China chipmaker SMIC to raise $6.55 billion in Shanghai share sale

BEIJING: China's Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) will raise 46.29 billion yuan ($6.55 billion) in a Shanghai share sale, more than double its initial target, pricing its offering following a surge in its Hong Kong-listed stock.

The company, which had originally sought to raise about 20 billion yuan, set the sale price of its shares to be traded in Shanghai at 27.46 yuan each, it said in a filing to the Shanghai Stock Exchange on Sunday.

The offering values the company at 109.25 times its 2019 earnings, based on the expanded share base, according to the filing. By comparison, rival Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC) has a trailing price-earnings ratio of 21.315.

SMIC's fundraising comes as the Shanghai-based firm bulks up its war chest amid broader tech-related tensions between the United States and China, and will be used to fund projects and replenish operating capital.

Established in 2000, SMIC is mainland China's top semiconductor foundry and competes with Taiwan-based TSMC, which has more advanced technology.

SMIC's Hong Kong-listed shares rose more than 5% on Friday to HK$33.25, and have surged 172.5% since the end of March.

The deal's underwriter, Haitong Securities, has the option to expand the IPO size by 15%, meaning SMIC can raise as much as 53.23 billion yuan.

The institutional portion of the deal was nearly 165 times subscribed, the company said.

Two big sovereign wealth funds, Singapore's GIC Private Limited and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, subscribed as strategic investors for shares worth 3 billion yuan and 400 million yuan, respectively, SMIC said.

China's National Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund, popularly known as "the big fund", is investing 3.5 billion yuan in the company, SMIC said.

SMIC's online subscription, mainly targeting individual investors, will start on Tuesday, it said.