Nenking Group
| Company type | Conglomerate |
|---|---|
| Industry | Real Estate, Property Management, Finance, Sports Culture, Pharmaceuticals, Overseas Investment, Trade Procurement |
| Predecessor | Guangdong Nenking Real Estate Development Co., Ltd |
| Founded | March 28, 1998 |
| Founder | Zhong Naixiong |
| Headquarters | Foshan , China |
Area served | Pearl River Delta Metropolitan Region |
Key people | Zhong Naixiong (Founder) |
| Products | Real estate, Property management, Financial services, Sports culture, Pharmaceuticals, Overseas investment, Trade procurement |
Nenking Group (), also known as Nanhai Nenking (), is a Chinese conglomerate established in 1998 and headquartered in Foshan, Guangdong. The company’s operations span the Pearl River Delta Metropolitan Region, providing services in sectors such as Real Estate, Property Management, Finance, Sports Culture, Pharmaceuticals, Overseas Investment, and Trade Procurement.
Nenking holds ownership of the CBA franchise "Guangzhou Loong Lions" and serves as the principal sponsor for Hong Kong’s "Eastern Sports Club", supporting both its football and basketball squads. In 2018, Nenking ventured into the esports arena by founding the "Guangzhou Charge" team competing in the Overwatch League.
History
- 1993: The foundation of Guangdong Nenking Real Estate Development Co., Ltd, which later evolved into Nenking Group.
- 28 March 1998: Official formation of Nenking Holdings Group Co., Ltd.
- 2010: Acquisition of Shaanxi’s men’s basketball team, which was subsequently relocated to Foshan and rebranded as the "Long-Lions".
- 12 August 2016: Became the main sponsor of Hong Kong’s "Eastern Sports Club," committing around 30 million HK$ to support the financially struggling club.
- 7 March 2017: Founder Zhong Naixiong was listed on Rupert Hoogewerf’s Global Rich List with an estimated net worth of $1.5 billion USD.
- 2 August 2018: Entered the esports market by obtaining the Guangzhou franchise for the Overwatch League and launching the "Guangzhou Charge" team.
- 28 August 2020: Introduced "Ultra Prime," a specialized esports brand overseeing all Nenking esports operations including Guangzhou Charge.
- 17 December 2020: Expanded into League of Legends by acquiring Chinese esports team "eStar Gaming."
- 29 March 2021: Inaugurated the Nenking Esports Center at the GBA International Sports and Cultural Center to serve as Ultra Prime Esports’ headquarters and rebranded eStar Gaming’s League of Legends division under Ultra Prime.
Key subsidiaries
- Real estate
- Guangdong Nenking Real Estate Development Co., Ltd
- Property management
- Nanhai Nenking Property Management (Foshan) Co., Ltd
- Financial
- Foshan CFP Financial Co., Ltd
- Sports Culture
- Basketball
- Football
- Esports "Ultra Prime"
- Arenas
- Pharmaceuticals
- Nanhai Longtime Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd
- Overseas investment
- First Capital Securities Co., Ltd
- Nanhai Rural Commercial Bank
- Trade purchases
- Guangdong Nenking Import and Export Co., Ltd
Engagement with FC Sochaux-Montbéliard
In April 2020, Nenking Group took ownership of Football Club Sochaux-Montbéliard, one of the founding clubs of the French League. Chairman Zhong Naixiong set a goal to elevate the team back to the top division within a three to four-year timeframe. Following this acquisition, Frankie Yau was appointed as the club president.
Throughout the 2022/2023 campaign, Sochaux encountered financial difficulties that necessitated additional capital from Nenking to sustain its position in Ligue 2. However, in July 2023, Nenking opted not to provide further financial support. As a result, the DNCG enforced relegation of Sochaux to the National division (the third tier) due to monetary instability. The club now faces the threat of insolvency and possible demotion down to the sixth division.
Although Romain Peugeot, the great-grandson of Sochaux’s founder, facilitated a takeover deal that allowed Nenking to maintain a 33% ownership share, Nenking did not meet a €4 million funding obligation designed to avert bankruptcy and aid the club’s Ligue 2 comeback.
Established almost a century ago by Peugeot, Sochaux boasts notable achievements including French top-flight championships in 1934–35 and 1937–38, the French League Cup triumph in 2004, and winning the Coupe de France in 2007.
On 25 August, following a tumultuous period marked by management struggles and near-collapse, Nenking divested FC Sochaux.