Four A-share companies are to float nontradable shares on the
local bourse in a pilot trial scheme after China's securities
regulators agreed last month to resume selling State shares.
As a result of China's planned economy, about two-thirds of the
shares in domestic-listed companies are still nontradable, either
held by the State or approved bodies.
This has significantly affected market liquidity and
transparency, and disadvantaged tradable shareholders. Regulators
have vowed to solve the problem, this pilot trading scheme being
one of the possible solutions. Guidelines and regulations relating
to the scheme were released on April 29.
The pioneering four companies, all small to medium-sized
enterprises (SMEs), are machinery maker, Sany Heavy Industries Co
Ltd; computer service provider, Tsinghua Tongfang Co Ltd; packaging
materials manufacturer, Shanghai Zi Jiang Enterprise Group Co Ltd;
and coal and cement producer, Hebei Jinniu Energy Resources Co
Ltd.
All four companies issued circulars on Monday to reveal their
intention to gradually float shares on the local bourses.
Share trading in the four companies was suspended on Monday.
The companies are expected to give shares or cash to tradable
shareholders as compensation when the nontradable shares are
floated.
Regulators have given the companies the leeway to develop their
own mechanics of the scheme, the only restriction being to respect
the interests of minority shareholders through sufficient
disclosure.
According to a fund manager with Dacheng Fund Management Co, who
asked not to be named, "The companies that are planning nontradable
share sales have to come up with market-oriented proposals that are
acceptable to the tradable shareholders. Otherwise it would be hard
to get them passed."
Details of the companies' respective plans are expected in the
next few days.
"The pace of reform in this area will be determined by the
success of this trial scheme, and more companies can be expected to
join the scheme in future," said Tian Yi, an analyst with United
Securities Co.
However, Tian added that only companies with solid results and a
practice of regular information disclosure should be allowed to
participate. Further, more blue-chip companies should be encouraged
to join.
Although viewed as a major breakthrough, analysts say opinion is
split on the trial scheme. Some investors are worried that they
might not get sufficient compensation from the State share
sell-down, said an analyst with Haitong Securities. But, market
rumors about stocks that could be part of the next round of
nontradable share sell-offs have sparked active trading.
The short-term impact of the news of the nontradable share
flotation is still unclear as regulators will not allow nontradable
shares to flood the market, said Dong Chen, an analyst with China
Securities.
But, in the long run, the flotation of these shares could push
down average price and earnings ratios, and further polarize share
prices.
(China Daily May 10, 2005)