CHENGDU, Dec. 1 (NBD) -- Lu Shengju, a name hardly familiar to public until an investor group led by his Southwest China’s Chongqing-based Casin Enterprise Group, was reported to acquire the Chicago Stock Exchange, also known as CHX.

The planned sale of CHX is expected to close in the second half of 2016.

Established in 1997, Casin Group has scored brilliant achievements in fields of real estate development and environmental protection industry in which the group is now equipped with certified Grade A qualifications. Chairman Lu Shengju and his group maintain a low profile in business domain over two decades’ hard working and meticulous elaboration, and this has contributed to his membership among China’s billionaires by Hurun Report, China’s version of Forbes list.

According to public information, Casin Group has a total assets of 22.56 billion yuan (about 3.27 billion U.S. dollars) by end of 2014, of which net assets account for 8.21 billion yuan (about 1.19 billion U.S. dollars). Its annual revenue in 2014 reaches 4.12 billion yuan (about 597.10 million U.S. dollars) with net profits of 1.92 billion yuan (about 278.26 million U.S. dollars). According to Hurun Report for China’s billionaires 2016, Lu Shengju, of 10.50 billion yuan (about 1.52 billion U.S. dollars) assets, ranks No. 299.

Notably, the group’s listed company Casin Guoxing Property Development Co., Ltd (000838) has quality assets in environmental protection and real estate sectors which have not been included into the listed enterprise so far. Analysts said that its move to take the lead in acquisition of CHX is beneficial for subordinate assets in future securitization process.

As an “outstanding private entrepreneur” officially appraised by Chongqing municipal government for times, Lu Shengju has never accepted any exclusive interview with any media. He declined Wednesday an invitation for interview from NBD correspondents and insisted upon his usual low-profile personality.