Alibaba's Ma hopes affiliate Ant Financial will list in Hong Kong

[BEIJING] Alibaba Group Holding Ltd Executive Chairman Jack Ma "very much hopes" that the e-commerce firm's affiliate Ant Financial Services Group will list in Hong Kong, a spokeswoman for the online finance company quoted him as saying.

Mr Ma, who is Ant's controlling shareholder, made the comments at an event in Macau on Monday.

A listing for Ant has been long expected. But the spokeswoman said that the company does not have a timeline or venue set.

The company, which includes online payment service Alipay - its crown jewel - is valued at close to US$60 billion, a person familiar with its latest fundraising round said in April.

Ant and Alibaba executives have given mixed signals on a potential venue, mentioning a listing on a mainland stock exchange, going public in Hong Kong, or pursuing a dual-listing domestically and offshore.

Mr Ma's comments were first reported by Ming Pao, a Hong Kong newspaper.

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REUTERS