Core Viewpoint - The Hong Kong IPO market has been thriving in 2023, with cornerstone investors, particularly foreign ones, playing a significant role in the investment landscape [1][2]. Group 1: Cornerstone Investors' Role - In the first half of 2023, cornerstone investors accounted for 45.2% of the total investment in Hong Kong IPOs, with foreign cornerstone investors making up 59.3% of this group, a notable increase from 40.4% in 2024 [1]. - Cornerstone investors are institutional investors who agree to purchase a certain number of shares at a predetermined price before a company goes public, typically with a lock-up period [1]. Group 2: Reasons for Foreign Investment - The influx of foreign cornerstone investors is driven by three main factors: 1. A number of companies listed in Hong Kong this year possess global competitiveness, allowing foreign investors to participate in China's industrial upgrade. Notable companies include Heng Rui Medicine, Haitian Flavoring, Mixue Group, CATL, and Sanhua Intelligent Controls, which have stable performance and promising growth prospects [3]. 2. The active Hong Kong market has shifted cornerstone investors' focus from "protecting issuance" to "securing assets," with the total market capitalization reaching HKD 42.7 trillion, a 33% increase year-on-year, and average daily trading volume up 118% [4]. 3. Global capital reallocation and the revaluation of Chinese assets have encouraged foreign investors to increase their exposure to Hong Kong stocks, especially in light of the Federal Reserve's interest rate cuts and the attractiveness of undervalued Chinese assets [5]. Group 3: Market Dynamics - The participation of foreign cornerstone investors reflects a deeper trust in the core assets of China's industrial upgrade and the resilience of the Chinese market system, indicating a strong potential for attracting more international capital as China's economic transformation gains momentum [5].

Core Viewpoint - The Hong Kong stock market experienced a significant surge in IPO activities in the first half of 2025, driven by a strong participation of cornerstone investors, leading to a total of 42 IPOs that raised HKD 107.1 billion, marking a year-on-year increase of approximately 700% and positioning Hong Kong as the leading global market for IPO fundraising [1][2]. Group 1: IPO Market Performance - In the first half of 2025, Hong Kong's IPO market completed 42 IPOs, raising a total of HKD 107.1 billion, which is a 700% increase year-on-year and a 22% increase compared to the total amount raised in 2024 [1]. - Four out of the top ten global IPOs in 2025 were from Hong Kong, highlighting the city's growing prominence in the global IPO landscape [1]. - The participation of cornerstone investors was crucial, with 36 out of 42 IPOs attracting a total of 189 cornerstone investors, accounting for 85.71% of the IPOs [2]. Group 2: Characteristics of Cornerstone Investors - The cornerstone investment in Hong Kong's IPOs showed three notable trends: a significant clustering of investors, a preference for industry-leading companies, and impressive investment returns [2][4]. - A total of 452.02 million HKD in cornerstone investments represented over 42% of the total fundraising in the market, indicating strong confidence from capital sources [2]. - Leading companies such as Ningde Times, Haitian Flavoring, and Sanhua Intelligent Control attracted a total of 60 cornerstone investors, accounting for 31.7% of the total, with investment amounts reaching HKD 351.4 billion, which is over 77% of the total cornerstone investment [2][4]. Group 3: Investment Returns and Market Dynamics - As of July 15, 2025, 31 out of 36 IPOs with cornerstone investors saw their stock prices rise compared to their issue prices, with 21 companies experiencing price increases exceeding 50% [4]. - The diverse composition of cornerstone investors, including local state-owned platforms, foreign institutions, public funds, and individual investors, contributed to a robust market environment [5][10]. - The participation of foreign institutions in cornerstone investments has notably increased, with significant investments from entities like the Kuwait Investment Authority and the Singapore Government Investment Corporation [7][10]. Group 4: Sector Focus and Future Outlook - Cornerstone investors are primarily focusing on sectors such as new energy, consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, and advanced manufacturing, aligning with national industrial policies and market trends [10]. - The involvement of cornerstone investors is expected to stabilize new stock prices and build investor confidence, with major institutions playing a key role in reducing market volatility [10]. - Looking ahead, the Hong Kong IPO market is anticipated to attract more quality enterprises, with local state-owned enterprises and foreign institutions expected to deepen their involvement in cornerstone investments [10].