Some very interesting news out this morning about Harbin Electric (HRBN), one of the strangest of the Chinese reverse-merger companies that litter the US markets. According to Bloomberg the DTC has not been provided with the $24.00 per share in cash promised to shareholders in the going-private deal:
OCC to Delay Settlement of Harbin Electric Exercise Activity
2011-11-03 12:02:43.346 GMTBy Joshua Fineman and Clyde Eltzroth
Nov. 3 (Bloomberg) — OCC was informed by DTC that paying agent hasn’t funded DTC for deal of $24/shr: OCC web site.
* OCC to delay settlement of HRBN exercise/assignment activity until confirmation that cash consideration has been paid
* NOTE: HRBN going private deal closed on Tuesday (Nov. 1)
Link to OCC site: http://bit.ly/vWD3Cr
Could just be a timing issue, but given the sleaze surrounding Harbin, perhaps someone at China Development Bank figured out the con?
Nope! Either they didn’t figure it out or they didn’t care, because the most recent OCC memo says that this thing is a done deal.
Oh, it was definitely a scam. That much is certain. But us shorts didn’t count on a state-owned bank deciding to foot the bill, and at a very reasonable 4 1/2 over LIBOR no less!
@ Jimmy James – Very true. Reminds me of China Water and Drinks (CWDK) another of the mid 00s group of bogus China reverse mergers. The CWDK buyout did go through, much to the buyers regret. I would not be surprised if the regulators and the exchange officials were happy to look the other way and let this deal happen, to let Harbin (and CFSG today) get swept under the rug.
I think you’re right about the regulators turning a blind eye. Bigger picture: the shorting Sinofrauds trade is now pretty much dead.