Berry Genomics Completes Backdoor Listing

A Chinese gene-screening company officially completed its backdoor listing today — creating another DNA testing firm thriving on the nation’s growing awareness of ruling out genetic diseases during pregnancy.

Beijing-based gene-testing firm Berry Genomics in December completed its reverse merger with Chengdu Tianxing Instrument and Meter Co. Ltd., the Shenzhen-listed maker of instrument panels, making Berry Genomics the first Chinese gene-testing company to be publically trading.

One of the largest rivals to government-backed genomics giant BGI, Berry Genomics injected all of its 4.3 billion yuan ($646 million) into Tianxing Instrument.

Shortly after Berry Genomics’ backdoor listing, BGI announced in March that it would make its debut on the domestic bourse, with plans to raise 1.73 billion yuan.

BGI eventually raised more than 5 billion, and immediately ran into the 44% limit on its first day of trading, reaching a total market cap of 7.86 billion yuan.

Berry Genomics and BGI do not have the option of going public in overseas markets due to Chinese regulations that forbid companies in sensitive sectors — such as research in human stem cells and gene diagnosis and treatment — from accepting foreign investment.

Like BGI — which utilizes most of its science in reproductive health testing, a business that generated more than half of the company’s 1.7 billion yuan in revenue last year — Berry Genomics’ core business is also in prenatal testing that screens fetuses for hereditary diseases.

Prices are not listed for Berry Genomics’ services — which include tests that screen for genes that cause deafness, cancer and autism. Nonetheless, business is booming. The company reported over 6 billion yuan in profit for three consecutive years after 2013. In the first six months of 2016, it made 5 billion yuan in profit.

Contact reporter April Ma (fangjingma@caixin.com)