Battery Giant CATL Given Go-Ahead By China’s Authorities For $2 Billion IPO

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The China-based battery manufacturing giant Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL) has been given the go-ahead by that country’s securities regulator to pursue the previously unveiled plan for an initial public offering (IPO) of stock totaling 13.1 billion yuan (~$1.97 billion).

The country’s official news agency Xinhua revealed that the plan was approved at a meeting of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) on Wednesday, with current plans calling for the funds raised by the stock IPO to be used for the rapid expansion of manufacturing capacity levels.

The idea, as would be expected, is to take advantage of rapidly growing demand for plug-in electric vehicles in China, and elsewhere as well.

The coverage from Reuters provides more info and some context as well: “The approval comes amid a CSRC push to encourage new listings by ‘unicorn companies,’ or startups valued at more than $1 billion, said Xinhua. The Ningde-based CATL is a supplier to domestic carmakers like SAIC Motor Corp Ltd and Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd and has agreements with international automakers like BMW and Volkswagen.

“China, struggling with alarming pollution levels in major cities, is aggressively pushing plug-in vehicles and has poured in tens of billions of yuan in investment, research funding and subsidies, drawing many new automakers to launch projects. Strict quotas for electric and hybrid cars are set to come into effect next year in China, home to the world’s biggest auto market, in line with Beijing’s efforts to make the country a world leader in new-energy vehicles and related technologies.”

With that in mind, it’s probably worth it for those interested in learning more about the situation to read this: “BYD’s Revenge In China — February Electric Car Sales Report.”


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James Ayre

James Ayre's background is predominantly in geopolitics and history, but he has an obsessive interest in pretty much everything. After an early life spent in the Imperial Free City of Dortmund, James followed the river Ruhr to Cofbuokheim, where he attended the University of Astnide. And where he also briefly considered entering the coal mining business. He currently writes for a living, on a broad variety of subjects, ranging from science, to politics, to military history, to renewable energy.

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