Monday, December 24, 2007

Chinese School - PetroChina eyes mainland listing in 4th quarter

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BIZCHINA / News

PetroChina eyes mainland listing in 4th quarter

(Chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2007-07-18 14:32

PetroChina, China's largest oil and gas group, is targeting a share
offering in the fourth quarter of this year, although the timetable
depends on how quickly it can gain approval from the Chinese securities
regulator, the Financial Times reported.

The latest large State-owned company is expected to offer as many as 4
million new shares. It is poised to use the funds raised to buy oil and
gas resources overseas and fund exploration and development projects at
home.

It has chosen UBS to help raise up to US$6 billion in what is poised to
be one of the biggest listings on the country's mainland market.
PetroChina's offering is likely to fall just short of the biggest
mainland initial public offerings (IPOs), by Industrial and Commercial
Bank of China, which raised US$6.1 billion last year.

The deal highlights UBS' determination to grab a big slice of the Chinese
public offering market after securing control of a Chinese brokerage,
which gave it the license to arrange mainland share offerings, five
months ago.

The Swiss bank last week handled the initial public offering of Western
Mining, a Chinese lead and zinc producer, which surged 144 per cent on
its first day of trading. UBS was the sole manager of the Western Mining
IPO but is expected to work together with local firms on the PetroChina
listing – which still requires regulatory and shareholder approval.

China has been trying to persuade large Chinese companies listed in Hong
Kong and other overseas markets to sell shares on the Shanghai market.
China Mobile is among other large companies that are eyeing a Shanghai
listing. If it goes ahead, the telecom company's IPO would almost
certainly set a new record in terms of size.

(For more biz stories, please visit Industry Updates)

Related Stories ?

� PetroChina to build oil base in Xinjiang
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� PetroChina to import more for refining
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� PetroChina appoints A-share underwriters
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