Return of Red Chip Companies
Generally, the “return of a red-chip company” means a change of a red-chip structure, by way of equity restructuring, that was originally formed for the purpose of listing offshore, into an entity or control structure with the purpose of listing onshore in China. This enables the entity to issue stocks and list itself on the securities market in China.
In recent years, a majority of Chinese enterprises that have built up a red chip structure and listed, or intended to list offshore have decided to return to the onshore securities market after considering the difference between the onshore market and the offshore market in the valuation and regulation environment, and their market power in such markets. JunHe’s practice in respect to the return of red-chip companies is outstanding. JunHe has successfully assisted many well-known enterprises in removing their red-chip structure, and issuing stocks and listing on the onshore securities market in accordance with PRC laws and regulations.
Expertise in Removing a Red Chip Structure
JunHe is a comprehensive law firm with vast experience in many areas, including capital markets, outbound investments, foreign investments, finance, litigation, foreign exchange, taxation and labor and employment. JunHe is able to advise clients on the allocation by a PRC enterprise of dividends to offshore enterprises, the settlement of shareholders’ loans, offshore equity restructuring, establishment of ESOPs or admission of new investors, return of control to an onshore entity, foreign exchange regulation, flow of funds in respect of equity restructuring and other issues that may be involved during the return of a red chip company.
Extensive Business Cooperation Resources
JunHe has extensive influence in various fields of business and vast business resources. It maintains excellent communication and cooperative relationships with commercial enterprises, foreign exchange bodies and industries, as well as securities regulatory authorities, financial institutions, financial investors and strategic investors. Thanks to its close relationship with clients and its huge social resources, JunHe is able to assist clients in designing reasonable return plans and to utilise its expertise to help the returned entities issue stocks and complete their listing on the onshore securities markets.
Recent Representative Cases
BNGE Project – Return of its Red Chip Structure and its A Share Listing on the SSE STAR Market
BNGE is the first biotech company to list in three locations: Shanghai, Hong Kong and New York, with the stock codes 688235（A Share）, 06160（HK）and BGNE（NASDAQ.
JunHe acted as the lawyer for BNGE’s previous listing projects in the USA and Hong Kong, and advised the company for its return to a red chip structure and its A Share listing on the SSE STAR Market. This Project was a milestone in the A Share securities market. It was the first A Share issuance of a red-chip biotech enterprise to list in three places in the securities market, and a successful case of a red-chip enterprise to list in China. It provided a path for high-quality red-chip enterprises to return to the A Share market. JunHe has expertise in providing advice for difficult projects such as the regulation of securities issuances in different jurisdictions, regulations on the obligations for information disclosure by listed companies, corporate governance and investors protection under the red chip structure and the checking of shareholders of overseas listed companies. JunHe has accumulated extensive practical experience in its work with respect to BNGE’s return to a red chip structure.
Ecovacs Project – Removal of a Red Chip Structure and IPO on the A Share Market
As the PRC legal counsel for Ecovacs Robotics Co., Ltd. (“Ecovacs”, stock code 603486), JunHe assisted Ecovacs in setting up an offshore red chip structure, attracting investors to provide private equity financing, removing the red chip structure and issuing stocks on the A stock market, and advised the client on equity incentives. With JunHe’s help, Ecovacs successfully completed its IPO and listing on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
Privatization of Home Inn, and BTG Hotels’ Major Asset Restructuring and its Acquisition of Home Inn
As the PRC legal counsel for BTG Hotels (Group) Co., Ltd. (“BTG Hotels”, stock code 600258), the buyer in the acquisition, JunHe was involved in the entire transaction structure, assisting BTG Hotels in obtaining from the National Development and Reform Commission the letter of confirmation with respect to the outbound investment in the transaction, and advising BTG Hotels (Hong Kong) on the purchase in cash of the equity interests held by the minor shareholders of Home Inn, as well as the privatization of Home Inn. With JunHe’s assistance, BTG Hotels obtained the approvals from the China Securities Regulatory Commission and the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China in respect of its issue of shares to purchase the assets of Home Inn and raise the supporting funds.
Yingliu Electromechanical Project – Return of a Red Chip Structure and IPO on the A Share Market
As the PRC legal counsel for Anhui Yingliu Electromechanical Co., Ltd. (“Yingliu Electromechanical”, stock code 603308), JunHe assisted in designing a perfect red chip structure return and A share market IPO plan, and advised Yingliu Electromechanical in areas such as taxation and foreign exchange, assisted in the coordination between onshore and offshore private equity financing documents and the restructuring of equity incentives. Yingliu Electromechanical finally completed its IPO and listing on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
