Sinopec Seen Top Winner as Pipe Spinoff Frees Up Unit IPO

While China’s move to create a national pipeline giant has taken center stage, investors should focus further out on how that clears a hurdle for Sinopec to spinoff its retail business, a move that may boost the oil giant’s valuation. The listing of the marketing unit by the refining behemoth, officially known as China Petroleum & Chemical Corp., has been awaiting the shift of its oil and fuel pipelines into the new national operator, according to China International Capital Corp. and Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. That’s why the pipeline reform may give further impetus for shares of the company to extend a 30 percent rally this year. To read more about China’s plans for a national pipeline company, click here.