OREANDA-NEWS. China Huarong Asset Management Co., Ltd.'s (China Huarong; A/Stable) ratings will not be affected by its recent IPO, Fitch Ratings says. The IPO will not change the state's controlling ownership in China Huarong, the country's largest national asset management company by balance sheet size, or the company's role in potentially stabilising China's financial system and overall economy.

The Ministry of Finance's share in China Huarong will be diluted to about 64.5% from 77.49% at end-2014. However, the ministry will still nominate a majority of China Huarong's board members and control the entity through the board. Fitch expects the state's control and oversight over the company to be unchanged. Nevertheless, any future dilution of shareholding that would reduce the government's indirect or direct stake in China Huarong to below 50%, may lead to a widening of the notching or the agency no longer considering the entity as credit linked to the sovereign.

China Huarong plans to use the IPO proceeds of about HKD18bn to further develop its core business of distressed asset management, and its financial service and asset management business. The distressed asset management industry is an important component of the Chinese financial system, and plays a key role in resolving systemic risk in the banking sector and overall economy. Fitch expects China Huarong's strategic importance to remain strong after the IPO.

The IPO proceeds will shore up China Huarong's capitalisation and raise its capital adequacy ratio. This will help to offset pressure on capital adequacy after rapid growth in China Huarong's distressed asset portfolio over the past three years. In the medium run, Fitch expects China Huarong will maintain its capital adequacy ratio at a moderate level after the expansion of its business.

China Huarong is one of four large national asset management companies (AMCs) established to mitigate financial risks, preserve state-owned assets, and promote the reform and development of China's financial system. China Huarong had the largest consolidated balance sheet size and the highest net profit in 2014 among the big four national AMCs.