Ant Group enhet klarerer regulatorisk steg for Bright Smart overtakelse, sender aksjer opp 70%

<p>Shares of <a href="/quotes/undefined/">Bright Smart Securities</a> surged as much as 82% on Tuesday after an Ant Group unit completed the required steps to acquire the Hong Kong-listed brokerage.</p>
<p>The stock later pared gains to trade 70% higher as of 10.45p.m. ET, the highest since July 2025.</p>
<p>The rally came after Ant Group subsidiary Wealthiness and Prosperity Holding said it had completed the required reporting procedures with Chinese regulators for high-value overseas investment projects, clearing the way for the deal to close.</p>
<p>The reporting procedures were completed on Sunday, the companies said in a <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2026/0316/2026031601952.pdf">joint filing published after trading hours on Monday</a>.</p>
<p>The transaction is expected to be completed around March 30. Once completed, the deal will trigger a possible unconditional mandatory cash offer for all remaining shares of Bright Smart not already owned by the Ant Group subsidiary.</p>
<p>Last April, Ant Group, which is partially owned by billionaire Jack Ma's Alibaba Group, <a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2025/0425/2025042502637.pdf">agreed to acquire a 50.55% stake in Bright Smart Securities</a> for HK$ 2.81 billion ($358 million), or HK$3.28 per share, marking its entry into the brokerage business.</p>
<p>Back last August, Ant Group said procedures related to its acquisition of Bright Smart Securities were "moving forward as planned" <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-ant-group-says-bright-smart-deal-track-following-report-delay-2025-08-15/">in response to reports that the deal could face heightened regulatory scrutiny and potential delays</a>. </p>
<p>Bright Smart Securities has a market cap of around $15.74 billion Hong Kong dollars, according to LSEG data.</p>