The State Administration of Foreign Exchange, a unit of the Chinese central bank, emerged as the owner of a 4.26% stake in Euroclear SA/NV after the Belgium-based central securities depository disclosed its ownership structure, the Financial Times reported.

The unit's stake is owned by a separate company called Kuri Atyak Investments Ltd., which holds a seat on Euroclear's board and is the fifth-largest shareholder, the publication said.

Euroclear disclosed the information as a prelude to a possible change in its shareholding structure.

It was previously examining a number of options, including a private placement with long-term investors and an IPO, CEO Lieve Mostrey told Reuters. An orderly transformation could help "put big and small shareholders that want to sell a bit more at par in the process," Mostrey said.

As of Dec. 10, Sicovam Holding SA holds the largest shareholding in Euroclear with a stake of 15.89%. Intercontinentalexchange Holdings, J.P. Morgan Overseas Capital LLC and London Stock Exchange (C) Ltd. own 9.85%, 5.71% and 4.92% stakes in the company, respectively.