Core Viewpoint - The Shanghai Stock Exchange has introduced guidelines for recognizing senior professional institutional investors, aimed at enhancing the listing process for companies applying under the fifth set of listing standards on the Sci-Tech Innovation Board [1][2]. Group 1: Guidelines Overview - The guidelines consist of 13 articles detailing the definition, shareholding, independence requirements, information disclosure, and verification for senior professional institutional investors [1]. - The inclusion of senior professional institutional investors as a reference for evaluating companies applying for the fifth set of listing standards is intended to improve the identification of high-quality technology enterprises [1][2]. Group 2: Investment Characteristics - Companies eligible for the fifth set of listing standards typically exhibit high R&D investment, significant operational uncertainty, long paths to profitability, and potential for explosive growth [2]. - Senior professional institutional investors possess a mature screening mechanism for identifying and investing in technology enterprises, which is crucial for supporting the development of self-reliant technology and new productive forces [2][5]. Group 3: Investment Experience and Requirements - Relevant investment institutions must have invested in at least five technology enterprises that have listed on the Sci-Tech Innovation Board or ten that have listed on major domestic or international exchanges within the last five years [3]. - Institutions are required to invest at least 500 million yuan or hold a minimum of 3% of shares for at least 24 months prior to the issuer's IPO application, preventing sudden investments [3][4]. Group 4: Market Wisdom and International Practices - The introduction of senior professional institutional investors is based on the needs of technology enterprises, successful practices in overseas markets, and a solid foundation for piloting this system domestically [4][5]. - Internationally, similar systems have been implemented, such as the Hong Kong Stock Exchange's requirements for technology companies to secure investments from senior independent investors prior to listing [4]. Group 5: Encouragement for Self-Identification - The guidelines encourage issuers to self-identify and disclose the involvement of senior professional institutional investors, which is particularly relevant for unprofitable enterprises engaged in cutting-edge R&D [6][7]. - The recognition of senior professional institutional investors includes private equity funds, government-established funds, and investment institutions set up by leading enterprises, which are crucial for understanding market dynamics and technological advancements [6][7].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the implementation of the "Science and Technology Innovation Board Growth Layer" guidelines, aimed at enhancing the inclusivity and adaptability of the system, with a focus on the new rules for listing and the management of companies in this layer [1][3]. Group 1: Implementation of Guidelines - The Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) has officially released the "Guidelines for Self-Regulatory Supervision of Listed Companies on the Science and Technology Innovation Board - Growth Layer" and related business rules, effective immediately [1]. - The guidelines include a "new and old distinction" for the conditions under which companies can be removed from the growth layer, maintaining existing conditions for current companies while raising the bar for newly registered unprofitable companies [2][3]. Group 2: Conditions for Inclusion and Removal - Existing unprofitable companies will automatically enter the growth layer upon the implementation of the guidelines, while new unprofitable companies will enter upon listing [3]. - The removal conditions for existing companies remain unchanged, requiring them to achieve profitability for the first time post-listing, while new unprofitable companies face stricter removal conditions to encourage faster technological development and market expansion [3]. Group 3: Investor Participation and Risk Disclosure - There are no new trading thresholds for individual investors in the growth layer, maintaining the requirement of "500,000 yuan in assets + 2 years of experience," but investors in newly registered unprofitable tech companies must sign a risk disclosure statement [4]. Group 4: Pre-Review Mechanism - The SSE has clarified the applicable scenarios for the pre-review mechanism, allowing technology companies facing significant operational risks from early disclosure to apply for pre-review [6]. - The pre-review process will not be publicly disclosed, but companies must disclose inquiries and responses from the pre-review phase once they submit their formal IPO applications [7]. Group 5: Recognition of Professional Institutional Investors - The "Guidelines for Recognizing Senior Professional Institutional Investors" detail the criteria for identifying these investors, which include having a sound governance structure, substantial asset management, and a good credit record [9]. - The guidelines specify that these investors must have invested in at least five technology companies that have listed on the Science and Technology Innovation Board in the past five years or ten companies on major exchanges [10]. Group 6: Regulatory Oversight - The SSE emphasizes that the recognition of senior professional institutional investors serves as a reference for assessing a company's market acceptance and growth potential, without altering the standards for listing or the speed of the review process [10]. - The introduction of senior professional institutional investors is expected to create a binding effect, helping to identify genuinely high-potential companies and reduce the risk of low-growth companies being misrepresented [10].

Core Viewpoint - The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) has implemented the "Opinions on Setting Up a Growth Layer in the Sci-Tech Innovation Board to Enhance Institutional Inclusiveness and Adaptability," aiming to better support technology innovation and improve the capital market's service capabilities for tech enterprises [1][2]. Summary by Sections Background of the "Sci-Tech Innovation Board Opinions" - The issuance of the "Sci-Tech Innovation Board Opinions" aligns with the directives from the 20th National Congress and the Central Financial Work Conference, emphasizing the need for a financial system that supports technological innovation [2][3]. Overall Reform Approach and Principles - The reform aims to comprehensively implement the central government's decisions on capital market support for technology innovation, focusing on creating a dedicated layer for growth-oriented tech companies, particularly those that are currently unprofitable [5]. - Key principles include: - Target and problem orientation to facilitate the integration of technology and industry innovation [5]. - Focus on key areas and comprehensive measures to support high-quality tech enterprises [5]. - Emphasis on stability and pilot programs to balance reform and risk management [5]. Considerations for Setting Up a Growth Layer - The establishment of a growth layer on the Sci-Tech Innovation Board is designed to serve tech companies with significant breakthroughs and large ongoing R&D investments, even if they are currently unprofitable [6]. - This initiative aims to enhance the capital market's support for tech innovation, stabilize market expectations, and provide a controlled environment for testing more inclusive policies [6]. Investor Protection Measures - The reform includes specific measures to strengthen the protection of small and medium investors, such as: - Designating a special identifier "U" for stocks of companies in the growth layer [7][8]. - Requiring regular disclosures from unprofitable companies regarding their financial status and risks [8]. - Enhancing risk assessment processes by securities firms and ensuring investors are well-informed [8]. Policies to Enhance Inclusiveness and Adaptability - Six key policy measures have been introduced to enhance the inclusiveness and adaptability for quality tech enterprises, including: - Introducing a professional institutional investor system to better identify quality tech firms [9]. - Implementing a pre-review mechanism for IPOs to protect sensitive information [10]. - Expanding the applicability of the fifth listing standard to more frontier technology sectors [11][12]. Implementation of the "Sci-Tech Innovation Board Opinions" - The CSRC is committed to ensuring the effective implementation of the "Sci-Tech Innovation Board Opinions" by balancing risk management and promoting high-quality development [13]. - Efforts will include enhancing communication with market participants and conducting investor education to foster a supportive environment for tech innovation [13].