Ventures Dialogue

A Framework Agreement on Hong Kong-Guangdong co-operation was signed earlier in April in Beijing. The Framework Agreement, which builds on years of close co-operation between Hong Kong and Guangdong Province, is a significant embodiment of the principle of “One Country, Two Systems”. It represents a deepening of the co-operation between the two places. It sets clear targets and development positioning for Hong Kong/Guangdong co-operation, and outlines specific polices and measures, including:

• to promote joint socio-economic development in Hong Kong and Guangdong;
• to enhance Hong Kong’s position as an international financial centre and expedite the development of financial-services industries in Guangdong;
• to capitalize on the competitiveness of Hong Kong’s service industries and Guangdong’s manufacturing industries to build an advanced global manufacturing and modern services base;
• to facilitate the flow of key factors such as people, goods, information and capital across the boundary, with a view to building an international aviation, shipping and logistics hub and a world-class modern economic circulation sphere;
• to implement a regional ecology and environment protection regime operating at a leading level by the national standards; and
• to promote collaborative development among Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta cities to form a world-class metropolis cluster.

To achieve the objectives, Hong Kong and Guangdong have put forward specific policies and measures, and set out major initiatives for 2010.

Following the listing of the world’s biggest aluminum firm, Rusal, and Mongolian coal miner SouthGobi Energy Resources in Hong Kong earlier this year, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEx) is looking to attract South American and African companies to list on the Hong Kong bourse.

According to the HKEx Chairman Ronald Arculli, it is part of HKEx’s three-year strategic plan to have more international companies to list in Hong Kong and establish the city as an international financial centre. He said mining and resource companies from South America and Africa like Brazil and Nigeria could benefit from proposed improvements in the HKEx rules to make it easier for them to list in Hong Kong. Meanwhile, companies come to list in Hong Kong can tap funds from Asian investors through HKEx, and get closer to the Mainland China and Asian markets, which are the fastest-growing in the world. Since 1993, more than 300 Mainland China firms have listed in Hong Kong, representing 58 per cent of the bourse’s market capitalization.

After a fantastic year for IPO’s on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEx), it was not at all surprising that a standing-room only crowd at the Prospectus and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC 2010) Convention in Toronto was eager to hear from visiting Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Professor K.C. Chan, and HKEx Chairman, Ronald Arculli, about Hong Kong and on how HKEx has become one of the most active markets in the world.

HKEx ranked Number 1 globally in 2009 for IPO fundraising (US$31.3 billion), and Number 4 globally in terms of total fund raised, including post-IPO, of US$81.4 billion. A total of 73 companies were newly listed on HKEx and they included overseas companies which have listed their Greater China related business operations in Hong Kong. “Companies are attracted to list in Hong Kong to benefit from our market’s liquidity, attractive valuations and access to investors in Asia,” said Professor Chan.

2010 has already started off well, Professor Chan said at the PDAC Seminar in March on “Listing and Capital Raising in Hong Kong for Mining and Natural Resources Companies”, with SouthGobi Energy Resources, owned by Canada’s Ivanhoe Mines, raising USD$439 million through a secondary listing on the HKEx, just days after Russia’s UC Rusal, the world’s largest aluminium producer and the first ever non-Asian company to have a primary listing in Hong Kong, raised USD$2.24 billion.

It is expected that at least nine other foreign mining companies will be listing in HKEx this year, said the Secretary, some of which are from Canada. Professor Chan encouraged Canadian natural resources companies in particular to list on the HKEx so as to take advantage of China’s seemingly insatiable appetite for raw materials, as well as the liquidity afforded by the Mainland’s wealthy, upper and middle-class who are very active investors on the HKEx. He pointed out that companies incorporated in British Columbia and Ontario are acceptable for listing in Hong Kong and that HKEx has adopted international standards and practices to facilitate dual listings, with no capital controls and no capital reporting requirements. Continue reading ‘Hong Kong – A Global Centre for Raising Capital’

Hong Kong’s academic research and education on biological science and medicine had a good reputation and ranked among the best in the Asia-Pacific region, the Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Communications and Technology) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Mr Duncan Pescod, said recently at a conference.

Speaking at the Hong Kong Denmark Joint Conference on Nanomedicine and Synthetic Biology at Hong Kong Science Park, Mr Pescod said the conference marked a step towards closer collaboration on science and technology as a direct result of the collaboration agreement on science and technology signed by Hong Kong and Denmark in May 2009.

“Under the agreement, biotechnology and medical life science, nanotechnology and advanced materials, solar energy and energy efficiency were identified as areas where our initial collaboration efforts are most likely to bear fruit,”  he added.

Deputy Director General, Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Mr Hans Muller Pedersen, said the co-operation agreement was an important point to enhance the exchange of knowledge between Hong Kong and Denmark.

As a follow-up to this agreement, the Hong Kong and Danish governments have jointly organised the conference to explore the latest issues in the development of nanotechnology and synthetic biology.  Continue reading ‘Hong Kong among best in biological science and medicine in Asia-Pacific’

China is gaining increasing influence on the global economy and it is time for Hong Kong and Canada to strengthen co-operation by collaborating and complementing each other to make the most of these opportunities, the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Professor K C Chan, said in Toronto on March 8 at a mining convention.

Speaking at a seminar on “Listing and Capital Raising in Hong Kong for Mining and Natural Resources Companies” of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada Convention (PDAC 2010), Professor Chan said Hong Kong could serve as the financial gateway for Canadian companies to reach the Asian market in the same way that Canada served as a gateway for Hong Kong companies to invest in the North American market.
 
He called on Canadian companies to consider listing in Hong Kong to tap the local liquidity pool, quoting the examples of British Columbia and Ontario of Canada which are overseas jurisdictions already accepted by the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEx).

“At the same time, companies listed in Hong Kong and other Asian markets can also consider a listing on the Canadian exchange to tap the liquidity there. We would also welcome Canadian fund management companies to market their services to Asia through Hong Kong,” he added.
     
Turning to market regulation, he said Hong Kong believed in being predictable and consistent in regulation, and had been careful in striking a balance between the goals of having a quality market and being market friendly.

Using the HKEx as an illustration, he said listing decisions were made by a committee of market professionals who applied their expertise in reviewing listing applications in a dual filing system overseen by the securities regulator.

He described such regulatory environment in the listing process as  working well.  “The HKEx has full control over its development strategy, and it has responded to market needs. The efficiency and quality of the listing process are further ensured with the regulatory oversight,” he added.

In 2009, Hong Kong was the most active market for IPO funds raised globally.  Hong Kong ranked number one globally in IPO fund raised for 2009 (US$31.3 billion), and number four in the world in 2009 in terms of total fund raised (including post-IPO) of US$81.4 billion.  A total of 73 companies were newly listed on HKEx and they included overseas companies which have listed their Greater China related business operations in Hong Kong.

“Earlier this year, we saw the first Russian company listed on our stock market, and I am confident that more foreign based companies will be looking to list on the Hong Kong stock exchange in the near future,” he added.

In the afternoon, Professor Chan also spoke at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, on “China’s Rise as an Economic Power – Implications for HK, Canada and the Rest of the World”.

He told his audience that the new wave of financial globalisation has brought a new wave of financial talent to Asia, and to Hong Kong, and that as countries in the West continued to grapple with the aftermath of the financial tsunami, Asia was rebuilding, refocusing and rebounding. 

He said financial and trade experts not only looked to Hong Kong for future growth potential these days, they were also based right in Hong Kong which was a vantage point and actually the best available platform for seeking out the best opportunities in China and throughout Asia.

In the 2010-11 Budget, the Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government announced a wide range of initiatives with a view to consolidating the economic recovery, developing the economy and building a caring society.  On the economic front, measures are introduced to ensure a stable and healthy development of the property market, develop the four pillar industries, promote the six new economic areas, and enhance regional integration.  A relief package worth roughly HK$20 billion was announced to help support the recovery and relieve the burden of the community. 

The economy improved further and resumed year-on-year growth of 2.6% in the fourth quarter, led by strong domestic demand and improving external sector.  For 2009 as a whole, GDP fell by 2.7%.  The outlook for 2010 is cautiously optimistic.  GDP is forecast to grow by 4% to 5% in 2010, with headline and underlying consumer price inflation forecast at 2.3% and 1.5% respectively.

The economy continued to recover on entering 2010.  Merchandise exports rose notably further in January by 18.4% in value terms over a year earlier, while headline inflation remained modest at 1.0%.

Hong Kong and the Mainland recently  signed a co-operation agreement on customs facilitation measures for wine entering the Mainland market through Hong Kong.

Hong Kong’s  Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mrs Rita Lau, and the Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Commerce, Industry and Tourism), Miss Yvonne Choi, witnessed the signing of the co-operation agreement by the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Richard Yuen, and the Vice Minister of the General Administration of Customs, Mr Sun Yibiao.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mrs Rita Lau said that against the backdrop of growing demand for wine on the Mainland, Hong Kong’s zero wine duty policy and favourable business environment helped create room for wine traders in the territory to tap the Mainland market.  She also made reference to the large number of Mainland tourists visiting the city, who might buy in Hong Kong fine wines from different parts of the world.

She said that the signing of the agreement would enhance co-operation between the Hong Kong and Mainland Customs on wine-related matters, and fortify Hong Kong’s position as a regional wine trading and distribution hub. Continue reading ‘Hong Kong and Mainland sign agreement on customs facilitation measures for wine’

Invest Hong Kong, department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government responsible for Foreign Direct Investment, supporting overseas, Mainland and Taiwanese businesses to set up and expand in Hong Kong, announced that  the department assisted 265 overseas, Mainland and Taiwanese companies in setting up or expanding their business presence in Hong Kong in 2009. This achievement marked a record for the Hong Kong Government’s investment promotion arm in attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the city. It also signified external investors’ strong vote of confidence in Hong Kong despite the challenging global economic environment.

Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong, Mr Simon Galpin, said, “In the face of the global economic downturn, 2009 was a challenging year for Invest Hong Kong. The positive investment promotion results last year demonstrate that Hong Kong remains the base in Asia from which overseas, Mainland and Taiwanese companies prefer to expand their business.

“In these times of economic uncertainty, the enduring advantages of Hong Kong such as its rule of law, low and simple taxes, level playing field, free economy, world-class communications and transportation infrastructure, and available talent pool, have become increasingly important. They continue to enable the city to act as a stable and secure platform for companies looking to do business in the region and beyond,” Mr Galpin said.

Highlights of 2009
In total, the 265 companies that Invest Hong Kong helped last year planned to create more than 6,000 new jobs within the first two years of their operation or expansion in Hong Kong. Continue reading ‘Invest Hong Kong sets record in 2009 for completed investment projects’

Co-organized by Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office and Invest Hong Kong, a morning seminar on “Listing and Capital Raising in Hong Kong for Mineral and Natural Resources Companies” will be held March 8 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (Room 717B, South Building).

For mining and natural resources companies planning to raise funds, this seminar will provide them with an opportunity to better informed of Hong Kong’s securities market – one of the most active and liquid markets in the world. In 2009, US$31 billion was raised through new listings in Hong Kong, which was the top global IPO fund raising centre for the year.

Special guest speakers at the seminar include: Prof K.C. Chan, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and Ronald Arculli, Chairman of HKEx.

Senior executives of HKEx and intermediary firm representatives and advisors will also be present to offer complimentary advice and insights on “Why and how mining companies can list in Hong Kong” including such practical subjects as “Preparing for IPO in Hong Kong:  the process and common issues” and “How mining companies can attract investors in Asia through listing in Hong Kong”. On experience-sharing, the President & CEO of SouthGobi Energy Resources, Alexander Molyneux, will discuss with the audience the “Benefits of dual listing on HKEx”.

Pre-registration is required. For event details, please contact Andrew Yui, HKTDC Toronto Office at email: andrew.yui@hktdc.org or Tel: (416) 366-3594

Russian aluminum company Rusal has raised US$2.24 billion (HK$17.4 billion) from its initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong, making it the first Russian company to list in the city. It is not only the largest new listing in Hong Kong by an issuer from outside Greater China, but also the largest IPO globally year-to-date.

The Rusal offering was priced at HK$10.80 per share, which was the mid-point of the original price range, but the bottom of the slightly tighter guidance range of HK$10.80 to HK$12 that the bookrunners went out with towards the end of the bookbuilding. It was reported that more than 350 institutional investors had came into the deal, which was more than two times covered.

Meanwhile, Mongolia-based coal miner SouthGobi Energy Resources has also raised HK$2.89 billion (US$373 million) from a separate share sale that was very well received. While SouthGobi has all its mining operations in Mongolia, the company is Canadian and it is already listed in Toronto. The Hong Kong stock exchange has worked hard in recent years to broaden the line-up of new listings beyond companies from Greater China.