BGI Genomics Co. Ltd. is trying its luck again for a listing on the ChiNext board of the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, issuing 40 million new shares to raise $250 million.
It can be recalled that the Shenzhen-based gene sequencing giant initially applied in November but was rejected by regulators because of incomplete documentation. BGI Genomics has also considered listing in the United States, Hong Kong, and as an A-share float through a reverse merger, but all of these were not successful, according to China Money Network.
On its latest attempt on the ChiNext, a NASDAQ-style board in Shenzhen, BGI Genomics posted a revenue of $250 million and operating profit of $55 million for 2016. Its revenue is mainly sourced from fertilization and health services, basic research service, complex disease service, and drug research service.
More than half (54.62%) of BGI Genomics' income comes from fertilization and health service, worth $134 million. Some of its major clients are China National Tobacco Corp., Meinian Onehealth Healthcare Holdings, and the University of Oxford.
Meanwhile, BGI Tech, a subsidiary that was later merged into BGI Genomics, received a funding worth $205 million in 2012. The funding was spearheaded by China Everbright Investment Management Ltd., together with Sequoia Capital China, Greenwoods Asset Management, and SB China Venture Capital. The contract sequencing service provider was worth $480 million after. The company also raised another $290 million in 2015 after a round of financing from Taikang Life.
BGI's shareholders listed Shenzhen Capital Group Co., Ltd and State Development & Investment Corp., according to their IPO prospectus. BGI Holdings holds 42.42 percent of BGI Genomics directly and indirectly.
Wang Jian, the founder of BGI Genomics, owns 85.30 percent of BGI Holdings. Another co-founder Wang Jun, who also established iCarbonX, a China-based AI platform for health data company, owns 10.5 percent of BGI Holdings.