A closed-door meeting on initial public offering (IPO) reform was held recently, the China Securities Journal reported on September 16.

Allotment of shares and the number of offline placements were among the topics discussed in an effort to optimize new issues pricing and protect individual investors, according to participants of the meeting, which include regulators, investment banks and academics, the report said.

The China Securities Regulatory Commission in June began soliciting public opinion on a plan to reform IPOs. The plan provides greater freedom in IPO launch timing as well as pricing of new stock issues by allowing qualified individual investors to participate in

offline placements. The plan also introduces stricter rules on the controlling investors, board directors and senior management of listed companies.

IPOs on China's Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges have been suspended for nearly one year, and market expectations are growing for their resumption.