London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Jul 22, 2026

Ant Group Exec Tells Workers Firm to Go Public as State Regulators Slam 'Insufficient' Data Sharing

Ant Group Exec Tells Workers Firm to Go Public as State Regulators Slam 'Insufficient' Data Sharing

An internal post from a top executive responded to concerns from an employee over the company's future and talent retention strategy, and comes after major challenges following the suspension of a historic public listing in November last year.

Ant Group has promised to go public to help employees monetise shares, company chairman Eric Jing said in an internal website post as cited by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on Tuesday.

Jing said the company was reviewing its remuneration and incentive policies via a "short-term liquidity solution" set to go into force in April, the report read, citing people who had read the post.

Ant Group will likely buy back employee shares, the report read, citing the sources.

The news comes after the firm's operations were restructured as a financial holding company after its historic initial public offering (IPO) was halted due to concerns from Chinese regulators in November.

“The company will certainly become a public company. I’m always fully confident in that,” Jing wrote in the internal post, adding the firm would prioritise complying with Chinese authorities.

He added company founder Jack Ma had been in close talks with regulators over the restructuring plans, including corporate governance and others, according to people familiar with the post.

Ant will not be weakened by the rectification, but will chart a healthier and greater development path,” he reportedly said.

The IPO suspension had been a "major test and challenge" to staff, he added as cited by the WSJ.

“In the space of a second, the Ant team went from IPO preparation to major emergency response, calmly dealing with many unimaginable difficulties,” he added as quoted by the report.

Mr. Jing said the company will advance its development strategy as it restructures and makes adjustments to its business this year, and will provide more details in due course.

Chinese State Regulators Respond To Ant Group Row


But according to the Financial Times, the People's Bank of China (PBoC) found data provided by the fintech firm had been insufficient, citing people familiar with the matter.

The report added Chinese regulators saw a lack of detail in reports provided on the company's operations as well as the frequency of delivery, citing the sources.

The news comes amid a major crackdown on Chinese big tech firms, namely after Ant Group's historic $37bn IPO was halted in November last year by state authorities following the criticism Jack Ma voiced at an event in October the same period.

Tencent Holdings later vowed to cooperate with regulators following the Ant Group crackdown and amid soaring profits in the COVID-19 pandemic.

A top executive Zhang Feng was detained in February for an ongoing corruption probe involving data sharing with local authorities, the WSJ reported in February, citing people familiar with the matter.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
UK Universities and Industry Expand Space and Defense Research Partnerships
House of Lords Approves Social Housing Bill Amendments on Shared Ownership Rights
House of Lords Advances Civil Aviation Bill With New Passenger Protection Measures
UK Government Suspends Tariffs on Fertilizer and Food Imports to Reduce Costs
Russell Group Universities Support New UK Business Department Focused on Innovation
UK Parliament Opens Inquiry Into Transport Barriers Facing Young Jobseekers
Home Builders Federation Calls for Lower Costs as New UK Government Sets Housing Priorities
Andy Burnham Meets UK Devolved Leaders to Strengthen Regional Cooperation
Andy Burnham Holds First International Calls With Trump, Macron, and Zelenskyy
Andy Burnham Reshuffles Cabinet With John Healey Appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer
Andy Burnham Government Removes VAT From Electricity Bills to Cut Household Costs
Andy Burnham Becomes United Kingdom Prime Minister After Sir Keir Starmer Resigns
Miliband Sets Climate and International Law at Centre of UK Diplomacy
US Gasoline Returns to $4 as Renewed Iran Fighting Disrupts Oil Flows
Czech Central Bank Governor Rejects Early Euro Entry and Rate-Cut Pressure
Trump Orders 50% Tariffs on Selected Canadian Imports
Pentagon Discloses Nearly 100 US Troop Injuries During Renewed Iran Fighting
Trump Readies New Tariffs as Temporary Global Levy Nears Expiry
US Judge Pauses Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros Discovery Merger Over Antitrust Concerns
NHS England Faces Growing Retention Pressure Among Younger Midwives
UK Data Centre Expansion Faces Water and Grid Capacity Challenges
UK Defence Shares Rise After John Healey Appointment and Continued Spending Commitments
OECD Urges UK Government to Review Pension Triple Lock to Protect Public Finances
Bank of England Keeps Cautious Approach as Energy Costs Threaten Inflation Progress
County Councils Call for Wider Devolution and Long-Term Social Care Funding Reform
IMF Urges UK Government to Maintain Fiscal Discipline as Growth Forecast Slows
Russian Warship Holds Live-Fire Exercises Near UK Coast as Royal Navy Monitors Activity
Mitie Agrees Three Point One Billion Pound Takeover by OCS in Another Blow to London Listings
JPMorgan Chase Warns Bank Levies Could Hit UK Growth and Drive Capital Away
UK Unemployment Holds at Four Point Nine Percent as Labour Market Shows Resilience
UK Government Borrowing Falls Below Forecasts as Treasury Receives Early Fiscal Boost
John Healey Cuts VAT on Household Electricity Bills After Cancelling National Digital ID Scheme
Andy Burnham Forms New Labour Government With Ten-Year National Renewal Plan
EU Imposes Record €550 Million Digital Services Fine on AliExpress
UK Publishes Updated Consumption-Based Carbon Emissions Data
English Regions Prepare for Expanded Devolution and Infrastructure Powers
Russell Group Backs New Government and Calls for Stronger University-Industry Links
Bank of England Maintains Restrictive Monetary Policy Amid Persistent Inflation
Climate Progress Report Renews Debate Over the UK's Net Zero Strategy
New UK Government Launches Drive to End Rough Sleeping and Expand Social Housing
Prime Minister Andy Burnham Appoints John Healey as Chancellor in Cabinet Reshuffle
OECD Calls for Structural Reforms as UK Economy Faces Slower Growth
International Monetary Fund Expects UK Economic Growth to Slow to One Percent in 2026
Andy Burnham Takes Office as UK Prime Minister and Unveils Decade-Long Reform Agenda
London’s Housing Starts Collapse as Planning and Building Costs Stall Development
Charlie Sheen’s Daughter: "My Dad Didn’t Buy Me a House, My Breasts Bought It"
Vivienne Westwood Casts Cicciolina, 74, in Its New Autumn Campaign
Dejavu: Germany’s Military Expansion Reshapes Europe’s Strategic Balance With France
Naturally Conceived Identical Quadruplets Born in Rare Brisbane Delivery
Tate Brothers Fight British Extradition Bid After Miami Arrests
×