Chinese Dual-Class Shares Listed in Hong Kong and Mainland China

Inhaltsangabe:Abstract: This paper aims at explaining the phenomenon of price anomalies between dual-class shares of companies located in mainland China (hereafter China). A-shares listed on either the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SHSE) or Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZSE) command a premium over the price of the corresponding firm’s H-shares traded at the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (HKSE). This pricing puzzle arises from the segmentation of Chinese equity markets – H-shares may be exclusively acquired by Hong Kong residents and international investors whereas A-shares are restricted to mainland Chinese investors. Although both classes of stock are entitled to the same future cash flows, investors are only willing to buy H-shares at a price significantly lower than that of A-shares. This unique setup offers the opportunity to test competing theories about the effects of market segmentation on asset pricing and to examine the factors that induce the price gap between cross-listed shares on different stock exchanges. Knowledge of the variables determining the price spread between H- and A-shares can make valuable contributions in a number of ways. Firstly, companies in mainland China pursuing initial public offerings (IPO) or seasoned equity offerings (SEO) may base their financing decision on a more thorough understanding of the parameters affecting stock prices of cross-listings in the respective markets. Secondly, policymakers in emerging country stock markets may draw conclusions concerning the design of foreign ownership regulation and investment restraints imposed on domestic and foreign investors. Lastly, international and local investors may build on a more profound understanding of the H- versus A-share discount (hereafter H-share discount) to narrow down attractive investment opportunity sets, especially in the light of the latest regulatory changes on the Chinese equity market. As of August 2007 the government body monitoring and regulating the national currency, China’s State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE), loosened its rigorous foreign exchange policy. Prior to the recent SAFE ruling, the annual amount to be freely converted from Chinese Yuan Renminbi (RMB) into foreign currencies was capped at a 50,000 United States Dollar (USD) limit. Under the new regime, mainland retail investors are granted unlimited convertibility of RMB into Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) – given that investments flow into the Hong Kong securities market. In the [...]