Sou Hu Cai Jing·2026-02-18 16:25Group 1 - The Hong Kong IPO market saw a strong recovery in 2025, with 116 companies raising HKD 286.7 billion, regaining the top position globally, and an average first-day gain of nearly 40% [1][16][21] - The historical low of 28% for the IPO failure rate indicates a favorable environment for investors, driven by the dual forces of improved regulations and increased market liquidity [1][3][21] - The Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) has implemented reforms such as the "A+H" listing mechanism and a dedicated line for technology companies, which have lowered the barriers and costs for companies to go public [1][21][60] Group 2 - The IPO process in Hong Kong typically takes about six months to a year, with a success rate of approximately 38%, and involves critical stages such as material review and marketing [1][36][37] - The IPO system includes special mechanisms like the green shoe and red shoe mechanisms, which help stabilize the market and protect small investors' chances of winning shares [1][54][52] - The listing standards are designed to be multi-channel, accommodating various types of companies, including traditional industries and new economy sectors, with flexible requirements [1][54][59] Group 3 - There are three main ways to participate in Hong Kong IPOs: cornerstone investment, anchor investment, and public offering, each with different funding thresholds and flexibility [2][8][66] - Cornerstone investors have guaranteed allocations but face a six-month lock-up period, while anchor investors have no lock-up but uncertain allocations, making them suitable for flexible institutional and high-net-worth individuals [2][8] - Retail investors primarily participate through public offerings, which have lower thresholds and are supported by the red shoe mechanism to enhance their chances of winning shares [2][8][66] Group 4 - The report provides ten investment recommendations, emphasizing the importance of long-term cornerstone participation, diversified retail investment, and the use of scoring models for short-term investments [3][10] - It highlights that the quality of IPO projects and industry characteristics are more critical to secondary market performance than the quantity of IPOs [3][10] - The report also notes that technology and pharmaceutical sector IPOs have a positive catalytic effect on their respective sectors [3][10]