Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 404 Chapter 402: Uneasy

After seeing off the ambitious Xu Ke, the office returned to silence.

Wang Sheng sat back down at his desk and opened a document.

The folder cover has a neatly printed title: "Shengying Media Group Co., Ltd. Initial Public Offering of A Shares and Listing Work Progress Plan and Node Control Table (Internal Review Draft)".

In China in 2002, listing a company, especially a private company, was a complex and rigorous process, far from the relatively convenient process under the later registration system.

This "progress control schedule" is the nautical chart and timetable for Shengying Media to sail towards the new continent of the capital market.

Wang Sheng opened the document, his gaze calmly sweeping over the densely packed details, responsible departments, and estimated completion times.

Based on the table, the entire listing process can be clearly divided into several key stages:

Phase 1: Pre-IPO preparation (already started, expected to continue until the end of the third quarter of 2002)

This is a mandatory requirement of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC). Companies are required to hire a securities firm with lead underwriter qualifications to conduct a one-year listing guidance process, with the aim of establishing a standardized organizational structure and a sound operating mechanism.

Although Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley are the joint global coordinators and international placement lead managers, for A-share listings in China, the qualification of the sponsoring institution must be undertaken by a securities firm with a domestic license. This role is mainly played by CICC, with other domestic underwriting syndicate members cooperating.

The guidance covers many aspects such as corporate governance, financial compliance, and legal compliance, and requires inspection and acceptance by the local branch of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) during the process.

Phase Two: Document Preparation and Submission (Under intense pressure, with the goal of submitting the application in early Q4 2002)

This is the core of the current work. A large team consisting of underwriters, lawyers (from top law firms such as King & Wood Mallesons and Fangda), and accountants (from PricewaterhouseCoopers) is conducting a comprehensive due diligence investigation of Shengying Media.

The documents that need to be prepared are numerous: the prospectus (draft) is its soul, and it needs to disclose in detail company information, business data, risk factors, and the use of raised funds;

The "Issuance Recommendation Letter", "Legal Opinion", "Audit Report" and financial reports for each of the three years are key supporting documents.

Every piece of data and every statement must be repeatedly verified to ensure that it is true, accurate, and complete, and can withstand the scrutiny of both regulators and the market.

Phase Three: China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) review (expected in the first quarter of 2003)

After the materials are submitted, they will enter the review stage, which is called "queuing".

The Issuance Examination Committee will hold a meeting to review the application materials.

Although Shengying Media, as a benchmark enterprise in cultural system reform, may enjoy the convenience of a "green channel," the strictness of the review process is beyond doubt.

Any flaw could lead to feedback or even rejection.

Phase Four: Issuance and Listing (Target: Q2 2003, depending on market conditions)

Once approved by the IPO review committee, the final issuance stage will begin.

This includes determining the issue price range, conducting roadshows (promoting to institutional investors), offline placement, and online subscription.

Ultimately, the stock will be listed and traded on either the Shanghai Stock Exchange or the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, officially becoming "China's first listed film stock".

Wang Sheng's fingertip lightly glided across the "Use of Funds Raised" column.

The table lists that the funds raised will be mainly used for: 1. Construction and acquisition of modern multiplex cinemas nationwide; 2. Production and copyright reserves of film and television content (including the "Night at the Museum" series and planned fantasy blockbusters); 3. Research and development of digital special effects technology and equipment upgrades; 4. Supplementing working capital.

read it.

Wang Sheng picked up the internal phone and connected with Li Tingting: "Tingting, I've looked at the listing schedule. Notify the underwriting syndicate and the heads of all intermediaries to hold a coordination meeting tomorrow morning at nine o'clock."

I want to hear the latest progress reports, especially the issues discovered during due diligence and the status of the draft prospectus.

“Okay, Mr. Wang.” Li Tingting answered crisply, then paused slightly, “Also… Mr. Wang, Fan Xiaopang just called.”

Wang Sheng raised an eyebrow slightly: "What is it?"

"She asked where Gao Yuanyuan was, saying she hadn't seen her at school. Teacher Huo Xuan (the head teacher of the 98 acting class at Beijing Film Academy) only said she was on leave to film a movie," Li Tingting reported truthfully. "As you instructed, I told her that Yuanyuan was filming a movie, and that the company had recently been controlling the publicity for non-key projects due to its listing process."

Wang Sheng hummed in agreement, his tone flat: "She believed it?"

"It sounded like she believed me, so I told her to focus on preparing for her graduation play."

"Okay, just handle it well. During this crucial period of listing, don't get distracted by these trivial matters, and don't let irrelevant news interfere with the market," Wang Sheng instructed before hanging up the phone.

……

A few tens of minutes ago. Beijing Film Academy.

Inside the rehearsal hall, the graduating class of the 98 acting department is rehearsing intensively for their graduation play, "Thunderstorm."

As a graduation performance of a top art academy in China, even student works receive much attention from the industry and serve as an important stage for students to showcase their abilities and strive for opportunities.

Fan Xiaopang was wearing a plain rehearsal outfit and makeup, having just finished a major scene for his character "Sifeng".

She took two months off to film a period drama with a strong female lead, which was invested by Sheng Ying Group. She just finished filming yesterday and returned to school, and immediately started rehearsing for her graduation play.

She looked around and felt that something was missing.

Oh right, it's Gao Yuanyuan.

She is the class's undisputed "class beauty," with a pure and innocent temperament. She is also one of the "Three Beauties of Shengying," so it's impossible for her to miss such a group rehearsal.

"Sister Xuan," Fan Xiaopang whispered as he approached their homeroom teacher, Huo Xuan, during a break, "Have you seen Yuanyuan? She didn't come to rehearsal today?"

Huo Xuan, an experienced teacher, said in her usual tone, "Little Fatty, Yuanyuan has taken leave from school and is filming a movie. The company arranged it, so I'm not sure what kind of movie it is."

"Filming?"

Fan Xiaopang was taken aback. "I haven't heard that she's joined a film crew recently. What kind of film is so secretive that there's not even a whisper of it?"

Although she has been filming away from home for the past two months, she has also been keeping up with the latest news in the entertainment industry, especially the other two of the "Three Beauties of Shengying", who are the objects of her subconscious comparison.

Huo Xuan shook her head: "I don't know about that. The company has its own arrangements. You've just gotten back, so make the most of your time to familiarize yourself with the script and catch up on any missed rehearsals. The graduation performance is very important, so don't get distracted."

Fan Xiaopang replied, "I know, Sister Xuan," but inwardly he was puzzled.

Although Gao Yuanyuan is quite famous, her schedule is usually not completely kept from her, since she works under the same agent and they often meet at the company.

How did they disappear so quietly this time?

The bell rang, and the students left the rehearsal hall one after another.

Fan Xiaopang walked alone to the end of the corridor, took out her small Nokia phone, found Li Tingting's number, and dialed it.

The call was answered quickly.

"Sister Tingting, it's me, Xiaopang." Fan Xiaopang tried to make his tone sound casual. "I just got back to school for rehearsal. I didn't see Yuanyuan. Sister Xuan said she took leave to film a movie? What movie is it? Why are you being so mysterious?"

On the other end of the phone, Li Tingting's voice was as capable as ever, carrying a reassuring authority: "Little Fatty, yes, Yuanyuan is in the crew. The company is currently going all out to go public, and President Han and President Wang have requested that non-strategic projects be handled discreetly in terms of publicity to avoid unnecessary market information interference."

So we didn't announce it publicly. Just focus on rehearsing your graduation performance; it's the grand finale of your university career, and it's very important.

Hearing Li Tingting confirm it herself, Fan Xiaopang's doubts were largely dispelled.

Li Tingting is a high-ranking member of the Shengying Group and Wang Sheng's right-hand woman, so her words are naturally credible.

Moreover, going public is indeed a top priority for the company, so controlling the pace of publicity is understandable.

"Oh, I see. I just asked casually, afraid of missing out on some good projects," Fan Xiaopang said with a smile. "Don't worry, I'll definitely rehearse well and not let the company down."

"Okay, prepare well. After the company goes public, there will be more resources, and your development platform will be broader." Li Tingting gave a couple more words of encouragement before ending the call.

Putting down his phone, Fan Xiaopang let out a long sigh of relief.

It seems that I am too worried.

Perhaps Yuanyuan took on a special project that needed to be kept secret.

She shook her head, trying to put that doubt aside and focus on the script in front of her.

However, when she walked down to the dormitory building and glanced at the newspaper stand by the door as usual, her eyes were drawn to an inconspicuous short article in the corner of the Beijing Entertainment News: "Shengying's leading actress Gao Yuanyuan has rarely made public appearances recently, suspected of preparing for a new film."

The report was vague and only contained speculation.

A cool spring breeze blew by, and Fan Xiaopang felt a sense of unease for no reason.

(End of this chapter)