Vanke-Baoneng deal

BEIJING: China’s securities regulator said on Friday that it was studying Baoneng Group’s acquisition of a

major stake in developer China Vanke Co with other financial watchdogs to see if any rules were violated. It is the first time the stock regulator has said it is looking into the deal, which has triggered a high-profile battle between Vanke Chairman Wang Shi and Baoneng. Baoneng, a property and insurance conglomerate, became Vanke’s biggest shareholder earlier this month after buying a stake of more than 20 per cent in China’s biggest home builder. Wang has attacked Baoneng, saying it lacked credibility and would damage Vanke. Baoneng said it had a ‘good reputation’ and strictly abided by the law. The China Securities Regulatory Commission did not specify its reasons for examining the deal. Spokesman Zhang Xiaojun told a news conference on Friday that the regulator was studying the case with banking and insurance regulators and reiterated that it would not interfere if no rules were broken.