China’s state-owned enterprises may see ownership overhaul

SHANGHAI: Some of China’s biggest companies may see a shake-up of their ownership structures if authorities follow through on reported plans to lift a ban on share sales by owners of state enterprises (SoEs).

A trial that would raise or remove the limit on the public float of mainland companies listed in Hong Kong, known as H-shares, would mark another step in China’s push to open its markets and assets to foreigners.

While the reported trial would only feature two companies, if fully enacted it would mean companies like Postal Savings Bank of China Co and China Reinsurance (Group) Corp. could be permitted to issue all their shares in Hong Kong.

In the case of Postal Bank, only shares accounting for US$12bil of the firm’s US$48bil market value are available to trade.

The move could change how some of the world’s biggest companies are managed and owned, said Fraser Howie, who has two decades of experience in China’s financial markets and co-authored the 2010 book “Red Capitalism.”

“It does give greater flexibility to major shareholders, state-owned enterprises, to raise funds by selling directly or just using those shares as collateral,” Howie said by phone. “It can partly feed into public-private partnership type ideas, into paying down debt. In that sense this is a good step. It gives C-suite executives greater flexibility how they manage their share capital.” The State Council, China’s cabinet, will start a trial to increase the float of two Hong Konglisted companies, according to a report Wednesday by Caixin, which cited unidentified people.

There are about 250 Hong Kong-listed mainland companies, called H-shares, 97 of which are also listed on the mainland, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

The People’s Bank of China mentioned the H-share trial in its 2016 China Financial Stability Report, saying that it would “study to resolve issues around ‘full circulation’ of H-shares.”

In the 2017 edition, the central bank said it would “push ahead” with the trial.