Xin Lang Cai Jing·2026-01-04 05:31Core Viewpoint - The Chinese banking industry is undergoing a significant transformation, with banks redeeming high-cost preferred shares and issuing perpetual bonds as a more cost-effective financing alternative, driven by declining social financing costs and regulatory changes [2][4][11]. Group 1: Redemption of Preferred Shares - By the end of 2025, a total of 9 banks announced the redemption of preferred shares, amounting to 111.8 billion RMB in domestic preferred shares and 5.72 billion USD in foreign preferred shares [4]. - In December 2025 alone, five banks, including Changsha Bank and Beijing Bank, redeemed a total of 45.8 billion RMB in preferred shares [3]. - The redemption of preferred shares is facilitated by their lack of maturity dates but includes redemption clauses, allowing banks to manage capital flexibly [4]. Group 2: Issuance of Perpetual Bonds - As of December 31, 2025, Chinese commercial banks issued 69 perpetual bonds, raising a total of 821.8 billion RMB, marking a historical high in both issuance quantity and scale [5]. - The interest rates for newly issued perpetual bonds generally ranged from 2.0% to 2.9%, the lowest in nearly three years, with a significant issuance peak occurring in the second half of 2025 [5][6]. - The issuance of perpetual bonds is seen as a response to the urgent need for capital replenishment, especially among small and medium-sized banks facing declining capital adequacy ratios [2][6]. Group 3: Cost Savings and Financial Efficiency - By replacing preferred shares with perpetual bonds, banks can save at least 3% annually on interest expenses, significantly reducing their financing costs [8][10]. - For instance, the interest rate on newly issued perpetual bonds is substantially lower than that of previously issued preferred shares, with examples showing potential annual savings of 12.8 million RMB for banks like Industrial Bank [10]. - The transition from preferred shares to perpetual bonds is viewed as a strategic move to optimize capital structure and reduce interest payment burdens, aligning with regulatory requirements [8][10]. Group 4: Regulatory Environment and Market Dynamics - The shift towards perpetual bonds is influenced by regulatory changes that favor capital instruments with loss absorption capabilities, making traditional preferred shares less attractive [11]. - The approval process for issuing perpetual bonds is simpler and faster compared to preferred shares, which require dual regulatory approvals, thus enhancing their appeal to banks [11]. - The current low-interest-rate environment is expected to persist, allowing banks to lock in low financing costs for the next 5 to 10 years, effectively mitigating the pressure from narrowing net interest margins [10].