Earlier this month, Agricultural Bank of China filed listing applications with Chinese and Hong Kong securities regulators. The initial public offering, which will have an A-share tranche in Shanghai and an H-share one in Hong Kong, could take in as much $30 billion. If it does, it will end up as the world's largest.
The current record of $21.9 billion is held by another of China's Big Four banks, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. In fact, the Big Four account for two of the world's 10 largest IPOs. In addition to record-holder ICBC, Bank of China's $11.2 billion offering in 2006 earns the No. 6 spot. The laggard of the Big Four, China Construction Bank, brought in a still-impressive $8 billion in its 2005 IPO.
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