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Taiwan's food shares rose to their highest in more than a week on Tue, following a local newspaper report that Want Want Holdings was planning a Hong Kong IPO for its food business.
Want Want Holdings, which delisted in S'pore in Sep, plans to separate out its food-related businesses for a US$700 million Hong Kong IPO as soon as the first quarter of next year, the Chinese-language Commercial Times said, citing market talk.
The planned IPO could help Want Want to raise funds to tap the huge mainland market, the paper said. No comment was immediately available from the company.
Optimism over demand from China fuelled buying of local food shares.
At 0350 GMT, shares of Uni-President, Taiwan's largest food conglomerate whose China arm made its debut in Hong Kong this month, had shot up 3.8% to T$40.00, helping to boost the broader food subindex by 3.8%. Smaller rival Ve Wong Corp gained 4.4% and Oceanic Beverage jumped 4.1%.
Want Want, which produces snack foods, beverages and related products and secures most of its earnings from operations in China, would join other Taiwan food makers, including Uni-President, in an IPO parade to Hong Kong, the paper said.
Want Want posted a first-half pretax profit of US$78 million. Several Taiwan companies have chosen to list their Chinese subsidiaries in Hong Kong to get around Taiwan's ban on companies putting more than 40% of their capital into the mainland.
Other Hong Kong listings by Taiwanese companies include meat processor DaChan Food Asia, a unit of Great Wall Enterprise (Taiwan) Co, and Tingyi.
(US$1=T$32.5)
Want Want Holdings said it has received a proposal to delist as part of a takeover offer by its top executive.
Earlier this month, Want Want said that its chairman -- Tsai Eng Meng -- proposed buying the company's shares at US$2.35 a share. Tsai already owns 54% of the company.
Want Want, valued by the market at US$2.9 billion, said it would call a shareholders' meeting to seek approval for the delisting, adding that Tsai does not intend to increase the offer price.
Is it legal for the chairman to even comment on the indicative price? Did he cross the line?
Unless there is a firm offer for the company, how can he speak to the media of "possible" takeover of the company? Is that a method to pump up the price even in the end there is no intention of takeover?
Just my thought. Any lawyer here?
Want Want Holdings rose as much as 11.2% to a record US$2.28 after the chairman, Tsai Eng Meng, expressed an interest in a possible purchase of shares at US$2.35 a share.
Dealers said investors hope that the chairman may take the Taiwanese snack-maker private.
Want Want chairman wants to buy more shares
Taiwan-based Want Want, which is valued by the market at US$2.6 billion, said in a statement that the offer by Tsai may or may not lead to an offer being made for the company.
Mr Tsai and his family own 54 per cent of Want Want Holdings, according to Reuters Estimates. The statement did not say how many shares Tsai intends to buy.
Tsai, who is ranked as the 37th-most richest man in Greater China by Forbes Magazine, made his fortune in rice crackers sold in Taiwan and China.
The company produces snack foods, beverages and related products. Its production facilities are located in China and Taiwan. -- REUTERS
congrats to those who had vested
Bought 10 lots yesterday at 1.37 waiting to take $ soon....cheers
early forcasting...near or after CNY this counter might be worth your CNY $$$...keep your eyes open ....NOW...good luck.