SMIC’s Dual Listing in A-Shares and Hong Kong Shares: Differences and Valuation Drivers from Institutional, Financial, and Market Performance Perspectives
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Keywords
SMIC, dual listing, institutional difference, valuation premium, financial signal, international finance
Abstract
Against the backdrop of global semiconductor supply chain restructuring and intensifying China-US tech competition, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), a flagship of China’s semiconductor industry, implemented a dual-listing strategy with listings in Hong Kong in 2004 and on the STAR Market in 2020. This study explores differences in listing mechanisms, financial signal interpretation, and valuation logic between the two markets using a mixed-methods approach that integrates case analysis, comparative study, and empirical testing with data from 2020 to 2025. Key findings include three core aspects. First, institutional divergence is evident as the STAR Market’s registration-based system prioritizes policy support for R&D-intensive firms, while Hong Kong’s Chapter 18C emphasizes disclosure and global capital access, leading to differences in listing efficiency and financing flexibility. Second, financial interpretation bias exists where A-share investors focus on "growth scale" while Hong Kong investors prioritize "profit quality". Third, valuation drivers such as investor structure-with retail-dominated A-shares versus institutional-dominated Hong Kong shares-and policy sensitivity explain the long-term A/H premium, while technological gaps and global cycles suppress Hong Kong valuations. This study enriches the literature on dual listing for strategic tech firms and provides insights for cross-border financing, regulatory coordination, and global asset allocation.
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