Western Securities(SZ:002673) Guan Cha Zhe Wang·2025-08-18 02:35Core Viewpoint - The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) has approved Western Securities to become the major shareholder of Guorong Securities, allowing it to acquire 1.151 billion shares, representing 64.5961% of the company [1][2]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition process took 14 months, with Western Securities planning to pay 3.825 billion yuan in cash for the controlling stake in Guorong Securities [2]. - The CSRC raised four major concerns regarding the acquisition, including the need for Western Securities to further detail the initial integration direction post-acquisition [2]. - The approval requires Guorong Securities to ensure risk isolation from Western Securities and to strictly regulate related transactions to prevent conflicts of interest [1][2]. Group 2: Financial Performance - In 2024, Western Securities reported revenue of 6.712 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 2.64%, while net profit attributable to shareholders increased by 20.38% to 1.403 billion yuan [3]. - For the first quarter of 2025, Western Securities achieved revenue of 1.216 billion yuan, down 23.75% year-on-year, but net profit rose by 48.33% to 291 million yuan [3]. - As of the end of 2024, Western Securities had total assets of 95.964 billion yuan, while Guorong Securities had total assets of 18.885 billion yuan, with the combined total assets expected to approach 120 billion yuan post-merger [3]. Group 3: Industry Context - The securities industry has seen a trend of mergers and acquisitions, with several firms completing similar transactions in 2024, indicating a push for external growth and strengthening within the sector [2]. - The merger is expected to enhance Western Securities' rankings across brokerage, investment banking, asset management, and proprietary trading businesses [3].