AsianFin -- Zong Fuli, daughter of the late Wahaha founder Zong Qinghou, has secured her inheritance of her father’s stake in the beverage giant through a notarized will, according to documents obtained by Caixin. The move comes amid a high-profile inheritance dispute with three half-siblings, triggered by revelations in early July regarding the ownership of $1.8 billion held in a Hong Kong HSBC account.

A notarized inheritance certificate issued by the Hangzhou Dongfang Notary Office (No. 1695, 2024) confirms that Zong Fuli possesses a notarized will (No. 1056, 2024) from the same notary, which served as the legal basis for her claim to Zong Qinghou’s equity in Wahaha.

The document shows that on March 1, 2024, Zong Fuli applied for inheritance notarization, submitting 12 pieces of supporting documentation, including identity papers, Zong Qinghou’s death and cremation certificates, his marriage certificate with Shi Youzhen (Zong Fuli’s mother), and a certificate naming Zong Fuli as his only child.

The notary record also confirms that Zong Fuli currently holds Hong Kong residency, and that Zong Qinghou and Shi Youzhen were still legally married at the time of his passing. The legal clarity surrounding the notarized will may help shield Wahaha’s corporate ownership structure from further dispute, though questions remain over the division of overseas assets.