CTBC Bank Commits Up to NT$2.1 Billion to Hermes Testing IPO Auction

Hermes Testing Solutions, Taiwan’s highest-priced emerging-board stock, is moving toward a Taipei Exchange listing through a capital increase combining an auction and public subscription. The semiconductor testing specialist has attracted attention as rising demand for AI-chip testing brightens its growth outlook. A substantial gap between the offering terms and its emerging-market price has further fueled investor interest, making the IPO a closely watched gauge of appetite for Taiwan’s AI supply chain.

CTBC Bank, the banking arm of CTBC Financial Holding, approved bids of up to NT$2.1 billion in the auction, joining fellow group company Taiwan Life Insurance in seeking an allocation. Media estimates indicated that one lot could deliver a paper gain of about NT$1.016 million based on the prevailing market price, highlighting the pricing gap. Hermes Testing is scheduled to complete its public-subscription lottery on Sept. 16 and expects to begin trading on the Taipei Exchange in late September.