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Hong Kong’s status as fundraising hub undeniable despite slump: LianLian DigiTech CEO

  • ‘Global uncertainties have created an abnormal situation,’ but capital flow to growth areas will resume once these die down, Xin Jie says

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LianLian DigiTech provides payment services to businesses, making it a partner with, rather than a competitor to, Alipay and WeChat Pay. Photo: Handout

LianLian DigiTech, a Chinese digital payment services provider, is open to fundraising and merger and acquisition opportunities via Hong Kong, as it sees the city as an international financial hub despite cyclical volatilities, according to its top executive.

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“Hong Kong is a hub for our entire international business and for global payments, so our funds are basically gathered in Hong Kong,” said CEO Xin Jie, whose firm completed its listing in the world’s fourth-largest stock market in March, raising HK$657.15 million (US$84 million) in an initial public offering.

Xin remains confident in Hong Kong’s liquidity despite challenges brought by global uncertainties such as elections, interest rates and geopolitical tensions, he said in an interview.

“Global uncertainties have created an abnormal situation,” Xin said. “Once these die down, the global investment allocation will gradually return to normal, with capital flowing into the region’s economic growth areas.”

Mainland China’s manufacturing superpower status will remain attractive to investors, and so will Hong Kong’s stock and capital markets, he added.

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When the market stabilises, LianLian will consider issuing additional shares or bonds for financing purposes, as well as mergers and acquisitions to expand its “growth potential based on a liquid and market-priced equity”.

Related to its core business in providing cross-border e-commerce payment services, Lianlian is working with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority on mBridge, a multi-country central bank digital currency project involving mainland China, Hong Kong, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates, according to Xin.
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