Addleshaw Goddard's Hong Kong equity capital markets team (ECM) has capitalised on the surge in liquidity in the Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO) market, to complete its fourth IPO in as many weeks – advising the sponsor, Guotai Junan Capital Limited, and the underwriter, Guotai Junan Securities (Hong Kong) Limited on the top–tier HK$1.2bn (£124m) listing of Nanfang Communication Holdings Limited, a high profile Chinese company in the Telecoms sector, on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX).

The IPO is the 4th listing on the HKEX completed by the AG team in December 2016 and the 12th since the team was established in 2014. This most recent listing follows immediately off the back of advising on:

• the HK$130 million (£13.2m) IPO of KNK Holdings Limited on the Growth Enterprise Market (GEM) Board of the HKEX (the team advised Ample Capital Limited (sponsor), and the underwriters (including Ample Orient Capital Limited and Convoy Investment Services Limited));
• the HK$600 million (£61m) IPO of Progressive Path Group Holdings Limited on the Main Board of the HKEX (the team advised sponsor Ample Capital Limited and the underwriters, Ample Orient Capital Limited and Sorrento Securities Limited));
• the HK$415 million (£42.2m) IPO of CMON Limited on the GEM Board of the HKEX (the team advised China Glaxy International Securities (Hong Kong) Co., Limited (sponsor), and the underwriter, Koala Securities Limited)).

Despite concern over the downward pressure on the Chinese economy at the beginning of 2016, the AG team managed to advise on 7 IPOs since the start of the year including, altogether, K. H. Group Holdings Limited, Worldgate Global Logistics Ltd, Ever Harvest Group Holdings Limited, CMON Limited, Progressive Path Group Holdings Limited, KNK Holdings Limited and Nanfang Communication Holdings Limited.

Since AG's Hong Kong office opened in 2013, the firm has quickly developed a 20 plus strong IPO team which is one the market leaders. The team involved in the transactions was led by corporate finance partner Daniel Wan, who commented: "Hong Kong has cemented itself as the preferred place for Asian companies listing and in 2016 has this been buoyed by the Financial Services sector to a great extent. However we are seeing the Hong Kong IPO attract other, more diverse, sectors in Telecoms, Gaming and Construction and Engineering which is truly positioning Hong Kong as a world player on the IPO stage. We are delighted to have played a part in advising our sponsor and underwriter clients in contributing to this success."

Ends

Notes to Editors

• AG is a leading international law firm, advising clients in key business and financial centres around the world.
• Our operations in Asia are a combination of our own offices, a formal alliance in Japan, dedicated business groups for emerging markets, and our network of highly-regarded partner law firms.
• We have extensive experience and knowledge of working across a wide range of Asian jurisdictions including Hong Kong, Singapore, China, Japan, Korea, India and South-East Asia / ASEAN.
• Our Hong Kong Equity Capital Markets team consists of over 20 IPO lawyers and professionals and is led by partner Daniel Wan - Daniel specialises in Hong Kong corporate finance, Hong Kong IPOs, pre-IPO investments and restructurings, post-IPO regulatory and compliance matters, and secondary equity fundraisings. His clients included investment banks, investment funds, private and listed companies.
• The team is one of the top five Hong Kong law firms acting for underwriters in terms of total number of successful Hong Kong IPOs in 2015/2016.
• The team has been listed by the Legal500 under the Capital Markets (Equity) category within just 3 years since it was established in 2014.
• Our Hong Kong capital markets practice focuses on Hong Kong IPOs, including listings on the Main Board and GEM Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Our practice/'s clients include issuers and sponsors.