Exclusive: Haier Smart Home plans Hong Kong listing to take $7.7 billion unit private - sources

By Kane Wu and Julie Zhu

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Haier, the world's biggest maker of household appliances, is planning a major restructuring that will see its main unit Haier Smart Home <600690.SS> list in Hong Kong to take another group company valued at $7.7 billion private, two people with direct knowledge of the matter said.

Under the deal, Haier Smart Home, formerly known as Qingdao Haier and already listed in Shanghai, would offer minority shareholders in unit Haier Electronics Group <1169.HK> newly issued Hong Kong stock for their shares, they said.

Financial advisers have been hired to work on the deal, which would give Haier Smart Home access to cash at Haier Electronics, the sources said, declining to be identified as negotiations were private.

Haier Electronics, which makes and sells appliances such as washing machines, held about 20 billion yuan ($2.8 billion) in cash and short term investments as of end-June, according to Refinitiv.

One of the sources added the plan was also part of the Haier group's efforts to streamline its overseas operations.

Haier Smart Home currently owns 45% of Haier Electronics and unlisted parent Haier Group Corp holds 12%, while minority shareholders include Vanguard Group, Norges Bank Investment Management and BlackRock, according to Refinitiv data.

The plan is still preliminary and would be subject to regulatory approval, the sources said, adding that the aim was to complete the deal in the second half of next year.

A representative from Haier Smart Home's investors relations office said the team was not aware of the plan. Haier Group and Haier Electronics did not respond to requests for comment.

The Haier group was founded in 1984 by Chinese businessman Zhang Ruimin who built up a small loss-making factory into a major consumer brand. Major acquisitions have included New Zealand appliances brand Fisher & Paykel in 2012 for NZ$927 million and the $5.6 billion purchase of General Electrics' appliances business https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ge-divestiture-haier-elec-idUSKCN0UT0AG in 2016.

Haier Smart Home, which has a market value of some $15.4 billion, also listed in Germany last year - the first listing of a Chinese company under the D-share program aimed at increasing foreign investment in Chinese firms.

Hong Kong-listed companies have announced a record 24 take-private deals this year, often citing uncertain market conditions or undervalued shares as reasons for the deals.

(Reporting by Kane Wu and Julie Zhu; Editing by Jennifer Hughes and Edwina Gibbs)