Yunfeng Financial (0376), backed by Alibaba (9988) founder Jack Ma Yun, has clarified that it and its subsidiary YF Life Insurance International have "never acquired any property interest in YF Life Centre ," an office tower formerly named China Evergrande Centre.

In a filing yesterday, it said YF Life, as a major tenant of the YF Life Centre in Wan Chai, has been renting some floors of the tower since 2000 and the owner had agreed to rename the building after negotiations.

But it did not identify the current owner.

Recent media reports on the change of the building's name drew speculation that the firm may have acquired the tower after receivers took it over from indebted developer China Evergrande (3333).