Two in three Chinese CEOs prefer to list at home than risk raising capital in America; even protest-hit Hong Kong is preferable to US
- The survey of more than 1,200 business leaders across China also found that 66 per cent of the respondents see China as the most attractive listing venue, compared with just 18.7 per cent who favour the US market
- Hong Kong, even with the city’s violent protests, is also ahead of the US as a preferred IPO destination
Chinese private firms are shunning the United States in their overseas expansion, and generally prefer a home listing to a US initial public offering (IPO), a private survey showed on Tuesday, highlighting the trade war’s impact on executive decision-making.
The survey is released at a time when US politicians are calling for tighter scrutiny over Chinese investment and capital-raising, while Beijing is encouraging domestic listings by Chinese companies.
Last week, the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC) proposed measures restricting US capital flows towards Chinese companies.
Despite the trade tensions, Chinese CEOs remain committed to global expansion, but have shifted their focus from the US to Southeast Asia, Europe and Africa, according to a survey conducted jointly by China’s prestigious Tsinghua University and Marcum Bernstein and Pinchuk LLP, a leading auditor for US-listed Chinese companies.
The survey of more than 1,200 business leaders across China also found that 66 per cent of the respondents see China as the most attractive listing venue, compared with just 18.7 per cent who favour the US market. Hong Kong, even with the city’s violent protests, is also ahead of the US as a preferred IPO destination.
“Most executives looking forward are veering away from the United States,” said Drew Bernstein, co-managing partner of MarcumBP.