Jardine Fleming (JF) is starting to reap the benefits of its recent breakthrough in relations with the mainland, according to its newly-appointed head of corporate finance for Greater China Patrick, Sun Ting-wah.
The director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, Lu Ping , was said to have written to Chinese government departments at the beginning of the year instructing them to give the Jardine Fleming group equal treatment.
In addition to Mr Lu's action, JF has been seeking opportunities in China by restructuring its greater China division earlier this year.
It appointed James Bruce as the Hong Kong and China country head, and hired Mr Sun from SBC Warburg to build up a team of corporate financiers with specialist knowledge of the area.
Since Jardine Matheson de-listed from Hong Kong in 1994, JF has experienced difficulty winning mandates to sponsor the listings of Chinese enterprises overseas until this year.
Mr Sun said: 'I believe the resolution of the Jardine group's problem clears a hurdle we may have faced in China.' So far this year, JF has had considerably more success getting China deals than previously.
It has acted as sponsor for H-share Ningguo Cement, the co-sponsor of red-chip Dalian International, the underwriter of B-share Mongolian Yimeng Coal and conducted a share placement for B-share Fangda.