- 2024-10-01
- News
$300B Waiting: Firms Plan to Loan for Stock Buybacks
By providing low-cost financing support, not only is the financial pressure on listed companies alleviated, but the market is also given a positive signal. Following the release of relevant policy documents on stock buyback and increase in loan on October 18, the first batch of listed companies in the A-share market to announce stock buyback and increase loans has emerged.
According to incomplete statistics, 23 listed companies have announced that the company or controlling shareholders have signed loan agreements or obtained loan commitment letters with banks, using loan funds for buybacks or increases. Based on the disclosed upper limits, the total amount of loans involved has exceeded ten billion yuan.
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Specifically, the first batch of listed companies participating in the buyback and increase loan includes Sinopec (600028.SH), China Merchants Shekou (001979.SZ), China Merchants Shipping (601872.SH), China Merchants Port (001872.SZ), COSCO Shipping Holdings (601919.SH), COSCO Shipping Development (601866.SH), Sinotrans (601598.SH), COSCO Shipping Energy Transportation (600026.SH), COSCO Shipping Specialized Carriers (600428.SH), Muyuan Foodstuff (002714.SZ), Wens Foodstuff (300498.SZ), Guangdong Broadcast & Television Measurement (002967.SZ), Maiwei Shares (300751.SZ), GigaDevice (603986.SH), Weimisi (688612.SH), Jiahua Energy (600273.SH), Fosai Technology (301529.SZ), Sunpower (300274.SZ), Shanying International (600567.SH), Tongyu Heavy Industry (300185.SZ), Dongxin Shares (688110.SH), Linuo Special Glass (301188.SZ), and Linglong Tire (601966.SH).
Among the aforementioned companies, central enterprises stand out. Both China Merchants Group and COSCO Shipping Group, as shipping "giants," have multiple companies participating. Sinopec is involved in both share increases and buybacks. In terms of private enterprises, they are mainly concentrated in the breeding, photovoltaic, and chip industries, with some large-cap industry leaders taking the lead.
Overall, three listed companies have obtained special loan amounts exceeding one billion yuan, namely Muyuan Foodstuff, Wens Foodstuff, and COSCO Shipping Energy Transportation, with Muyuan Foodstuff temporarily leading with a loan scale of 2.4 billion yuan.
In response, the secondary market has also given a positive feedback. On October 21, the concept stocks of buyback and increase performed well, with related stocks opening up significantly. By the close, 21 out of the aforementioned 23 concept stocks rose, with Fosai Technology, Dongxin Shares, Tongyu Heavy Industry, and Shanying International hitting the daily limit.
On October 18, at the 2024 Financial Street Forum Annual Conference, the Governor of the People's Bank of China, Pan Gongsheng, stated that the two policy tools to support the stable development of the capital market have been established, and the special loan documents for stock buyback and increase have been officially released and implemented.
On the same day, the People's Bank of China, together with the Financial Regulatory总局 and the China Securities Regulatory Commission, issued the "Notice on the Establishment of Stock Buyback and Increase Reloan," establishing a stock buyback and increase reloan to encourage and guide financial institutions to provide loans to eligible listed companies and major shareholders to support their buybacks and increases of listed company stocks. It was clarified that the first phase of 300 billion yuan of buyback and increase reloan has entered the implementation stage, with an annual interest rate of 1.75%, a term of one year, and the possibility of extension depending on the situation.Tian Lihui, Dean of the Institute of Financial Development at Nankai University, stated, "The implementation of this policy has three major characteristics: rapid response, widespread participation, and leading a new round of repurchase and increase in holdings, which can be used to stabilize the stock market, enhance market confidence, and provide more liquidity."
He further explained, "The rapid implementation of this policy demonstrates the Chinese regulatory authorities' firm determination to stabilize the stock market and enhance market confidence. By providing low-cost financing support, it not only alleviates the financial pressure on listed companies but also sends a positive signal to the market."
It is worth mentioning that this year, under the support and encouragement of policies, the repurchase and increase in holdings by A-share listed companies have significantly increased. Data statistics show that as of October 20, 2024, the maximum amount of planned repurchase disclosed by listed companies in the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock markets this year is 175 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 198.6%; during the same period, there were 918 major shareholder, actual controller, and director/supervisor/senior executive increase plans disclosed, with a maximum increase amount of 61.1 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 23%.
"The large-scale implementation of increase and repurchase by A-share listed companies this year not only sends a positive signal to the market but is also an important source of incremental funds in the market. Currently, the valuation of A-shares is at a historical low. For listed companies themselves, increase and repurchase are actually very cost-effective, especially for some companies with higher dividend yields. Even if they repurchase and increase through loans, as long as the dividend yield is greater than the loan interest rate, it is reasonable," said industry insiders.
More than 20 companies plan to repurchase and increase holdings
Since October 20, more than 20 companies have announced that they have obtained repurchase and increase in holdings loan limits. Among them, the first repurchase loan and increase in holdings loan in the A-share market were awarded to China Merchants Shekou and Sinopec, respectively.
On October 20, China Merchants Shekou announced that China Merchants Bank Shenzhen Branch will provide the company with a loan limit of no more than 702 million yuan for the company's stock repurchase project, with a loan term of 12 months, an interest rate not exceeding 2.25%, and not higher than the market interest rate.
Other companies under China Merchants Group also took synchronized actions. China Merchants Shipping and China Merchants Port both announced that they signed a "Cooperation Agreement" with China Merchants Bank Shenzhen Branch, obtaining a stock repurchase project loan limit of no more than 443 million yuan and no more than 389 million yuan, respectively. China Merchants Port stated that the company plans to repurchase shares for cancellation and reduction of the company's registered capital with an amount of 195 million yuan to 389 million yuan, and the repurchase price does not exceed 31.5 yuan per share (inclusive).
China Foreign Shipping is also under China Merchants Group. The company announced that China Merchants Bank Beijing Branch plans to provide financing support for its controlling shareholder, China Foreign Shipping Changhang Group, with a loan limit of no more than 300 million yuan. The controlling shareholder plans to increase the company's shares with a total amount of 250 million yuan to 500 million yuan, and the price limit of the increase plan is not to exceed 7.43 yuan per share.
It is worth mentioning that Sinopec plans to participate in both share increase and repurchase. Sinopec announced that the controlling shareholder obtained a 700 million yuan credit limit from the Bank of China for the increase plan, and at the same time, the company obtained a credit limit of no more than 900 million yuan, which is specially used for share repurchase.In terms of loan limits, three listed companies have obtained loan limits exceeding 1 billion yuan, namely Muyuan Foodstuff Co., Ltd., Wens Foodstuff Group Co., Ltd., and COSCO Shipping Energy Transportation Co., Ltd.
Among them, Muyuan Foodstuff Co., Ltd. obtained the highest loan limit. According to the company's announcement, CITIC Bank Nanyang Branch will provide 2.4 billion yuan of loan funds specifically for the company's share repurchase. Previously, the company announced at the end of September its plan to repurchase 3 billion to 4 billion yuan of company shares within 12 months. On October 18, the company had already repurchased 100 million yuan.
The leading breeding company, Wens Foodstuff Group Co., Ltd., announced that it has signed an agreement with the Agricultural Bank, with a loan amount not exceeding 1 billion yuan, an interest rate not exceeding 2.25%, and a term of one year. At the same time, it also received a loan commitment letter of 1 billion yuan from the Bank of China, both of which are used for share repurchase. Previously, the company disclosed its plan to repurchase a total amount of 900 million to 1.8 billion yuan of company shares. As of September 30, 2024, it has repurchased nearly 300 million yuan.
COSCO Shipping Energy Transportation Co., Ltd.'s indirect controlling shareholder, COSCO Shipping Group, plans to increase its holding of the company's A shares by 679 million to 1.358 billion yuan within six months from the announcement date of October 20. The source of funds for the increase plan is the special loan provided by the Shanghai Branch of the Bank of China and the self-owned funds of COSCO Shipping Group. The maximum amount of the special loan does not exceed 1.358 billion yuan. In addition, COSCO Shipping Holdings Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of COSCO Shipping Group, also announced its plan to repurchase 50 million to 100 million A shares, with the source of funds for the repurchase being the special loan provided by the Shanghai Branch of the Bank of China and self-owned funds, with a total amount expected to be between 1 billion and 2 billion yuan.
According to relevant rules, major shareholders can only increase their holdings through centralized bidding; the company's share repurchase is also carried out through centralized bidding.
"Listed companies or major shareholders purchase through centralized bidding transactions on trading days, which can directly increase trading activity and inject more liquidity into the market," said a market insider.
According to the central bank's notice, a total of 21 national financial institutions have been approved to issue loans to support listed companies' share repurchase and increase according to policy regulations. These financial institutions can apply for re-lending to the People's Bank of China after issuing loans. The 21 financial institutions independently decide whether to issue loans, reasonably determine loan conditions, bear their own risks, and the loan interest rate is原则上 not exceeding 2.25%.
"Such an interest rate is obviously lower than the market interest rate. If we do not consider the factors of stock price fluctuations, as long as the dividend rate of the listed company is higher than 2.25%, there is an arbitrage space for loan increases," said the aforementioned market insider.
A report by Guosheng Securities on September 25 calculated that, taking a listed company with a dividend yield of 4% as an example, assuming the stock price remains unchanged, borrowing 200 million yuan at an interest rate of 2.25% for an increase, the dividend received is 8 million yuan, and the loan interest to be repaid is 4.5 million yuan, with an expected net income of about 3.5 million yuan.
The report believes that the special re-lending measure for share increase and repurchase is also a means for the country to support listed companies' high dividend strategy. Due to the long-term existence and obvious advantages of its operational interest margin benefits, it helps major shareholders of listed companies to actively increase the frequency of increases and dividend ratios.The planned share repurchase amount for the year has doubled
In fact, since the beginning of this year, under the support and encouragement of policies, the number of share repurchases and increases by important shareholders and directors and supervisors of A-share listed companies have increased significantly, becoming an important source of incremental funds in the A-share market.
Wind data statistics show that as of October 20, 2024, listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen have disclosed a total of 1,309 share repurchase plans this year, with a maximum planned repurchase amount of 175 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 198.6% compared to 58.6 billion yuan in the same period of 2023. At the same time, 918 plans for increases by major shareholders, actual controllers, and directors and supervisors were disclosed, with a maximum increase amount of 61.1 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 23% compared to 49.7 billion yuan in the same period of 2023, with a total of 236.1 billion yuan for both.
Looking at the industries of the companies that have repurchased shares, A-share listed companies that have implemented share repurchases this year are widely distributed across multiple industries, among which biomedicine, electronics, and machinery equipment are the top three sectors for share repurchases this year, with 226, 213, and 194 companies respectively.
Many listed companies have implemented "big hand" repurchases this year, which is an important feature of this year's repurchases. According to Wind data statistics, as of October 20, there are 314 A-share listed companies that have implemented share repurchases exceeding 100 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 217%, among which, there are 11 companies that have implemented share repurchases exceeding 1 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 120% compared to the same period last year.
The top five repurchase amounts this year are WuXi AppTec (603259.SH) with 3 billion yuan, Hikvision (002415.SZ) with 2.894 billion yuan, Tongwei Co., Ltd. (600438.SH) with 2 billion yuan, SF Holding (002352.SZ) with 1.758 billion yuan, and San'an Optoelectronics (600703.SH) with 1.581 billion yuan.
Some industry-leading listed companies have also released their first share repurchase plan this year, attracting high attention from the market. For example, the liquor leader Kweichow Moutai (600519.SH) released its first share repurchase plan in 23 years since its listing on September 20 this year, planning to spend 3 billion to 6 billion yuan to repurchase the company's shares. It stated that this repurchase is mainly to protect the interests of the listed company and the vast number of investors, and to enhance investment confidence.
Looking at the purposes of share repurchases implemented by listed companies, most are for market value management, implementation of equity incentive or employee stock ownership plans, and share cancellation, etc. It is worth noting that the number of listed companies that newly disclosed share cancellation repurchase plans this year has reached 87, with a total planned repurchase and cancellation amount of 22.7 billion yuan, significantly higher than the 14.3 billion yuan for the whole year of 2023.
The share cancellation repurchase is considered the most "sincere" way of repurchase, which can reduce the registered capital of the listed company and increase earnings per share. The new "Nine National Articles" this year also proposed to guide listed companies to legally cancel shares after repurchase. Taking WuXi AppTec, the listed company with the highest repurchase amount this year, as an example, it has implemented three share cancellation repurchase plans at the level of 1 billion yuan this year. Orient Wealth also adjusted the use of 1 billion yuan share repurchase to cancellation and reduction of registered capital.
The significant increase in share repurchases and increases cannot be separated from the guidance of regulatory policies. On September 24 this year, the China Securities Regulatory Commission publicly solicited opinions from the society on the "Guidance for the Supervision of Listed Companies No. 10 - Market Value Management (Draft for Comments)" (hereinafter referred to as the "Guidance"). The "Guidance" requires listed companies to improve the quality of listed companies as the foundation, improve operational efficiency and profitability, and combine actual situations to legally and compliantly use mergers and acquisitions, equity incentives, cash dividends, investor relations management, share repurchases, and other methods to promote the increase in the investment value of listed companies.
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