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Bank of China to sell shares in Hong Kong
(Shenzhen Daily/Agencies)
Updated: 2005-12-30 11:27
Bank of China, the third-largest lender on the mainland, will apply to list
its shares on the Hong Kong stock exchange early 2006, the China Securities
Journal reported Thursday.
The long-anticipated move follows the approval of a purchase of a 5 percent
stake in the bank by Singaporean Government investment company Temasek Holdings
Pte. Ltd., the report said.
"Preparations for listing application materials have been completed and the
bank will submit its listing application to the Hong Kong stock exchange in
early 2006," according to the report by the newspaper, which cited an unnamed
source at the bank.
The Caijing magazine reported earlier this week that the government-owned
Central Huijin Investment Co., Bank of China's controlling shareholder, had
signed off on the bank's plan to sell a 5 percent stake to Temasek for an
undisclosed sum.
Bank of China's spokesman, Wang Zhaowen, had no comment on the China
Securities Journal report or its contents, or about Temasek's bid. However, he
confirmed the bank was preparing its application for a listing in Hong Kong.
Central Huijin earlier rejected a bid by Temasek to take a 10 percent stake
in the lender. The reasons for its objections have not been disclosed, though
the Caijing reported that Ministry of Finance officials argued the price offered
for the bank's shares was too low.
The central bank created Central Huijin in 2004 as a State investment
vehicle.
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