Chinese FinTech CFO on IPO Day: Mobile, Blockchain Will Drive Industry Innovation
FinTech in China is booming, and one of the country's peer-to-peer lenders is making its market debut on the New York Stock Exchange. Simon Ho, CFO of PPDAI, joins us to discuss his company's decision to go public. Shares opened for trading at $13.30, slightly above its IPO price of $13 a share.
PPDAI is not the only Chinese lending company seeking investments from the public markets. Ho fills Cheddar in on why there is such a massive opportunity in peer-to-peer lending in China. He notes that companies capitalized on the governments unwillingness to hand out small loans to individuals.
The IPO comes during a time of heightened concerns over Chinese regulations over tech companies. Regulators are worried some lenders are charging unreasonably high rates. Ho explains how the PPDAI is navigating the waters of regulations and breaks down the company's rate structure.
Nestlé has dismissed its CEO Laurent Freixe after an investigation into an undisclosed relationship with a direct subordinate. The company announced on Monday that the dismissal was effective immediately. An investigation found that Freixe violated Nestlé’s code of conduct. He had been CEO for a year. Philipp Navratil, a longtime Nestlé executive, will replace him. Chairman Paul Bulcke stated that the decision was necessary to uphold the company’s values and governance. Navratil began his career with Nestlé in 2001 and has held various roles, including CEO of Nestlé's Nespresso division since 2024.
Kraft Heinz is splitting into two companies a decade after they joined in a massive merger that created one of the biggest food companies on the planet. One of the companies will include brands such as Heinz, Philadelphia cream cheese and Kraft Mac & Cheese. The other will include brands like Oscar Mayer, Kraft Singles and Lunchables. When the company formed in 2015 it wanted to capitalize on its massive scale, but shifting tastes complicated those plans, with households seeking to introduce healthier options at the table. Kraft Heinz's net revenue has fallen every year since 2020.