TWO founders of software firm Shenzhen Kingdom Technology have joined the world’s billionaire ranks.

    Zhao Jian, the chairman, and Du Xuan, honorary chairman, have made it into one of the world’s elite financial groups.

    Zhao graduated from Xi’an Jiaotong University and worked at a software company in Shekou, Nanshan District from 1989 to 1992; he later was general manager at Shenzhen Jieyi Computer through 1998 before he cofounded Kingdom with Du Xuan, Li Jieyi and Xu Minbo.

    Du taught at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China where he received his undergraduate degree. He met Li in Shenzhen before they co-founded Kingdom.

    Zhao and Du each hold approximately 11.7 percent of the listed company, worth 7.90 billion yuan (US$1.28 billion) and 7.92 billion yuan, respectively, at yesterday’s closing price of 254.36 yuan.

    The stock has increased 900 percent in the past year. Revenue and net profit in first quarter was 524.5 million yuan and 30.1 million yuan, up 11.8 percent and 177.5 percent from a year earlier.

    The company’s business clients include Ping An Bank, Zhongshan Securities and Sealand Securities.

    A big stock rally in China has created more than 160 billionaires and billionaire families in the past half year.

    (SD-Agencies)