Di Yi Cai Jing·2025-07-06 08:28Core Viewpoint - The recent significant shareholding increase by Hong Kong Liyue Group in Minsheng Bank indicates a potential shift in the bank's shareholder power dynamics, as traditional shareholders like "Fan Hai" and "Dong Fang" are losing influence [1][5]. Shareholding Changes - Hong Kong Liyue Group increased its stake in Minsheng Bank to 4.945% as of June 30, 2024, after purchasing approximately 199 million H-shares at an average price of 2.624 HKD per share, totaling around 523 million HKD [2]. - Over the past 18 months, Liyue Group has consistently increased its holdings, moving from 3.37% in Q3 2023 to 4.49% in Q1 2024, now ranking as the fourth-largest shareholder [2][5]. - The group's total holdings in Minsheng Bank A+H shares now amount to 2.166 billion shares, nearing the 5% threshold for mandatory disclosure [2]. Shareholder Landscape - The original shareholders of Minsheng Bank, particularly "Fan Hai" and "Dong Fang," are diminishing in influence, with "Dong Fang" holding only 2.92% and "Fan Hai" reportedly holding just one share [5][6]. - The current major shareholders include Hong Kong Central Clearing and Dajia Life Insurance, which together hold over 35% of the bank [6]. Valuation Appeal - Minsheng Bank's current price-to-book ratio is only 0.355, significantly lower than the industry average, making it an attractive investment opportunity [7]. - In contrast, other banks like China Merchants Bank have a price-to-book ratio of 1.13, highlighting the undervaluation of Minsheng Bank [7]. Financial Performance - For the year 2024, Minsheng Bank reported a revenue of 136.29 billion CNY, a decrease of 3.21% year-on-year, and a net profit of 32.30 billion CNY, down 9.85% from the previous year [7]. Funding Challenges - Liyue Group's aggressive expansion strategy may face financial constraints, as a significant portion of its shares in Minsheng Bank is under pledge, with 12.29 billion shares pledged, accounting for about 60% of its holdings [8]. - The group has also been involved in acquiring stakes in other companies, which adds to its financial pressure [8].