China's No 2 carmaker Chery seeks US$1.2 billion in Hong Kong IPO

Core Viewpoint - Chery Automobile, the second-largest carmaker in China by volume, is seeking to raise up to HK$9.14 billion (US$1.2 billion) through a Hong Kong stock offering, capitalizing on strong investor interest in the electric vehicle (EV) sector [1]. Group 1: IPO Details - Chery plans to offer 297.4 million shares priced between HK$27.75 and HK$30.75, with the final price to be determined on September 23 [2]. - Approximately 10% of the H-share offering will be allocated to the public, while the remainder is reserved for institutional investors [3]. - Retail investors can subscribe to shares starting Wednesday, with the offer closing on Monday, and trading expected to commence on September 25 [3]. Group 2: Market Context - The IPO timing aligns with renewed global investor interest in the Chinese EV supply chain, highlighted by significant stock price increases of other EV-related companies [5]. - Contemporary Amperex Technology's shares surged 60.4% following its US$4.6 billion IPO, and Hesai Group's shares rose 10% on debut after raising US$531 million [5]. Group 3: Company Performance and Outlook - Chery ranked second in sales among Chinese domestic car companies in 2023 and 2024, with strong annual growth expected in emerging markets from 2025 to 2030 [6]. - Revenue from overseas markets reached 26.29 billion yuan in the first three months of this year, accounting for 38.5% of total revenue [7]. - The company faces challenges from US-China trade tensions and high competition in both domestic and international markets [6].