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Evergrande's lawyer said the company was working on a revised plan to "monetise the value" of its two Hong Kong-listed units - Evergrande Property Services Group (6666.HK) and Evergrande New Energy Vehicle Group (NEV) (0708.HK). Sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that plan included allowing Evergrande creditors to swap their debt into equity and bonds tied to these units. Evergrande, Evergrande Property Services and Evergrande NEV declined to comment. "Why would those shareholders want to see new debt issued to replace the existing debt issued by Evergrande, what is the benefit for them?" Evergrande's initial $23 billion offshore debt restructuring plan was thrown off course last month when its billionaire founder Hui Ka Yan was confirmed to be under investigation for suspected criminal activities.

Persons: Aly, Evergrande NEV, Mat Ng, Grant Thornton, Evergrande, Hui Ka Yan, Clare Jim, Xie Yu, Scott Murdoch, Miral Organizations: China Evergrande Group, REUTERS, Hong, Evergrande, Services, HK, New Energy Vehicle Group, Reuters, Evergrande Property, Thomson Locations: China, Shenzhen, Guangdong province, HONG KONG, HK, Hong Kong, Grant Thornton Hong Kong, SYDNEY

AustralianSuper owns a 13.68% stake in Origin Energy and said the offer was "substantially below" its estimate of long-term value for Australia's biggest energy retailer. Origin shares were down 0.9% in early trade on Tuesday at A$9.10 each, which was above the $A8.81 offer price. Origin shares have been trading above the offer price since the deal got an approval from the country's competition regulator on Oct. 10. Origin shares closed at A$9.17 on Monday, 4.1% above the offer price. "The current offer from the Brookfield and EIG-backed consortium remains substantially below our estimate of Origin's long-term value," the firm said.

Persons: AustralianSuper, Max Vickerson, AusSuper, it’s, Scott Murdoch, Lewis Jackson, Sameer Manekar, Josie Kao, Lincoln, Chris Reese Organizations: Origin Energy, Brookfield, stockbroker Morgans, Frontier Economics, Energy, Thomson Locations: Brookfield, EIG, Sydey, Bengaluru

Investors stand in front of a screen showing the logo of Nomura Holdings in Tokyo, Japan, December 1, 2015. REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Japanese investment bank Nomura Holdings (8604.T) has laid off about 10 of its Hong Kong-based investment bankers, including some who were focused on China-related deals, said two sources with direct knowledge of the matter. The Japanese investment bank has seen its China-linked fortunes slipping lately. Its fortunes in regional equity capital markets were boosted by its leading advisory role in March on the $9.24-billion stake sale by Japan Post Holdings (6178.T) in Japan Post Bank Co(7182.T). Reporting by Scott Murdoch in Sydney and Selena Li in Hong Kong Editing by Helen PopperOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Toru Hanai, Nomura, LSEG, Goldman Sachs, Scott Murdoch, Selena Li, Helen Popper Our Organizations: Nomura Holdings, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Japan Post Holdings, Japan Post Bank Co, Bank of America, Citigroup, UBS, Hong, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Hong Kong, China, Asia, Sydney

[1/5] A view of the residential apartments in Country Garden's Forest City development in Johor Bahru, Malaysia August 16, 2023. The group hired PJT Partners (PJT.N) as financial adviser to lead discussions with Country Garden, two people with knowledge of the matter said. Ratings agency Moody's said on Thursday it could downgrade Country Garden's (2007.HK) 'corporate family rating' if the recovery prospects for its creditors weaken further. Moody's said Country Garden's senior unsecured rating of C was already at the lowest of its rating scale. Country Garden and Frasers did not immediately respond for a request for comment on that sale.

Persons: Edgar Su, PJT, Moody's, Frasers, Houlihan Lokey, Sidley Austin, Yeung Kwok Keung, Yang Huiyan, Yeung, Yang, Cao Jianglin, Garden's, China Evergrande, Scott Murdoch, Xie Yu, Clare Jim, Anousha Sakoui, Liz Lee, Lewis Jackson, Kim Coghill, Christopher Cushing, Jamie Freed, Lincoln, Miral Fahmy, Jane Merriman Organizations: REUTERS, HK, PJT Partners, Garden's, Australian Financial, Reuters, China International Capital Corporation, Finance, HSBC, China National Agricultural Development, SOE, Thomson Locations: Garden's, City, Johor Bahru, Malaysia, China HONG KONG, Garden's Australian, Melbourne, China, Shunde, Guangdong province, Sydney, Hong Kong, London, Beijing, Sydndey

A construction site of residential buildings by Chinese developer Country Garden is pictured in Tianjin, China August 18, 2023. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY/LONDON, Oct 19 (Reuters) - A major group of Country Garden (2007.HK) offshore bondholders has appointed PJT Partners (PJT.N) as financial advisors to lead discussions with the troubled Chinese property developer, according to two sources with knowledge of the matter. Bondholders have been seeking urgent talks with the company since it missed a $15 million coupon repayment on Wednesday, putting it at risk of default. Country Garden did not immediately respond to a request to comment made outside of business hours. Reporting Scott Murdoch in Sydney and Anousha Sakoui in London, editing by Karin StroheckerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, PJT, Scott Murdoch, Anousha, Karin Strohecker Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, PJT Partners, Thomson Locations: Tianjin, China, LONDON, HK, Sydney, London

☆ Country Garden says founder, board chairperson at work, haven't left China
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Country Garden's founder and chairperson of the board are at work as usual, the debt-laden Chinese property developer said on social media on Thursday, denying online reports of the pair leaving the country. Founder Yeung Kwok Keung quit Country Garden's board in March and daughter Yang Huiyan became chairperson. Country Garden on Wednesday was due to pay a $15 million coupon payment on a bond due September 2025, but two bondholders told Reuters they were yet to receive it. On Wednesday, it said it was unlikely to be able to meet most of its upcoming offshore debt payments. Country Garden has almost $11 billion of offshore bonds outstanding.

Persons: Yeung Kwok Keung, Yang Huiyan, Yeung, Liz Lee, Scott Murdoch, Kim Coghill, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Reuters, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Shanghai

[1/2] A worker looks on at a construction site of residential buildings by Chinese developer Country Garden, in Beijing, China August 11, 2023. Non-payment would trigger cross defaults in other Country Garden bonds as is standard in bond contracts. Country Garden reiterated on Wednesday that it expects to be unable to meet all of its offshore debt obligations and hopes to seek a "holistic" solution to its difficulties. Shares in Country Garden have lost some 70% of their value this year but gained some ground on Wednesday, rising 2.7%. "I think Country Garden offshore US dollar bond pricing speaks for itself as to the current expectations," said Real Estate Foresight co-founder Robert Ciemniak who publishes on Smartkarma.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, Cedric Rimaud, Garden's, China Evergrande, Robert Ciemniak, Clare Jim, Xie Yu, Scott Murdoch, Anne Marie Roantree, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: REUTERS, HK, Foresight, Data, JPMorgan, Mainland Properties, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, HONG KONG, U.S, Hang, Hong Kong

[1/2] A worker looks on at a construction site of residential buildings by Chinese developer Country Garden, in Beijing, China August 11, 2023. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsHONG KONG, Oct 18 (Reuters) - The grace period for Chinese property developer Country Garden Holding's (2007.HK) $15 million coupon payment has expired with no word that the money has been paid. Country Garden did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Country Garden has also missed other offshore payments in the past few weeks, though those payments still have not seen their 30-day grace periods lapse. A default would open the way for Country Garden's offshore creditors to begin negotiations with the firm's financial advisors.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, Clare Jim, Scott Murdoch, Xie Yu, Sonali Paul, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: REUTERS, HK, Data, JPMorgan, Mainland Properties, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, HONG KONG, China's, Hang, Hong Kong, Sydney

The company logo of Chinese developer Country Garden is pictured at the Shanghai Country Garden Center in Shanghai, China August 9, 2023. The company last week warned of its inability to meet offshore debt obligations. Country Garden did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters on Wednesday. With nearly $11 billion of offshore bonds and $6 billion of onshore loans, a default by Country Garden would set the stage for one of China's biggest corporate debt restructurings. Country Garden has also missed other offshore payments in the past few weeks, though those payments still have not seen their 30-day grace periods lapse.

Persons: Aly, Scott Murdoch, Sonali Paul Organizations: Shanghai Country Garden, REUTERS, Rights, Garden Holdings, HK, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, New York, China's, Sydney

☆ Albemarle pushed into corner, dumps $4.2 billion lithium play for Liontown
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Ernest Scheyder/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMELBOURNE, Oct 16 (Reuters) - U.S.-based miner Albemarle (ALB.N) said it had dumped a A$6.6 billion ($4.16 billion) buyout bid for Australian lithium developer Liontown Resources (LTR.AX), in part because of "growing complexities" around the transaction. Liontown went into trading halt just after making the announcement to the market, pending a finalisation of funding for its flagship Kathleen Valley lithium project in Western Australia, which is due to start producing lithium next year. Liontown had last week granted the world's biggest lithium chemical maker an extra week to examine its books and allow Albemarle to put forward a binding offer. "Our engagement with the Liontown team has been meaningful and productive. Hancock has not yet approached Liontown which until now has been under an exclusivity deal with Albemarle, the source added.

Persons: Ernest Scheyder, Albemarle, Hancock, Gina Rinehart, Liontown, Kathleen Valley, Kent Masters, Melanie Burton, Scott Murdoch, Rishav Chatterjee, Lisa Shumaker, Sandra Maler, Jamie Freed Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Liontown Resources, Ford Motor, LG Energy, Thomson Locations: Silver, , Nevada, U.S, Albemarle, Western Australia, Melbourne, Sydney, Bengaluru

☆ China's Didi plans 2024 Hong Kong listing - Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A Didi logo is seen at the headquarters of Didi Chuxing in Beijing, China November 20, 2020. REUTERS/Florence Lo/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 13 (Reuters) - China's biggest ride-hailing company, Didi Global, aims to list its shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange next year, Bloomberg News reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. The company delisted from the New York Stock Exchange in 2022 after it ran afoul of Chinese regulators by pushing ahead with a $4.4 billion listing in the U.S in July 2021. Didi was banned by Chinese regulators from taking on new users and its app not available from mid-2021 until January 2023. Didi has contemplated a Hong Kong listing previously, Reuters has reported, with a listing by introduction where new capital is not raised as one option.

Persons: Didi Chuxing, Florence, Didi Global, Didi, Gursimran Kaur, Scott Murdoch, Sonia Cheema, Jamie Freed, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Bloomberg, Reuters, New York Stock Exchange, Cyberspace Administration of China, CAC, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, U.S, New York, Hong Kong, United States, Bengaluru

☆ Australian billionaire Gina Rinehart accumulates 19.9% stake in Albemarle target Liontown
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Scott Murdoch | Thomson Reuters | Scott Murdoch Has Been A Journalist For More Than Two Decades Working For Thomson Reuters | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Gina Rinehart poses in Western Australia in this undated handout photo obtained January 23, 2018. Hancock Prospecting/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Australian billionaire Gina Rinehart has taken a 19.9% stake in lithium miner Liontown Resources (LTR.AX), her company Hancock Prospecting said on Wednesday, potentially hindering a takeover bid launched by U.S. mining giant Albemarle Corp (ALB.N). Hancock has steadily built its stake since September, when Albemarle Corp lodged its bid for Liontown. The U.S. miner needs 75% support from Liontown investors who vote on the deal to succeed with its bid. Under Australian takeover rules, a single shareholder must declare its intention if its stake moves above 19.9%.

Persons: Gina Rinehart, Hancock, Albemarle's, Scott Murdoch, Jacqueline Wong, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Corp, Albemarle Corp, Liontown, Australian, Thomson Locations: Western Australia, U.S, Albemarle

[1/5] China's and Hong Kong's flags are seen on the pedestrian footbridge as decorations for the celebration of National Day, at the financial central district in Hong Kong, China October 3, 2023. "The last few years have created a very negative image of Hong Kong," said Inaki Amate, chairman of the European chamber in Hong Kong, one of the speakers at the M+ event. Executives point to the changing fabric of Hong Kong with mainlanders making up more than nine-out-of-ten of all those approved to work under government talent schemes. "If we believe that Hong Kong will be able to recover its most international Asia city status by continuing on this trend, we are very wrong," said Amate. “You’ve got what happened with the national security law, the pandemic and now you’ve got a pretty big problem with China’s economy.

Persons: Tyrone Siu, Inaki Amate, Paul Chan, haven’t, ”, Tara Joseph, “ You’ve, you’ve, Hong, Robert Walters, Patrick Ip, David Baverez, Baverez, Dorothy Kam, Scott Murdoch, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: REUTERS, Tyrone, European Union, Hong, Monetary, American Chamber of Commerce, Colliers, Companies, National Bank Australia, ASEAN Investment Cooperation, COVID ., COVID . Asia Pacific, Thomson Locations: Hong Kong, China, HONG KONG, Hong, British, Asia, Singapore, Dubai, COVID, COVID . Asia, Europe, “

The company logo of Chinese developer Country Garden is pictured at the Shanghai Country Garden Center in Shanghai, China August 9, 2023. Country Garden, China's largest private property developer, has not defaulted so far, but has missed coupon payments on some dollar bonds since last month and faces the end of 30-day grace periods for making payments from next week. In a filing with the Hong Kong stock exchange on Tuesday, Country Garden said that its sales and financing were facing "significant challenges", and its available funds have continued to decrease. Country Garden was due on Monday to pay $66.8 million in coupons on 2024 and 2026 dollar bonds, although the payments have a 30-day grace period. ($1 = 7.8284 Hong Kong dollars)Reporting by Scott Murdoch in Sydney and Xie Yu in Hong Kong; additional reporting Rishav Chatterjee in Bengaluru and Clare Jim in Hong Kong; Editing by Rashmi Aich, Lincoln Feast, Jamie Freed and Kim CoghillOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Aly, homebuyers, Houlihan Lokey, Sidley Austin, Jeff Zhang, Sandra Chow, CreditSight's, Scott Murdoch, Xie Yu, Rishav Chatterjee, Clare Jim, Rashmi Aich, Lincoln, Jamie Freed, Kim Coghill Organizations: Shanghai Country Garden, REUTERS, HK, Hong, China International Capital Corporation, Asia, China Evergrande, Investment, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, HONG KONG, Hong Kong, Beijing, Sydney, Bengaluru, Clare

The company logo of Chinese developer Country Garden is pictured at the Shanghai Country Garden Center in Shanghai, China August 9, 2023. Companies accounting for 40% of Chinese home sales - mostly private property developers - have defaulted on debt obligations since a liquidity crisis hit the sector in 2021, leaving many homes unfinished. The developer had been working towards announcing a restructure of its offshore debt, Chinese media reported on Monday. Country Garden faces another big test next week when its entire offshore debt could be deemed in default if it fails to pay a $15 million September coupon by Oct. 17. "The difficult situation shows that Chinese developers face severe liquidity pressure from weak home sales, and repayment to bondholders is still a lower priority," said Gary Ng, senior economist at Natixis Corporate and Investment Bank.

Persons: Aly, Houlihan Lokey, Sidley Austin, Morningstar, Jeff Zhang, Sandra Chow, CreditSight's, Gary Ng, Scott Murdoch, Xie Yu, Rishav Chatterjee, Rashmi Aich, Lincoln, Jamie Freed 私 Organizations: Shanghai Country Garden, REUTERS, Garden Holdings, HK, Hong Kong Stock Exchange, China International Capital Corporation, Asia, Natixis Corporate, Investment Bank Locations: Shanghai, China, HONG KONG, Hong Kong, Sydney, Bengaluru

The company logo of Chinese developer Country Garden is pictured at the Shanghai Country Garden Center in Shanghai, China August 9, 2023. Country Garden, which missed two dollar interest payments last month, has two coupons totalling $66.8 million coming due on Monday. Country Garden has $10.96 billion offshore bonds and 42.4 billion yuan ($5.81 billion) worth of loans not denominated in yuan. "Until then, the base case is that China Evergrande Group will be liquidated at the next winding up hearing on October 30, 2023." Shares in Country Garden fell more than 6% on Monday, while Evergrande Group shares tumbled 11%, compared to a 1.9% fall in the Hang Seng Mainland Properties Index (.HSMPI).

Persons: Aly, Cailianshe, Evergrande, Clare Jim, Scott Murdoch, Lincoln Organizations: Shanghai Country Garden, REUTERS, HK, China Evergrande, . Media, Reuters, UBS, China Index Academy, Garden, Evergrande Group, Mainland Properties, Energy Vehicle Group, U.S, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, HONG KONG, BEIJING, Beijing, Hang, Hong Kong, Sydney

The company logo is seen on the headquarters of China Evergrande Group in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China September 26, 2021. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Oct 9 (Reuters) - China Evergrande Group's (3333.HK) offshore bondholder group said on Monday it was surprised by the property developer's recent announcement that its offshore debt restructuring plan failed to meet regulatory requirements. In a statement, the ad hoc bondholder group said it had not been given any documents or filings from Evergrande despite repeated requests. Evergrande announced in late September that Chinese regulators said it would be unable to issue new debt due to an investigation into its main unit, throwing its offshore debt restructure plans into disarray. "Until then, the base case is that China Evergrande Group will be liquidated at the next winding up hearing on October 30, 2023."

Persons: Aly, Evergrande, Scott Murdoch, Clare Jim, Kim Coghill, Lincoln Organizations: China Evergrande Group, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, China Evergrande, Thomson Locations: China, Shenzhen, Guangdong province, HK, Hong Kong, Sydney

☆ Origin Energy shares surge after regulator clears Brookfield's $9.8 bln bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Scott Murdoch | トムソンロイター | Scott Murdoch Has Been A Journalist For More Than Two Decades Working For Thomson Reuters | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Australian Super, the largest investor, raised its stake to 14% last month and called the shares undervalued. Perpetual, a major Australian fund manager and Origin shareholder, has pushed Brookfield and its partner, U.S. private equity firm EIG, to consider raising their offer to win Origin, according to local media reports. Origin shares jumped to A$9.19 in early trading, well above the A$8.91 per share price of the consortium bid lodged in March, on speculation a higher offer could be forthcoming. Under the consortium deal, Origin will be broken up into two businesses, with its energy markets arm including its electricity generation and electricity and gas retail businesses to be acquired by Brookfield. Brookfield would also be prohibited from selling more than 10% of either Origin or AusNet in the future to one party.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Max Vickerson, I'm, Vickerson, Newmont, Gina Cass, Gottlieb, Brookfield, Scott Murdoch, Jamie Freed 私 Organizations: Brookfield, REUTERS, SYDNEY, Origin Energy, Brookfield Corp, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, stockbroker Morgans, Perpetual, Newcrest Mining, Energy, ACCC, AusNet Services Locations: Australian, Brookfield, Australia, Victoria

☆ South Korea's Doosan Robotics shares jump in trading debut
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

SEOUL, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Shares in South Korea's Doosan Robotics (454910.KS) soared above their initial public offering (IPO) price in the company's market debut on Thursday based on investors' bullish outlook for the collaborative robot maker. The company raised 421.2 billion won ($317 million) in South Korea's IPO this year, having priced the shares at 26,000 won each, the top of the price range flagged to investors. Doosan Robotics shares opened at 59,100 won each and rose to as much as 67,600 won in early trade, more than twice the IPO price. The company is a leading maker of so-called collaborative robots that work side-by-side with humans such as robot arms that can perform assembling, loading and welding tasks. Reporting by Joyce Lee; Additional reporting by Scott Murdoch; Editing by Tom Hogue and Jamie FreedOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joyce Lee, Scott Murdoch, Tom Hogue, Jamie Freed Organizations: South Korea's Doosan Robotics, Doosan Robotics, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, South, KS

SYDNEY, Sept 29 (Reuters) - The blocking of three major deals by Australia's antitrust regulator in the past year was a coincidence, its chair told Reuters, pushing back against concerns among bankers that it has become deal-averse. "There happens to have been a sequence, frankly coincidentally as it turns out, of oppositions," ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said in an interview. There are some concerns that it could be blocked as Brookfield owns AusNet, a poles and wires asset in Victoria state. Cass-Gottlieb also said she doubted foreign investors have been dissuaded from pursuing deals in Australia which does not require companies to get formal clearance before proceeding with a takeover. "The recent stream of merger blockages will make foreign investors think twice."

Persons: Gina Cass, Gottlieb, Canada's Brookfield, Cass, Stephen Corones, Hannah Marshall, it's, Byron Kaye, Scott Murdoch, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, Telstra, TPG, ANZ, Transurban, Origin Energy, Brookfield, FOCUS Cass, Investors, Queensland University of Technology, Cass, Marque Lawyers, Thomson Locations: Melbourne, AusNet, Victoria, Australia, Queensland

HONG KONG/BEIJING, Sept 28 (Reuters) - China Evergrande Group's (3333.HK) founder is being investigated over suspected "illegal crimes", the embattled developer said on Thursday, as creditors become increasingly concerned about the group's prospects amid an uncertain debt revamp plan and liquidation risk. Evergrande has been working to get creditors' approval for restructuring its offshore debt. The offshore debt restructuring plan now looks set to falter and the risks of the company being liquidated are rising, some analysts said. An Evergrande sign is seen near residential buildings at an Evergrande residential complex in Beijing, China September 27, 2023. "We believe that Evergrande's debt turmoil has had a great turmoil and negative impact on the global economy, and the things behind it are not simple."

Persons: Hui Ka Yan, Evergrande, Hui, Gary Ng, Ng, Florence Lo, They've, Christopher Beddor, Yan Yuejin, Saxo, Redmond Wong, Upasana Singh, Donny Kwok, Scott Murdoch, Ziyi Tang, Anne Marie Roantree, Sumeet Chatterjee, Kim Coghill, Shri Navaratnam, Lincoln, Miral Fahmy, Susan Fenton Organizations: HK, Trading, Asia Pacific, Reuters, REUTERS, Evergrande, China Research, Development Institution, Buyers, China Market, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, BEIJING, China, Asia, Beijing, Evergrande, Shanghai, Bengaluru, Hong Kong, Sydney

☆ Evergrande sold yacht this year, say sources, as creditors sharpen focus on offshore assets
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Scott Murdoch | Thomson Reuters | Scott Murdoch Has Been A Journalist For More Than Two Decades Working For Thomson Reuters | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The yacht "Event", which is believed to be owned by China Evergrande, is docked in Hong Kong, China October 11, 2021. Evergrande's offshore bondholders are expected to sharpen their focus on offshore assets as the developer's debt restructuring plan flounders with the founder now being investigated over suspected "illegal crimes". Compared to its $31.7 billion in total offshore liabilities, Evergrande has far fewer assets outside China. Of the remaining offshore assets of the company and its founder, creditors would need to establish whether they have already been used as collateral to raise funds. Foreign bondholders' "ability to get to these (offshore) assets is a function of the legal claim - has he (Chairman Hui) pledged it?"

Persons: China Evergrande, Tyrone Siu, Evergrande, Hui Ka Yan, Hui, Scott Murdoch, Julie Zhu, Marc Jones, Sumeet Chatterjee Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, China Evergrande, HK, Reuters, Boeing, Gulfstream, Wall Street Journal, Thomson Locations: China, Hong Kong, Sydney, London, Lincoln

SYDNEY, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Shares in Chinese hospital cloud software firm Neusoft Xikang (9686.HK) slumped nearly 35% in the company's Hong Kong trading debut on Thursday, as sentiment towards some new share sales remained weak. Neusoft Xikang opened down 22.4% and sold off sharply early in the Hong Kong trading session on Thursday. Separately, Chinese AI startup firm Beijing Fourth Paradigm (6682.HK) opened 13.4% higher at HK$63.10 per share in its Hong Kong trading debut on Thursday. Retail demand for Beijing Fourth Paradigm was considered stronger than usual with that tranche 11.4 times covered, according to its filings. ($1 = 7.8238 Hong Kong dollars)Reporting by Scott Murdoch in Sydney and Donny Kwok in Hong Kong; Editing by Himani Sarkar and Lincoln FeastOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Neusoft Xikang, Scott Murdoch, Donny Kwok, Himani Sarkar Organizations: HK, Investor, Hong Kong Stock Exchange, U.S, Commerce Department, Retail, Thomson Locations: Hong Kong, Beijing, Sydney, Lincoln

☆ Evergrande shares halted as concerns mount about developer's prospect
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

An Evergrande sign is seen near residential buildings at an Evergrande residential complex in Beijing, China September 27, 2023. Evergrande has been working to get creditors' approval for restructuring its offshore debt. The offshore debt restructuring plan now looks set to falter and the risks of the company being liquidated are rising, some analysts said. The company shares ended down 19% on Wednesday in the Hong Kong market, taking their losses to 81% since the resumption of trading in late August after a 17-month suspension. The recent regulatory easing may stabilize the housing market in the world's second-largest economy to some extent, Saxo Greater China Market Strategist Redmond Wong wrote in a research note.

Persons: Florence Lo, Hui Ka Yan, Hui, Evergrande, Gary Ng, Ng, Redmond Wong, Donny Kwok, Scott Murdoch, Ziyi Tang, Anne Marie Roantree, Sumeet Chatterjee, Kim Coghill, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: REUTERS, China Evergrande, HK, Bloomberg, Reuters, Asia Pacific, China Market, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, HONG KONG, China's, Evergrande, Asia, Hong Kong, Saxo, Sydney, Lincoln

☆ Explainer: What's in store for China Evergrande with its chairman now under police watch?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Scott Murdoch | Thomson Reuters | Scott Murdoch Has Been A Journalist For More Than Two Decades Working For Thomson Reuters | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Evergrande has been in the process of seeking its creditors' approval to restructure offshore debt worth $31.7 billion, which includes bonds, collateral, and repurchase obligations, amid weakening cash flows. A major group of Evergrande offshore bondholders plans to join a liquidation petition due to be heard in a Hong Kong on Oct. 30 unless Evergrande can present a new restructuring plan before then. Evergrande's supercharged growth helped it become one of China's biggest and most lucrative property developers with sales worth $110 billion in 2020. The company's entire offshore debt was deemed in default after it missed several bond payments in late 2021, and creditors have been grappling with a solution since then. Soon after that, authorities scrambled to assure markets that risks to the property sector and economy could be controlled.

Persons: Evergrande, HUI, YAN, Hui, Scott Murdoch, Sumeet Chatterjee, Muralikumar Organizations: China Evergrande, HK, Bloomberg, Evergrande, Thomson Locations: China's, Hong Kong, Evergrande, Guangzhou, China, Beijing, Sydney

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