The ongoing COVID-19 epidemic has prompted the Shanghai bourse to shun gatherings and introduce a new rite of passage for companies.
Instead of striking a gong at the exchange, the C-suite now participates in online livestreamed debuts.
Wuhan-based snack giant BESTORE on Monday became the first company to go public at the Shanghai Stock Exchange with an online ceremony.
The food company generates 55 percent of its revenue from its 2,000 brick-and-mortar stores, 40 percent of which are in the central province of Hubei, the worst-hit region in the COVID-19 epidemic.
Organizing online listing ceremonies is part of SSE’s efforts to strike a balance between disease control and services.
The exchange has pledged reduction or exemption of listing fees and one-to-one remote services to companies.
