The IPO Buzz: Trouble in China?

On Wall Street, you are only as good as your last trade. The last three Chinese IPOs have run into some rough waters. As of Friday’s close, their report cards don’t make for good reading:
NetQin Mobile (NQ), based in Beijing, a provider of Internet security to mobile users, priced its IPO of 7.75 million American Depositary Shares (ADS) at $11.50 each on Wednesday evening, May 4. That was more than the 7.14 million ADS at $9.50 to $11.50 each originally planned.
Report Card: After being priced at $11.50 per ADS, the IPO opened Thursday at $11.50 and closed Friday at $8.40, DOWN 27 percent from its initial offering price.
Renren (RENN), based in Beijing and billed as China’s “Facebook,” priced its IPO of 53.1 million ADS at $14 each on Tuesday evening, May 3. That was more than the 53.1 million ADS at $9 to $11 each originally planned.
Report Card: After being priced at $14 per ADS, the IPO opened Wednesday at $19.50, sold as high as $24 and closed on Friday, May 6, at $16.80, UP 20 percent from its initial offering price, but DOWN 30 percent from its high.
21Vianet Group (VNET), based in Beijing, believes it is the largest “cloud computer” provider in China. The company priced its IPO of 13 million ADS at $15 each on Wednesday evening, April 20. That was more than the 11.5 million ADS at $10 to $12 each originally planned.
Report Card: After being priced at $15 per ADS, the IPO sold as high as $22.33 during its opening day and closed on Friday, May 6, at $13.75, DOWN 8.33 percent from its initial offering price and DOWN 38.4 percent from its high.
These are not exactly tasty treats to set before investors. And now it is on to the future.
Dates, Cars and Content
This week’s calendar shows the following Chinese IPOs:
Jiayuan.com International (DATE – proposed), based in Beijing, is China’s Match.com, operating what it believes to be the largest online dating platform in the People’s Republic of China.
For the year ending Dec. 31, 2010, Jiayaun.com reported a loss of RMB8.7 million (or US$1.3 million) on revenue of RMB167 million (or US$25.4 million), compared with a loss of RMB8 million on revenue of RMB63.9 million for the same period a year ago.
Jianyaun.com plans to offer 7.1 million ADS at $10 to $12 each. The company expects to offer 6.7 million ADS and selling shareholders expect to offer 400,000 ADS.
The Jianyaun.com IPO is expected to be priced on Tuesday evening and trade on the NASDAQ Global Market on Wednesday morning.
China Zenix Auto International (ZX – proposed), based in Zhangzhou, China, is the equivalent of a “Wheels R Us.” The company believes it is the largest commercial vehicle wheel manufacturer in the People’s Republic of China.
For the year ending Dec. 31, 2010, China Zenix reported net income of RMB327.8 million (or US$49.7 million) on revenue of RMB3.2 billion (or US$484.8 million), compared with net income of RMB183.4 million on revenue of RMB2.1 billion for the same period a year ago.
China Zenix plans to offer 12.9 million ADS at $9.50 to $11.50 each. The company expects to offer 11.6 million ADS and selling shareholders expect to offer 1.3 million ADS.
The China Zenix IPO is expected to be priced on Wednesday evening and trade on the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday morning.
Phoenix New Media (FENG – proposed), based in Beijing, is a new media company providing premium content on an integrated platform across Internet, mobile and TV channels in the People’s Republic of China.
For the year ending Dec. 31, 2010, Phoenix New Media reported a loss of RMB165.4 million (or US$25.1 million) on revenue of RMB528.7 million (or US$80.1 million), compared with a loss of RMB31.3 million on revenue of RMB262.3 million for the same period a year ago.
Phoenix New Media plans to offer 12.8 million ADS at $12 to $14 each. The company expects to offer 11.5 million ADS and selling shareholders expect to offer 1.3 million ADS.
The Phoenix New Media IPO is expected to be priced on Wednesday evening and trade on the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday morning.
These are just a few stories from this week’s calendar. Of course, on Wall Street, anything can happen.
Disclosure: Neither the author nor anyone else on the IPOScoop.com staff has a position in any stocks mentioned, nor do they trade or invest in IPOs. The author and IPOScoop.com staff do not issue advice, recommendations or opinions.