to sharpen Shanggong's technological edge and
help expand exports.
Sources with the company said it aims to realize net profits of 26 million
yuan (US$3.2 million) in 2003, which is expected to double in 2004 and triple in
2005.
Shanggong saw turnover shrink by 50 per cent last year and did not give any
profit forecast for this year. DA also reported losses last year and this year.
"There are still uncertainties as to whether DA can turn around quickly after
the acquisition, so the expectation of better performance of both companies also
involves some risks," Shanggong said in the prospectus.