BRAZILIAN STOCK EXCHANGE IPO LARGEST IN HISTORY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 SAO PAULO 000899 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/BSC, WHA/EPSC, EEB/IFD/OIA STATE PASS USTR FOR KATE DUCKWORTH STATE PASS FED BOARD OF GOVERNORS FOR ROBITAILLE STATE PASS EXIMBANK STATE PASS OPIC FOR DEMROSE, NRIVERA, CMERVENNE NSC FOR TOMASULO TREASURY FOR JHOEK USDOC FOR 4332/ITA/MAC/WH/OLAC USDOC ALSO FOR 3134/USFCS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EFIN EINV ECON BR SUBJECT: BRAZILIAN STOCK EXCHANGE IPO LARGEST IN HISTORY REF: 06 SAO PAULO 970 Summary -------------- ¶1. (U) The Brazilian Stock Exchange's (Bovespa) initial public offering (IPO) last month was the largest in Brazil's history, bringing in nearly USD 4 billion. Bovespa representatives told Econoff that its IPO raised its international profile and increased its worldwide credibility as a premier exchange. Bovespa spent more than a year restructuring the company in preparation for what became Brazil's 56th IPO in 2007. Bovespa's IPO was considered a secondary IPO, meaning that the company didn't raise any new financing; Bovespa's existing shareholders sold their shares to new buyers in a public marketplace. The larger purpose of initial public offerings in Brazil is to help improve corporate governance and disclosure. Brazilian media are widely speculating that Brazil's Futures and Commodities Exchange (BM&F) will be the next big IPO later this year or early in 2008. Although the trend of IPOs in Brazil is generally positive, some of Brazil's IPOs do not meet minimum U.S. investment standards. End Summary. Bovespa Largest Brazilian IPO in History -------------- ¶2. (U) On October 26, Brazil's stock exchange, the Bovespa, became a publicly traded company by inaugurating itself as the 56th Brazilian initial public offering (IPO) this year and the exchange's largest IPO in its history. Bovespa is the largest equity market in Latin America and the 5th largest in the world based on market capitalization, worth about USD 14 billion, and behind only the Chicago, Hong Kong, Frankfurt, and New York (NYSE) exchanges. The IPO was successful by all accounts, with a high subscription rate and a 52 percent price appreciation from its pre-offer level. In total, Bovespa's IPO garnered USD 3.75 billion, about USD 1 billion more than Redecard, a Brazilian financial services company, in its IPO earlier this year. ¶3. (U) Press reports said that the demand for Bovespa's stock spurred the largest trading volume registered to date, about half for Bovespa's stock. Foreign investors purchased 80 percent of the initial offering, and Bovespa's Listing and Issuers Development Manager Wang Jiang Horng told Econoff that about half of the exchange's daily foreign participation is by U.S. investors. ¶4. (U) Bovespa barred investors who had participated in Brazilian IPOs between August and October and had sold 20 percent or more of their shares on the first day of trading from participating in this offering. This represents a new effort to prevent speculators from driving down the opening day share price. Press reports indicated the Brazilian securities exchange commission, Comissao de Valores Mobiliarios (CVM),ruled the decision within the bounds of capital market regulations and said that it could become an operating standard. ¶5. (U) Company representatives told Econoff that Bovespa views its IPO as a key strategic step toward becoming a premier exchange; the IPO raised its international profile, strengthened its investor base, and elevated corporate governance standards and transparency in Brazil. The IPO also opens the door to international partnerships and facilitates Bovespa's capacity to raise future capital. Part of a Larger Trend in IPOs -------------- ¶6. (U) Bovespa's Horng told Econoff that her team has been overwhelmed with applications for Brazilian IPOs this year. Bovespa's IPO was the 56th this year, and CVM has another 31 currently under review. Last year there were 26 IPOs, and nine and seven in 2005 and 2004, respectively, but only six between 1995 and SAO PAULO 00000899 002 OF 003 ¶2004. Before 2002, investors were uninterested in Brazilian IPOs because of structural barriers and a lack of confidence in the Brazilian stock market. However, in 2000 Bovespa introduced the Novo Mercado (New Market),Brazil's newest exchange tier with the most stringent corporate governance requirements, to encourage investment (reftel). ¶7. (U) To "go public", traditionally private family companies in Brazil must undergo drastic changes, including bringing in new management and investors, and developing the legal and accounting frameworks necessary to apply to the CVM and Bovespa for consideration. Bovespa Holding, for example, spent a year and a half preparing for its IPO. Horng told Econoff that the CVM and Bovespa have 30 days to provide comments and mandatory recommendations on a company's initial IPO application. After that companies have five days to comply with their recommendations. From there, a company goes on a "road show" to market itself to investors worldwide for another two to three weeks. Brazilian Market Differences -------------- ¶8. (U) Brazilian IPOs can be primary or secondary market offerings. Primary offerings are similar to IPOs in the U.S., however, in secondary offerings, including Bovespa's own IPO, no new net financing is raised because no new shares are sold. Existing shareholders profit from the IPO by selling to new buyers, while the company itself does not profit from the offering. Pushing Corporate Governance -------------- ¶9. (U) The growth in IPOs has encouraged better corporate governance within Brazil's financial market, as investors push companies by considering corporate governance in their company valuations. As part of a broader effort by Brazilian authorities to professionalize the exchange, companies pursuing IPOs are required to justify to CVM and Bovespa when they choose not to list under the tougher Novo Mercado standards. The Novo Mercado has been the main driver for improving Bovespa's credibility, and 70 percent of IPOs in 2007 have listed on the Novo Mercado. (Note: Of Bovespa's four exchange tiers, three have disclosure standards. End Note.) ¶10. (U) Brazilian pension funds are increasing their exposure to equity, which should increase Bovespa's yearly volume by USD 10 to 13 billion over the next three years. Bovespa is developing Bovespa Mais, a new market segment that will bring small and medium firms to market. (Note: "Mais" means "more" in Portuguese. Ninety percent of Brazilian companies are small or medium enterprises based on sales revenues. End Note.) Bovespa first launched the idea more than a year ago, but has been awaiting CVM regulatory approval. ¶11. (U) Market insiders expect the next high-profile IPO to be Brazil's Futures and Commodities Exchange (BM&F). Earlier this month, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group (CME) signed a letter of intent to purchase 10 percent of BM&F's stock in exchange for two percent of CME. Comment -------------- ¶12. (U) Bovespa's IPO was hugely successful and should be viewed as signal of the sustained interest in Brazilian financial assets. Brazilian IPOs have generally high subscription rates and international financial markets appear to welcome the continued trend. IPOs are helping reduce the concentration of family-owned companies in Brazil, but should be evaluated with caution, as the lower market tiers do not meet U.S. disclosure requirements. End Comment. ¶13. (U) This cable has been cleared by Embassy Brasilia. SAO PAULO 00000899 003 OF 003 WHITE