Insurance ownership cap cut to 33%

The maximum stake any single shareholder can have in an insurance company has been reduced to 33% from 51%, Caixin reported Thursday, citing the China Insurance Regulatory Commission. The regulator has been tightening controls on the structure of insurance companies because of the perceived risks to the financial system posed by the behavior of some of them.
保监会降低保险公司单一股东持股比例 从51%降至三分之一

‘Zombie killer’ reform to ease closing companies

A cure may be at hand for the many thousands of so-called zombie companies that exist even though they are unprofitable. New regulations due to take effect from March will make it simpler and less costly to deregister companies, Xinhua reported on Thursday evening, citing China’s State Administration for Industry and Commerce.
企业简易注销登记改革明年3月起在全国实施

Leasing companies given green light to tap markets

Leasing companies are being encouraged to tap capital markets to strengthen their balance sheets and help develop the sector, Mao Wanyuan, a department director at the China Banking Regulatory Commission, said on Thursday, according to a report by Caixin. The regulator has given the go ahead for leasing companies to sell subordinated debt, with ICBC Leasing and Industrial Bank Financial Leasing ready to do so. Also three companies, which were not identified, will sell shares on the domestic A-share market and New Third Board as well as in Hong Kong, it said.
银监会：多家金融租赁公司备发二级资本债

More tax cuts on the way for 2017

More tax cuts are coming in 2017 as the government removes or reduces administrative charges, Finance Minister Xiao Jie said at the National Fiscal Works Conference on Thursday, according to Caixin. Plans to improve the local tax system and assessment of individual incomes and assets are expected to be on the agenda, the report said.
财政工作会议：研究实施新的减税措施

3.5 trillion yuan rail expansion planned

China plans to invest 3.5 trillion yuan (US$500 billion) by 2020 expanding its railways, China Securities Daily reported, citing Yang Yudong, Deputy Director of China’s Ministry of Transport. The construction work will bring China’s rail network to 150,000 kilometers, Yang told reporters on Thursday.
交通运输部副部长：“十三五”铁路建设计划投资35000亿

80% of major cities to have high-speed rail by 2020

High-speed train services will connect 80% of first-tier cities by 2020, Sina Finance reported Thursday, citing a State Council white paper. The high-speed rail network will reach 30,000 kilometers by then, the paper added.
白皮书：到2020年高速铁路覆盖80%以上大城市

China Railway Group sells unit to parent for 2.4 billion yuan

China Railway Group sold its wholly owned Beijing Nuo Yi Jie Investment Management Co to its parent, state-owned China Railway Engineering Corp for 2.45 billion yuan, Yicai reported on Thursday night. The sale is part of the central government’s plans to restructure state-owned enterprises.
中国中铁：超24亿元向控股股东中铁工出售北京翼诺捷