China considers clampdown on firms listing overseas

China’s securities regulator is weighing tighter rules for companies seeking to list in Hong Kong or overseas, a move that could hit technology firms already smarting from months of clampdowns, according to people familiar with the matter.

The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) is considering proposals that would require firms seeking initial public offerings (IPOs) outside mainland China to submit listing documents to ensure they’re compliant with local laws and regulations, the people said. The scrutiny would also seek to prevent any leaks of sensitive data that might be of national security interest, the people added, requesting they not be identified as the matter is private. The discussions are preliminary and could be subject to change.

The CSRC did not immediately respond to a fax requesting comment.

The heightened regulatory concerns come as the US tightens restrictions on Chinese firms listed on its exchanges, with legislation that requires the companies to allow inspectors to review their financial audits. China has long refused to let the US Public Company Accounting Oversight Board examine audits of firms whose shares trade in America, citing national security interests.

The measures, if rolled out, could have far-reaching implications for a raft of upstarts that are on the verge of going public. Among them are Bytedance, which is said to be weighing a listing of some of its China units, and ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing, people familiar have said. The changes could also ensnare Chinese firms that already trade in foreign markets, requiring them to submit filings to regulators as well, one of the people said.

China’s rules require all locally registered companies and some firms with offshore registrations to seek approval from the securities watchdog when they list in Hong Kong or outside the country. However many internet stars, such as Tencent Holdings and Alibaba registered in places like Cayman Islands or the British Virgin Islands, fall outside the scope of the current regulations. The new rules would seek to lay out more specific reporting guidelines and standardise them across firms, one of the people said.

It is unclear what impact any news rules may have for companies that operate a so-called variable interest entity — a vehicle through which virtually every major Chinese internet company attracts foreign investment and lists overseas.

Regulators have issued a slew of measures placing greater scrutiny on the nation’s tech giants, curtailing their operations on everything from data collection and monopolistic practices. Among the orders issued by financial regulators in April were new guidelines on securitising assets and seeking overseas listings.

China has already tightened measures for listings on domestic exchanges including Shanghai’s Nasdaq-style Star board. Its restricted listings of fintech companies, and banned IPOs by firms that operate mainly in real estate and sectors related to financial investment.

The clampdown on tech firms led to the postponement of a $35bn IPO by Jack Ma’s Ant Group in November. On orders from regulators, Ant must drastically revamp its business and will be supervised more like a bank, a move with far-reaching implications for its growth.

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