A fresh wave of capital is flowing into China’s semiconductor sector, and this time it’s being pulled in by a fast-growing chipmaker tapping Hong Kong’s revived IPO market.
The deal is shaping up as one of the most closely watched tech listings of early 2026, blending strong earnings momentum with Beijing’s long-term industrial strategy.
Key Takeaways
Montage is planning a Hong Kong IPO that could value the company around $10B.
Major investors are committing early as cornerstone participants.
Strong profit growth is tied to China’s push for chip self-sufficiency.
Hong Kong’s IPO market is seeing a sharp revival in early 2026.
Early money moves in before public trading
Chinese chip designer Montage Technology is preparing a Hong Kong listing that could value the firm at roughly $10 billion. Before the offering even opens to the broader market, major global investors are already committing capital. Alibaba Group and JPMorgan Asset Management are set to participate as cornerstone investors, locking in shares ahead of the IPO and agreeing to hold them through a standard post-listing period.
They are not alone. Other institutions, including Aberdeen, Mirae Asset Securities, and UBS, are also securing early allocations, highlighting renewed appetite for Chinese technology names.
Riding strong performance into a second listing
Montage already trades on the mainland, where its Shanghai-listed shares delivered a sharp rally through 2025. That performance has helped set the stage for a Hong Kong float expected to raise close to $900 million, with scope to increase the deal size if demand allows.
Market participants expect the order book to open shortly, with trading potentially beginning before the end of the month – a pace that reflects how quickly confidence has returned to Hong Kong’s primary market.
Earnings growth meets national strategy
The company’s financial outlook underpins the optimism. Montage generated about 1.4 billion yuan in profit in 2024, and analysts see that figure rising steadily over the next two years as demand for domestic chip solutions accelerates. Forecasts point to profits exceeding 2 billion yuan in 2025 and climbing further in 2026.
This growth is closely linked to China’s broader push to localize its semiconductor supply chain. Domestic equipment and component makers are capturing a larger share of the market as policymakers encourage manufacturers to rely less on foreign technology.
China’s chip ecosystem gains momentum
By the end of last year, locally produced chip equipment accounted for roughly a third of total usage across China’s semiconductor industry, surpassing official targets ahead of schedule. Several suppliers are already benefiting. Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment has advanced etching tools undergoing validation on cutting-edge production lines, while Naura Technology Group and Piotech have expanded their presence at major domestic fabs.
Policy support remains a key driver. The state-backed China Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund has injected fresh capital into core equipment development, complemented by subsidies that lower purchase costs for chipmakers.
Hong Kong reclaims its IPO momentum
Montage’s offering arrives as Hong Kong experiences one of its strongest starts to a listing year in recent memory. Billions of dollars have already been raised in the opening weeks of 2026, with artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing firms leading the charge. The return of large cornerstone investors suggests confidence that had waned during earlier market turbulence is firmly rebuilding.
For investors, the Montage IPO is about more than one company. It reflects how China’s semiconductor ambitions are increasingly intersecting with global capital markets – drawing international money into an industry Beijing considers strategically essential, and doing so through a Hong Kong market that is once again open for business.
