No upward trend of of firms delisted through privatization, says Christopher Hui

Privatizations of Hong Kong-listed companies showed no upward trend, with 16 firms delisted through privatization last year -- below the five-year annual average of 21, said Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui Ching-yu.

Hui said there were 32 and 16 companies whose listing was cancelled pursuant to the delisting procedures under the Listing Rules or delisted through privatisation last year, with market capitalisation of approximately HK$17.7 billion and HK$122.6 billion respectively.

The number of companies delisted through privatization each year stood at 26, 30, 17, and 14, respectively, from 2020 to 2023, and privatizations accounted for less than 1 percent of total listed firms, he said.

Hui added that over the same period, an average of 118 companies listed on the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (0388) each year.

STAFF REPORTER