Cordlife's big China gambit

WHENEVER Cordlife Group's Jeremy Yee looks at his firm's stake in China Cord Blood Corporation (CCBC), the only thing that must irritate him is how Cordlife does not own more of it.

Now, what must irritate Cordlife's CEO even more is how some on the Street - or "the people in Raffles Place" as he calls them - have reacted to his attempt to boost the company's stake in CCBC.

Last month, Cordlife and Magnum Opus International (Magnum) - a vehicle controlled by CCBC's chairman Kam Yuen - agreed to go halves on CCBC senior convertible notes costing about US$88.09 million. These notes carry the principal amount of US$50 million and a coupon rate of 7 per cent.