Hong Kong ‘ideal listing destination’ for ASEAN companies

City serves as platform for satisfying two-way funding needs

HONG KONG, May 27, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Hong Kong has been named as an ideal overseas listing destination for Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) companies in a research report^ prepared by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) in collaboration with CCB International (CCBI).

Hong Kong is an ideal overseas listing destination for companies in the ASEAN region, according to a research report prepared by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) in collaboration with CCB International (CCBI).

HKTDC Director of Research Irina Fan said: “With the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) free trade agreement coming into effect on 1 January 2022, closer regional economic integration will foster funding needs for projects across Asia, particularly with regard to ASEAN companies’ projects in Mainland China and vice versa. Hong Kong is ideally positioned to serve as a platform to satisfy two-way funding needs.”

Simon Lee, Head of Corporate Finance & Capital Market Services of CCB International, said: “This is a highly informative and well-researched paper for any executive of an ASEAN company seriously considering fundraising via an overseas listing, and in which the insights of many stakeholders in the region are shared. Hong Kong stands out as the top choice for the listing of ASEAN companies seeking overseas funding.”

Most popular overseas listing destination for ASEAN companies

There are already more than 80 ASEAN-headquartered companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange – the highest tally for a non-ASEAN stock market. These listed ASEAN companies represent a variety of sectors covering consumer discretionary, property and construction, information technology and industrial businesses with a total market capitalisation at US$15.3 billion. This indicates that Hong Kong is the most popular overseas listing destination for ASEAN companies, representing a wide variety of enterprises in terms of sector and size.

The research report highlights that Hong Kong’s attractiveness to ASEAN companies is due to a range of factors including good market breadth and depth, efficiency and flexibility in funding overseas investment, access to more diversified financial and strategic investor pools, its position as a doorstep to expansion in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and Mainland China, strong governance, and the convenience provided by it being in a similar time zone to ASEAN countries.

Strengthening promotion in ASEAN countries

To facilitate ASEAN companies’ needs and enhance Hong Kong’s position as an overseas listing hub for these enterprises, Ms Fan highlighted some of the key recommendations proposed by survey interviewees. “Hong Kong should step up its promotion in ASEAN countries to raise companies’ awareness. Indeed, it is clear that some ASEAN companies need to be more informed about the latest developments relating to Hong Kong’s listing regime and policies,” she said.

HK well positioned for ASEAN companies in prevailing and emerging sectors

Survey interviewees highlighted that in addition to prevailing sectors in ASEAN such as…