China Renaissance, a prominent dealmaker in China's tech industry, has suspended trading of its shares and delayed the release of its annual results due to the unavailability of its founder, Bao Fan. The 52-year-old entrepreneur, who started the boutique investment bank in 2005, has been unreachable since mid-February.
As news of Bao's disappearance broke, shares in China Renaissance plummeted by as much as 50%. The company had initially stated that Bao was "cooperating in an investigation" by certain authorities in the country but gave no further details. Chinese media have since reported that Bao may be assisting in an investigation related to a former executive at China Renaissance.
The delay in releasing audited results and dispatching the annual report has also halted trading, as the company's board was unable to estimate when these would be completed due to Bao's absence. The shares suspension began on Monday as a result of this update.
Bao Fan is well-known for his role in brokering several high-profile deals, including the merger between Meituan and Dianping in 2015. He has also invested in prominent Chinese companies such as Nio, Li Auto, Baidu, and JD.com. The current situation surrounding Bao's disappearance has cast a cloud over China Renaissance, with investors growing increasingly anxious about the company's future prospects.
The unavailability of key figures like Bao Fan is not an isolated incident in China's financial sector. President Xi Jinping's broader crackdown on financial corruption continues to impact senior executives in various industries. The most recent developments include Liu Liange, former party secretary and chairman of Bank of China, who has been launched under investigation for alleged "serious violations of discipline and law."
The current situation highlights the risks and challenges faced by investors in China's high-stakes business landscape. As more information becomes available regarding Bao Fan's disappearance and the ongoing investigations, investors will likely continue to monitor the developments closely.
As news of Bao's disappearance broke, shares in China Renaissance plummeted by as much as 50%. The company had initially stated that Bao was "cooperating in an investigation" by certain authorities in the country but gave no further details. Chinese media have since reported that Bao may be assisting in an investigation related to a former executive at China Renaissance.
The delay in releasing audited results and dispatching the annual report has also halted trading, as the company's board was unable to estimate when these would be completed due to Bao's absence. The shares suspension began on Monday as a result of this update.
Bao Fan is well-known for his role in brokering several high-profile deals, including the merger between Meituan and Dianping in 2015. He has also invested in prominent Chinese companies such as Nio, Li Auto, Baidu, and JD.com. The current situation surrounding Bao's disappearance has cast a cloud over China Renaissance, with investors growing increasingly anxious about the company's future prospects.
The unavailability of key figures like Bao Fan is not an isolated incident in China's financial sector. President Xi Jinping's broader crackdown on financial corruption continues to impact senior executives in various industries. The most recent developments include Liu Liange, former party secretary and chairman of Bank of China, who has been launched under investigation for alleged "serious violations of discipline and law."
The current situation highlights the risks and challenges faced by investors in China's high-stakes business landscape. As more information becomes available regarding Bao Fan's disappearance and the ongoing investigations, investors will likely continue to monitor the developments closely.