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CoStone Capital: Watch Out for Opportunities of Public Companies M&A

2018.10.23 Qu Jiangyan Views:

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A few days ago, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) encouraged private equity funds to buy shares of listed companies and get involved in their M&As by participating in non-public offerings, transfer agreements, and block trades. CoStone Capital says some companies on the secondary market already have good investment value, and it on the lookout for the opportunities of their mergers and acquisitions.

A few days ago, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) encouraged private equity funds to buy shares of listed companies and get involved in their M&As by participating in non-public offerings, transfer agreements, and block trades. CoStone Capital says some companies on the secondary market already have good investment value, and it on the lookout for the opportunities of their mergers and acquisitions.

 

According to a head of CoStone Capital, the companies they currently have access to are valued at a multiple of 15-20 times. The figure is even higher for emerging companies. Compared with companies on the secondary market, there’s uncertainty about the potential growth and chance of going public for them. Many companies on the secondary market are leaders of subsectors, and they are valued at 10-time multiples. Since they’ve already been listed, they have better exit channels and liquidity.

 

As of October 19, the average PE (price-to-earnings) ratio of Shenzhen ChiNext Board was 31.21; that of Small and Medium Enterprise Board was 22.7; that of Shenzhen Stock Exchange Main Board was 13.95 times; and that of Shanghai Stock Exchange was 12.4 times.

 

From the perspective of CoStone Capital, even if the market value of some companies has fallen by 70 to 80%, their market value is still worth of ¥2-3Bn. If these companies lack growth potential in the future, they are still overvalued.

 

“Due to the opening of China’s capital market and occurrence of Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect and future Shanghai-London Stock Connect, the A-share market is no longer a closed market. Coupled with the accelerated issuance of IPOs, the value of shell resources will be greatly reduced in the future, and A-share market will inevitably align with the Hong Kong stock market,” said that head of CoStone Capital.


Above is from Zhang Wei’s interview with Shanghai Securities. Access to original report in Chinese: http://news.cnstock.com/news,jg-201810-4286395.htm



Rewritten by Lu Ying; Edited by Li Yunzhen,Du Zhixin

The year 2019 marks the fortieth anniversary of China’s Reform &Opening-Up, once again, we meet at the turning point of history. What’s the next step for the game, is there any clear guidance? The answer is affirmative.

Our country is enjoying a good momentum of development, which does not come from the Washington Consensus nor the Beijing Consensus. China’s experience has proved that both the visible hand and the invisible hand are crucial: the visible hand, stands for the government-led reform, and would yield benefits for reform and opening up; the invisible hand, stands for the Marginal Power represented by the private sector, and would improve economic efficiency and tax collection, create jobs and employment opportunities.

Provided that we want to protect and expand the benefits form reform, three simple but mandatory agreements are to be made and followed: No.1 Private ownership must be recognized, protected and treated equally with public ownership constitutionally, both ownerships are scared and inviolable;No.2 Make further clarification of the principal position of market economy, “deepen economic system reform by centering on the decisive role of the market in allocating resources”, as President Xi addressed in the third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee;No.3 Implement the guiding principles of “comprehensively promoting law-based governance” of the fourth plenum. The rule of law is essential for economic growth, irreplaceable to protect private ownership, and necessary to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship.

Above are three rules for us to avoid falling into the Middle-income Trap. Assuming that we are breaking systematic barriers to private enterprises’ participation in market economy, and boosting innovation and entrepreneurship of our society, then we are heading towards a promoting direction. We are marching in the path of light, regardless of the ups and downs of Sino-US relationship, the drop in GDP growth rate, or the monetary policy.

These principals also apply on knowing how better to run a business: don’t be hedged by rules and regulations at the beginning, pay more attention to your survival, and you’ll learn more when you start your second business.

For many years, Huawei has been the only Chinese company on the list of the Top 50 R&D Spenders. Regardless of the economy and its income, what Huawei has been doing is investing in its future, dedicated to R&D, continuously and resolutely. This provisional work underscores Huawei’s accomplishments, making Huawei anindustry leader.

So, there are standard answers on how to run a company,which could be summarized as concentration and professional dedication, continuous investment on innovation and trying harder in R&D. Entrepreneurship is also important, every single company needs entrepreneurs to push aside all obstacles and difficulties, to implement strategies and ideas. We, as investors, are destined to look for such outstanding entrepreneurs and their companies, invest in them and partner with them.

At this key point of history, a country, a company, or asingle individual, will all need to find the right path. Four decades after the Reform and Opening-up, it’s time to learn from our experience and stop “wadding across

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