THE virus outbreak won’t disrupt regulators’ approvals of initial public offerings (IPOs) and the temporary halt of review meetings is for reducing the risks of infection, domestic media quoted regulatory sources as saying yesterday.

Twelve companies have priced initial public offerings this month, with a combined value of US$2.8 billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. That makes it the busiest 10 business days following the Lunar New Year break since 2015.

The virus has made it difficult in some markets to conduct roadshows given travel restrictions. But in China, with price consultations getting done online through an order system run by the exchange, it’s had little impact.

The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) had cleared listing hearings for 26 IPOs before the Lunar New Year holiday. Such work has come to a halt, with no review meetings scheduled since the end of the break.

The companies that have recently gone public are those that had already cleared listing hearings before the Lunar New Year, when concerns over the virus surged, said Alexander Yao, general manager at Roadshow Investment Co. in Beijing.

“For companies that are yet to get regulatory approvals, there is a chance to see a delay for the process given the current difficulties to do on-site due diligence and auditing,” Yao added.(SD-Agencies)