Agricultural Bank of China's (AgBank) initial public offering hit a record $22.1 billion on Friday, after it exercised an over-allotment option in full, two banking sources said. In a widely expected move, AgBank - China's No 3 lender by assets - sold extra shares in the Shanghai portion of the offer, the sources with direct knowledge of the fundraising told Reuters.
AgBank's IPO thereby toppled fellow Chinese lender Industrial and Commercial Bank of China's (ICBC) $21.9 billion offering in 2006 to become the world's biggest. Analysts said there were signs of heavy buying by institutions during the first month after its listing to keep AgBank's Shanghai share price above the IPO price, which was necessary to enable it to exercise the over-allotment in full. AgBank's Shanghai-listed A-shares closed at 2.69 yuan on Friday, just above the IPO price of 2.68 yuan.
AgBank had already exercised a similar option for its Hong Kong portion last month. After its lacklustre debut in mid-July, AgBank's Hong Kong-traded shares have risen about 6 percent.