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发帖数: 372 | 1 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-40269462
Wu Xiaohui steps aside as Anbang chairman
4 hours ago
From the section China
ANBANG INSURANCE GROUP
Image caption
Wu Xiaohui was long thought to be one of China's most politically-connected
businessmen
One of China's best known billionaires, Wu Xiaohui, is stepping aside as
chairman of Anbang Insurance.
The company gave few details but said he was no longer able to fulfil his
duties for "personal reasons".
A Chinese magazine had reported that Mr Wu was detained by authorities last
week, but later deleted its article.
Anbang is known for a number of high profile international acquisitions,
like the purchase of New York's Waldorf Astoria in 2015.
The company, which manages some 1.65tn yuan (￡190bn; $242bn) worth of
assets, said in a statement that the chairman's duties would be managed by
other senior executives.
Anbang did not comment on the report by the independent Caijing magazine
that he had been detained.
The BBC's Stephen McDonell in Beijing says that if confirmed, it would make
him the highest-profile target in a recent campaign against the finance
industry by Chinese anti-corruption investigators.
A source told the BBC that Mr Wu had been taken away from the Anbang Office
Building on 8 June by two police cars.
It is not clear where he is now and whether he had been taken to the police
or directly to the prosecution on that day.
GETTY IMAGES
Image caption
Anbang bought the Waldorf-Astoria for close to $2bn
Earlier, Anbang had denied a report by the Financial Times that Mr Wu had
been stopped from travelling abroad.
Political connections
Anbang had recently been in talks with a real estate company part-owned by
Donald Trump's son-in-law and senior White House adviser, Jared Kushner.
The two sides were reportedly negotiating a deal to redevelop one of Kushner
Companies' Manhattan buildings.
The possible deal had raised media speculation over a potential conflict of
interest and was called off in "mutual agreement" without any reasons given.
Wu Xiaohui had long been considered one of the most politically connected
men in China, having married the grand-daughter of former leader, Deng
Xiaoping.
His company has over the past years been among the biggest players of
Chinese firms pursuing high-profile overseas acquisitions and investments.
In 2016, Anbang paid private equity firm Blackstone $6.5bn for the ownership
of Strategic Hotels & Resorts, a portfolio of upmarket hotels and resorts.
That purchase added 16 luxury properties across the US to Anbang's holdings,
including the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay, and the Four Seasons hotels in
Silicon Valley and Washington. |
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