China's CNR delays $5b IPO after crash
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Agencies via China Daily, August 16, 2011
A $5 billion listing plan by the operator of China's new Beijing-Shanghai bullet train, initially targeted for next year, will be further delayed following last month's deadly train crash, sources told Reuters on Wednesday.
The delay is the latest blow to the nation's rail system after China CNR Corp Ltd announced last week it would recall 54 bullet trains used on the Beijing-Shanghai line. Services would be cut by 25 percent.
Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway had hoped for an initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong and Shanghai as early as in 2012, but any listing is now unlikely in the immediate future, IFR, a Thomson Reuters publication, said citing bankers.
The July 23 accident, in which 40 people were killed, had further complicated the prospects of receiving regulatory approvals as well as a planned restructuring ahead of the IPO, a source with direct knowledge of the issue told Reuters.
"China is not in a hurry to float something, especially after this tragedy," said the source. "You have to take time to make sure all the things are aligned before going ahead with a project like this."
Ripple effect
China has been working for years to develop a high-speed rail network, and last year investment on the sector hit a record high of 749.5 billion yuan ($117.3 billion).
Premier Wen Jiabao said earlier this month China would suspend new railway project approvals and launch safety checks on existing equipment.
The accident has caused a ripple effect on the broader industry.
China Railway Group, the country's largest railroad builder, said earlier this month it had dropped a plan to raise about 6.2 billion yuan via a share placement due to uncertainty over regulatory approval.
China South Locomotive and Rolling Stock Corp Ltd (CSR) was forced to delay a shareholder vote on its $1.7 billion fundraising plan, partly due to the Wenzhou crash.
"The development of the railway industry may slow in the immediate term due to safety concerns after the crash," said Zhao Xiaochuang, analyst at Century Securities in Shenzhen.
"Over the longer term, we are still positive about the industry because it's clear that the demand is there and the railway system is essential to the country's long-term infrastructure development," he said.
BOC International, CICC, JP Morgan and Macquarie had been picked to arrange the Hong Kong listing of Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway, while CICC has been chosen to lead the mainland portion of the IPO, according to IFR.
