BEIJING / HONG KONG (Reuters) – China’s suspension of Ant Group’s $ 37 billion itemizing simply days earlier than its inventory market debut has thrown the corporate and its traders right into a tailspin and it has to manage in a rush to try to hold monetary regulators pleased, analysts say.

The corporate has tried to market itself as a tech firm moderately than a monetary large, however Chinese language regulators have turn into more and more uncomfortable with elements of its sprawling empire, specifically its most vital credit score enterprise. profitable enterprise that contributed almost 40% of the group’s income within the first half of the 12 months.

WHAT ARE THE NEW ANT FACES REGULATORY RULES?

Chinese language regulators on Monday determined to advocate tighter regulation of on-line microcredit firms to assist comprise potential monetary dangers and curb rising debt ranges, saying Ant’s itemizing was suspended. Tuesday.

Analysts mentioned Ant might want to abide by these guidelines and disclose their monetary impression to be able to proceed with itemizing plans in Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Draft guidelines launched by China’s central financial institution and banking regulator goal to boost the bar for micro-lenders to offer online loans on to customers or collectively with banks, whereas limiting the quantity they’ll lend. .

The draft, open for public remark till December 2, requires small on-line lenders to offer no less than 30% of any mortgage they collectively finance with banks, which is extensively seen as a key rule that can harm the profitability of Ant’s present enterprise mannequin. .

The 2 co-lending subsidiaries of Ant Huabei and Jiebei will now not be allowed to promote wealth administration merchandise based mostly on the brand new guidelines, analysts famous.

“If the principles are carried out, the web micro-credit business can be extremely adjusted, and Web firms that aggressively increase by way of the lending business can be severely affected,” wrote Dong Ximiao, chief analyst. on the Zhongguancun Web Finance Institute, in a report launched Wednesday.

WHAT ANT SHOULD DO

Zhang Yi, chief govt of consulting agency iiMedia, mentioned regulators doubtless realized Ant’s lending enterprise was no completely different from a industrial financial institution when particulars had been made public in its prospectus.

To adjust to regulatory necessities, Ant’s most suitable choice may be to separate its enterprise into a number of IPOs, which embody an IPO of a credit score unit and an IPO of a know-how unit (the fee unit), and get completely different multiples for various models of its enterprise, Zhang mentioned.

Extra particularly, Ant might want to apply for brand new licenses for its credit score enterprise to be able to absolutely adjust to regulators and be regulated as an entity underneath the monetary holding firm guidelines that went into impact on November 1, famous. analysts.

These calls for imply Ant’s IPO will doubtless be unable to go forward within the close to time period, others have mentioned.

Ant on Wednesday mentioned he would repay demand funds associated to the Hong Kong public providing, together with brokerage commissions and transaction charges, in two interest-free batches.

POSTPONEMENT, NO CANCELLATION?

Analysts additionally famous that since Ant in addition to the Shanghai and Hong Kong inventory exchanges described the itemizing as “suspended,” it is going to proceed to maneuver ahead as soon as main points are resolved.

“Such regulatory and enterprise mannequin changes are all a part of a course of, not particular person one-off occasions,” mentioned Alex Sirakov, senior accomplice at consultancy Kapronasia.

“Monetary providers and shopper safety are usually not a static house and an excellent results of sport idea will indicate that each one events concerned should make concessions.”

Li Chengdong, a Beijing-based know-how analyst, mentioned Ant’s valuation would doubtless be tainted, however what was within the firm’s favor was that it was nonetheless an enormous with the backing of state funding and had an influential founder within the type of Jack Ma.

“To insist on systematic security, it’s the place of the regulators that insists on their place,” he mentioned. “Ant could find yourself having an IPO that wasn’t as perfect as it could have had this time round, nevertheless it will not be too unhealthy.