Китайская United Network Communications Group (China Unicom): История и структура собственности

Chinese state owned enterprise

China United Network Communications Group (China Unicom) is a Chinese state owned telecommunications operator. Started as a wireless paging and GSM mobile operator, it currently provides a range of services including mobile network, long distance, local calling, data communication, Internet services, and IP telephony. China Unicom is the third largest wireless carrier in China and the sixth largest mobile provider in the world as of 2022.

In February 2000 a subsidiary "China Unicom Hong Kong" was incorporated in Hong Kong and was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on June 22, 2000. The intermediate parent company "China Unicom (Hong Kong) Limited" was "China Unicom (BVI) Limited", as of 2001, the BVI company owned 77.47% shares of China Unicom (H. K.). In turn, China Unicom (H. K.) owned the operating subsidiaries of the group. In 2002, another intermediate parent company "China United Network Communications Limited" was established in Shanghai (headquartered in Beijing), to own 51% stake of "China Unicom (BVI) Limited" as well as listing the shares in the Shanghai Stock Exchange. as of 2002, state owned China Unicom Group owned 74.6% shares of the A share company, The BVI company owned 77.47% shares of the red chip company. To sum up, the Chinese Government via A share company, owned 42.67% stake of the operating subsidiaries, as well as additional 20.27% stake by the minority stake in the BVI company.

On June 2, 2008, China Unicom announced its intention to sell its CDMA business and assets to China Telecommunications Corporation (China Telecom Group) for a combined total of 110 billion RMB in a share swap valued at US$56.3 billion (based on Unicom's stock last traded price) on June 2, 2008, with China Netcom. The CDMA business was officially moved to China Telecom in early November. In July 2009, China Unicom signed a $700 million deal with infrastructure vendor Ericsson to upgrade the company's GSM network. China Unicom has operated an internet service in North Korea since 2010.

In 2009, China Unicom (Hong Kong) agreed to a US$1 billion cross holding with Spain's Telefónica. In January 2011, the two partners agreed a further US$500 million tie up in each other, which following completion in late 2011, Telefónica will hold a 9.7% shares in China Unicom (H. K.), while the red chip company will own 1.4% shares of the Spanish firm. The companies also agreed to deepen their cooperation in areas such as procurement, mobile service platforms, service to MNC's wholesale carriers, roaming, technology, among others, where both companies have been cooperating since the signature of their strategic alliance agreement. In June 2012, China United Network Communications Group (China Unicom Group), the ultimate parent company of Hong Kong listed company "China Unicom (Hong Kong)", had agreed to buy back about 1.1 billion shares (approx. 4.6% of the share capital) of the red chip company from Telefónica for an approx. HK$11 billion. (HK$10.21 per share; by narrow band floating exchange rate approx. US$1.4 billion), via an unlisted subsidiary "China Unicom Group Corporation (BVI) Limited". Immediate after the deal, Telefónica still owned 5% of China Unicom (H. K.). In 2014 Telefónica sold a further 2.5% shares of "China Unicom (H. K.)" for HK$6.66 billion (HK$11.14 per share). During year 2016, Telefónica sold a further 1.51% shares of "China Unicom (H. K.)" for HK$2.822 billion (HK$7.8 per share), as of 2016 Telefónica owned 1% shares of the red chip company (decreased from 2.51% year to yearly), as well as Telefónica's director César Alierta, still served as a director of "China Unicom (H. K.)". In 2017 the Class A listed company of the group introduced ten strategic investors: state controlled 中国国有企业结构调整基金, state controlled listed company China Life Insurance, a private equity fund that was owned by China Cinda Asset Management and a company related to Tencent, a private equity fund partially owned by Baidu and Industrial Bank , a private equity fund that related to JD. com , a public company Ali Venture Capital , a public company Suning Commerce Group and three minor private equity funds that was subscribed by companies such as Kuang Chi and CRRC Group. In the same year, the fund raised by the A share company was injected to the Hong Kong incorporated red chip company, via "China Unicom (BVI) Limited", for HK$13.24 per share (for a maximum of 6.64 billion share / HK$88 billion).

On 2 December 2016, China Unicom Global Limited launched the “CUniq” overseas mobile virtual network operator (“MVNO”) service in London, UK and unveiled the one card multiple number service.

In October 2019, a group of U. S. senators urged the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board to divest U. S. pension money from any investment in China Unicom for providing telecommunications services to disputed artificial islands in the South China Sea. In August 2020, the United States Department of Defense published a list of companies operating directly or indirectly in the United States with ties to the People's Liberation Army. China Unicom was included on the list. In October 2020, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requested the United States Department of Justice report whether China Unicom poses a "national security risk". In November 2020, the U. S. President issued an executive order prohibiting U. S. companies and individuals owning stocks that the United States Department of Defense deemed to have links to the People's Liberation Army which included China Unicom. In consequence of the order, the New York Stock Exchange delisted China Unicom in January 2021. In March 2021, the FCC initiated proceedings to revoke China Unicom's authorization to operate in the U. S. due to "national security" concerns. In January 2022, the FCC revoked China Unicom's authorization to operate in the United States, giving it 60 days to cease providing telecommunications services. In September 2022, the FCC added China Unicom to a list of companies considered "national security threats".

PCCW (18.46%, held by unlisted portion of China Unicom Group)
Telefónica (1.27%, held by Hong Kong listed subsidiary "China Unicom (H. K.)")