Guo Ji Jin Rong Bao·2025-10-22 13:26Core Viewpoint - The insurance sector is experiencing a wave of stock acquisitions, with 24 listed companies being targeted by insurance funds in 2023 alone, matching the total number of acquisitions from the previous four years combined [1][6]. Group 1: Recent Acquisitions - On October 21, Zhongyou Insurance announced an increase in its stake in China Tonghao to 5.17% through the Hong Kong Stock Connect, triggering the disclosure requirement [1][2]. - Zhongyou Insurance's recent acquisition involved purchasing 3.995 million shares at a price of HKD 3.6173 per share, totaling approximately HKD 14.45 million [3][4]. - Prior to this transaction, Zhongyou Insurance held 97.777 million shares, representing 4.9663% of the H-shares, which increased to 101.772 million shares post-transaction [3][4]. Group 2: Financial Performance - For the first half of 2023, China Tonghao reported revenue of CNY 14.665 billion, a year-on-year increase of 2.91%, and a net profit of CNY 1.621 billion, up 1.34% [4]. - Zhongyou Insurance achieved insurance business revenue of CNY 118.072 billion in the first half of 2023, reflecting a 12.07% year-on-year growth, although net profit declined by 9.01% [4]. Group 3: Industry Trends - The current wave of acquisitions is part of a broader trend, with insurance companies increasingly favoring high-dividend stocks to enhance cash income [6][7]. - Major banks and utility companies are the primary targets for insurance funds, with significant investments in Postal Savings Bank, China Merchants Bank, and others [6][7]. - The insurance sector's enthusiasm for acquisitions has reached a new high, with 32 disclosures reported by various insurance companies as of October 22, 2023 [6][7].