Not optimistic Ali’s first statement: Ant Group listing has significant uncertainty

Alibaba Group, which is under “antitrust” investigation, released its fiscal year 2021 third-quarter earnings report on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on November 2, 2020, in response to the restructuring of Ant Group, and made its first statement that there is significant uncertainty about the listing of Ant Group.

One step closer to becoming the world’s largest IPO in history, Ant Group announced on the eve of its IPO, November 3, 2020, that it was suspending its plans for a dual listing and IPO on the Science and Technology Board of the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Three months after the event, Ant Group is rumored to be reorganized as a mainland central bank-regulated financial holding company, scheduled to be completed in mid-February, while the listing is already far away.

In its earnings release, Alibaba responded to the Ant Group’s re-listing process by stating that due to significant changes in China’s fintech regulatory environment, Ant Group is in the process of developing a rectification plan, which is still subject to regulatory procedures. As a result, “there is significant uncertainty about Ant Group’s business prospects and listing plans.

Ali also said that it is not yet possible to fully and accurately assess the impact of these changes and uncertainties on Alibaba Group, and that an update will be provided to the market after the Ant Group’s rectification plan has fulfilled the regulatory process.

Zhang Yong, chairman of the board and chief operating officer of Alibaba Group, said that Ant’s suspension of its IPO and the antitrust investigation of Ali Group is an important opportunity to calmly reflect and improve itself.

Ali today announced its financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2021, with revenue reaching CNY 221.08 billion and net profit reaching CNY 59.21 billion. The earnings report showed that Ant contributed $735 million in profit to Alibaba in the third fiscal quarter.