Chinese regulator’s expansion of H-share full circulation programme levels playing field for all investors
- Bocom International and Shenwan Hongyuan say the sweeping reform will align the interests of major shareholders with that of small investors
- The full circulation programme involves 160 companies and boosts Hong Kong stock exchange’s market cap by 4 per cent or US$210 billion
After more than a year of trial, China’s securities regulator has officially implemented a programme that will enable major shareholders of all Hong Kong-listed mainland companies to unlock their stock into ordinary tradable shares.
The sweeping reform will align the interests of top shareholders with that of small investors, said investment banks.
The programme, known as the H-share full circulation, will affect 160 companies and add HK$1.64 trillion (US$209.5 billion) or 4 per cent more to Hong Kong stock exchange’s market cap, according to China International Capital Corp.
Chinese financial regulators used to classify the stocks owned by big shareholders as non-tradeable shares, aiming to prevent potential insider selling and a reduction in majority ownership of the state in these companies trading overseas.
China Tower, which builds telecommunication towers for the nation’s phone carriers, is the biggest among these 160 companies in terms of market capitalisation at HK$286.9 billion. China Mobile Communications Group, China United Network Communications Group and two others firm control 73.5 per cent of the company, with the stock held by them counted as non-tradeable.