On December 30, the official website of the People's Bank of China released the "Information Announcement on the Permission for Major Changes in Major Matters of Non-bank Payment Institutions (as of December 2023)", which shows that the central bank issued the Bank Permit Decision [2023] No. 189, agreeing to change Alipay (China) network technology *** to no actual controller.
The relevant arrangements were finalized when Ant announced the adjustment of the superstructure of shareholders at the beginning of this year.
On January 7, 2023, Ant Group's official website issued an announcement on the continuous improvement of corporate governance, stating that in order to continuously improve corporate governance and achieve long-term sustainable development, Ant Group plans to take a series of upgrade measures at the board and shareholder level, including the introduction of a fifth independent director, the adjustment of the shareholder upper structure, and the promotion of the matching of shareholders' voting rights with economic interests.
After the adjustment, the major shareholders of Ant Group exercise their share voting rights independently of each other and do not act in concert, and there is no longer any direct or indirect shareholder who controls Ant Group alone or jointly. There is no change in the economic interests of Ant Group shareholders such as Jack Ma and related beneficiaries in Ant Group, and their voting rights in Ant Group will match the economic interests they enjoy in Ant Group as natural person shareholders of Hangzhou Junhan and Hangzhou Junao.
It is reported that the core of this adjustment is the change in the voting rights of major shareholders: from Jack Ma and his concerted actors jointly exercising share voting rights, to 10 natural persons, including Ant Group's management, employee representatives and founder Jack Ma, independently exercising share voting rights, the governance structure is more stable, which is conducive to the company's long-term sustainable development. It is reported that Ant's original voting rights structure was a phased arrangement made in the early years to achieve employee stock ownership, and this adjustment is in line with the actual situation of the company's decision-making and management and reflects the personal wishes of the founders.
Alibaba announced on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on the evening of January 8 that Ant Group announced a change in the voting structure of major shareholders, after the change, Jack Ma will no longer control the majority voting rights of Ant Group held by Junhan and Junao, Junhan and Junao will be controlled by different general partner entities, and neither general partner entity is controlled by any single person, Alibaba Group's equity in Ant Group remains unchanged, and Alibaba Group or any other shareholder does not control Ant Group.
Tianyancha shows that Alipay (China) Network Technology was founded in 2004 and is located in Shanghai, which is an enterprise mainly engaged in the Internet and related services. The registered capital of the enterprise is 1500000 yuan, and the paid-in capital is 1500000 yuan.
At present, Ant Technology Group holds 100% of its shares.
Recently, the announcement of a number of Ant affiliates shows that the above adjustments have been completed.
On December 29, according to the announcements issued by Hang Seng Electronics and Cathay Pacific Property and Casualty respectively, Ant Group was changed to no actual controller due to the completion of the procedures and completion of the completion of the relevant parties involved in the adjustment of the voting rights of Ant Group's shareholders, and as affiliates of Ant Group, Hang Seng Electronics and Cathay Pacific Property Insurance also changed to no actual controller.