The new "Company Law" stipulates: (Article 15): A company may invest in other enterprises, but it shall not be jointly and severally liable for the debts of the invested enterprises unless otherwise stipulated by law.
Article 9 of the Measures for the Implementation of Administrative Licensing Matters of Rural Small and Medium-sized Financial Institutions of China Banking Regulatory Commission (Order No.3 of 2008) stipulates that "the establishment of rural commercial banks shall have qualified promoters, including natural persons, domestic non-financial institutions, domestic financial institutions, overseas financial institutions and other promoters recognized by the CBRC".
Article 12 stipulates: "Domestic non-financial institutions, as promoters, shall meet the following conditions: the seventh condition is: they have the ability to supplement the capital of rural commercial banks, and the balance of equity investment shall not exceed 50% of the net assets of the enterprise in principle (including the amount of this investment, according to the consolidated accounting statements), except for investment companies and shareholding companies specified by the State Council".