New IPO design to better protect investors

BEIJING -- A closed-door meeting between regulators and market participants last week focused on initial public offering reform, the China Securities Journal reported on Monday.

Allotment of shares and the number of offline placements were among the topics discussed in an effort to optimize new issues pricing and protect individual investors, according to participants, including investment banks and academics, the report said.

The China Securities Regulatory Commission in June began seeking public opinion on an IPO mechanism reform plan. The plan provides greater freedom in IPO launch timing as well as pricing of new stock issues by allowing qualified individual investors to participate in offline placements.

The document also introduces stricter rules on the controlling investors, board directors and senior management of listed companies in order to better protect the interests of ordinary investors.

IPOs on China's Shanghai and Shenzhen stock markets have been suspended for nearly one year, and market expectations are growing for their resumption.