Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance advises on Haichang Holdings' HK$2.45 billion IPO

Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai: Leading international law firm Clifford Chance has advised BNP Paribas and Bank of America Merrill Lynch as joint global coordinators of Haichang Holdings Ltd's HK$2.45 billion (approx. US$315 million) global offering and listing on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. The Company sold a total of 1,000,000,000 shares at HK$2.45 each. Haichang started trading in Hong Kong on Thursday, 13 March 2014.

Haichang Holdings Ltd. is a developer and operator of theme parks and ancillary commercial properties in China. The company operates six marine theme parks located in Dalian, Qingdao, Tianjin, Yantai, Wuhan and Chengdu, and will complete acquisitions of two additional theme parks, including Dalian Discoveryland and Chongqing Caribbean Water Park, by the end of 2014. According to Euromonitor, Haichang is one of the top ten theme park operators worldwide, as well as the largest marine theme park operator and the second largest theme park operator with the two additional theme parks in China, based on admission attendance in 2012.

"We are delighted to assist Haichang on its successful IPO, the first theme park listing in Hong Kong," commented Corporate partner Jean Yu. "Domestic tourism continues to grow in China with rising disposable income and longer public holidays. As a theme park operator, Haichang's listing reinforces interest in and further development of China's domestic tourism industry."

The Clifford Chance team comprised partners Jean Yu and Tim Wang in Beijing, supported by consultant John Baptist Chan and associates David Ting and Carol Chan. Shanghai partner Jean Thio advised on the US aspects of this transaction and was supported by senior associate Naiting Cao and associate Zhibin Fan.