A new female billionaire has emerged from one of Asia’s most-expensive breakups. Du Weimin, the chairman of Shenzhen Kangtai Biological Products Co., transferred 161.3 million shares of the vaccine maker to his ex-wife, Yuan Liping, according to a May 29 filing, immediately catapulting her into the ranks of the world’s richest.
The stock was worth $3.2 billion as of Monday’s close. Yuan, 49 this year, owns the shares directly, but signed an agreement delegating the voting rights to her ex-husband, the filing shows.
The Canadian citizen, who resides in Shenzhen, served as a director of Kangtai between May 2011 and August 2018. She’s now the vice general manager of subsidiary Beijing Minhai Biotechnology Co.