Chinese authorities to impose $1.1 billion fine on Ant Group
Overview
According to sources with direct knowledge of the matter, Chinese authorities are expected to announce a fine of at least 8 billion yuan ($1.1 billion) on Ant Group. This will mark the end of the fintech company’s regulatory overhaul, which began after its $37 billion IPO was cancelled in 2020. The People’s Bank of China (PBOC), leading the revamp, is likely to disclose the fine in the coming days.
Implications
The fine, one of the largest ever for an internet company in China, will allow Ant Group to obtain a financial holding company license, pursue growth, and eventually revive its plans for a stock market debut. Additionally, the fintech sector as a whole will see this as a significant step towards the conclusion of China’s crackdown on private enterprises, which has caused substantial market value losses for multiple companies.
About Ant Group
Ant Group, founded by billionaire Jack Ma, operates in payment processing, consumer lending, and insurance products distribution, among other businesses. Prior to its IPO being cancelled, the company was valued at over $300 billion.
Since April 2021, Ant Group has been undergoing a comprehensive business restructuring. This includes transforming into a financial holding company, subjecting itself to rules and capital requirements similar to banks.
Regulatory Officials and Timing
Central bank Deputy Governor Pan Gongsheng, an important regulatory official overseeing Ant Group’s revamp, has been attending meetings with the company regarding the fine and the restructuring. His recent appointment as the bank’s party secretary is seen as a precursor to him becoming governor. The National Financial Regulatory Administration, a new government body, is now the primary regulator responsible for granting Ant Group the required license.
Penalty and Recent Comparisons
The final amount of the fine is expected to be at least 8 billion yuan, revised from the initial consideration of 5 billion yuan. Ant Group’s fine will be the largest regulatory penalty imposed on a Chinese internet company since Didi Global, a ride-hailing major, was fined $1.2 billion by China’s cybersecurity regulator in the previous year.
Alibaba Group, Ant Group’s affiliate, received a record fine of 18 billion yuan in 2021 for antitrust violations.
Context and Return of Jack Ma
A fine on Ant Group comes at a time when Chinese authorities aim to restore confidence in the private sector as the economy struggles to recover. This is despite the lifting of zero-Covid restrictions earlier this year. Moreover, the return of Jack Ma to China after an extended period abroad is significant. Ma, who also founded Alibaba, had withdrawn from public view in late 2020 after criticizing China’s regulatory system in a speech. This event is widely seen as the trigger for the industry crackdown.
It is worth noting that Ma had previously owned over 50% of the voting rights in Ant Group, but in January it was announced that he would relinquish control of the company as part of the restructuring.