Chinese IPOs in US hit record high

Chinese companies' new listings in the United States hit a record high in the first half this year, despite the US government's tightened scrutiny on foreign investors, according to a report from global professional service firm Ernst & Young.

The number of US-listed initial public offerings from the mainland increased by 31 from January to June, with the IPOs raising $8.82 billion. The number of IPOs rose by 94 percent compared with a year earlier, the EY report said on Thursday.

The first day return rate of the so-called China concept stocks listed on US exchanges was 131 percent on average, also the multi-year high, it showed. The funds raised by Chinese companies' IPOs on the New York Stock Exchange was 63 percent of the total IPO funds in the same exchange.

China concept stocks have performed well in the first six months despite the US passing the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act last year and issuing recommendations to ban Chinese companies from US exchanges unless they complied with US accounting standards, said EY partners.

Stable and sound macroeconomy in China and the innovative business environment have increased attractiveness of Chinese companies in the US market, said Li Kang a partner of audit service with EY.

Looking forward to the second half, the number of companies queuing for IPOs will remain high, said Terence Ho, EY IPO Leader in China.

The outlook is based on the facts that the vaccination efforts have accelerated and the recovery of the global economy has exceeded expectation, and China's economic growth has returned to normal. In addition, the first year of China's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) is projected to see bullish IPO activities in relevant industries with favorable policies, and the reform led by the registration-based IPO system will be deepened and the enhanced quality of listed companies will improve the A-share ecosystem, Ho said.

"For cross-border listing, companies need to consider risks brought by changes in geopolitics and local policies and be well prepared to seize opportunities," he added.